RCB vs LSG: Stoinis, Pooran Stand Tall As LSG Pip RCB in Last-ball Thriller
LSG sealed a memorable victory in the final ball [Source: AP]
The 15th match of the ongoing Indian Premier League season saw Lucknow Super Giants hand Royal Challengers Bangalore a narrow one-wicket defeat, riding on blistering half centuries from Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran. The Super Giants gained crucial two points with this amazing victory.
Top order's fireworks help RCB post a gigantic total
Faf du Plessis & Glenn Maxwell played magnificent knocks [Source: AP]
After being put into bat, Royal Challengers Bangalore got off to a flying start, with Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis adding 96 runs for the first wicket. While Kohli looked sublime right from the word go, Du Plessis struggled to get going. However, ace spinner Amit Mishra dismissed Kohli to draw the first blood for LSG.
But Kohli's departure was a blessing in disguise for RCB, who saw their innings revitalised as soon as Glenn Maxwell joined Du Plessis in the middle. The dynamic duo stitched a marvellous 115-run stand for the second wicket, powering the hosts to a massive 212-run total.
While Maxwell smashed three fours and six sixes for his 29-ball 59, Du Plessis took only 46 balls for his monstrous 79-run knock.
Stoinis, Pooran run riot as LSG have the last laugh
Nicholas Pooran played a scintillating knock [Source: Twitter]
In response, Lucknow Super Giants got a disastrous start to their innings, losing Kyle Mayers, Deepak Hooda and Krunal Pandya cheaply inside four overs. Although skipper KL Rahul struggled to accelerate, Marcus Stoinis took on the RCB bowlers, smashing a breathtaking 30-ball 65.
However, the hosts ensured a dramatic turnaround, dismissing both the set batters in quick succession. But Nicholas Pooran had other ideas, as he played once in a lifetime knock to seize the day for the Super Giants. The swashbuckling southpaw shell-shocked RCB with his belligerent 19-ball 62, studded with four boundaries and seven humongous sixes.
Mohammed Siraj gave a glimmer of hope to the RCB camp by dismissing the Caribbean superstar in his final over. Things became more complicated for LSG with Ayush Badoni being ridiculously hit wicket in the penultimate over and Harshal Patel removing Mark Wood and Jaydev Unadkat in the last over.
However, Ravi Bishnoi and Avesh Khan showcased their agility to steal a bye single, as the Super Giants won the game in the final delivery.
Brief Scores
Royal Challengers Bangalore: 212/2 (20)
Faf du Plessis 79 (46), Virat Kohli 61 (44);
Mark Wood 1/32 (4), Amit Mishra 1/18 (2)
Lucknow Super Giants: 213/9 (20)
Marcus Stoinis 65 (30), Nicholas Pooran 62 (19);
Mohammed Siraj 3/22 (4), Wayne Parnell 3/41 (4)
Lucknow Super Giants won by one wicket.
 "Debashis Sarangi")
