Lucknow: Punjab Kings (PBKS) secured a resounding eight-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Tuesday, chasing down a modest 171-run target with ease. A stellar 69-run knock from Prabhsimran Singh, complemented by Shreyas Iyer’s unbeaten 52, ensured a dominant win for the visitors.
LSG’s batting woes continued as they struggled to build momentum, with captain Rishabh Pant failing to make an impact yet again. The home side fell short by 20-25 runs, as acknowledged by Pant, who admitted their total was insufficient. Early wickets further dented their innings, making it difficult to post a more competitive score.
Prabhsimran, who was named Player of the Match, credited team management, including Ricky Ponting, for their unwavering support. “They always instil a winning mindset in us. The key is to back our game and, if set, to finish off matches. I’ve practised innovative shots, and I’m glad they came off tonight,” he said.
Skipper Shreyas Iyer hailed his team’s execution and teamwork, calling the win the perfect start to their campaign. “There is no right combination; synergy and camaraderie have to click at the right time. Every team has the potential to win, but the hunger for victory makes the difference,” he stated.
Pant remained optimistic despite the loss, emphasising that his side is still assessing conditions. “We wanted a slow wicket, but we were not good enough on the day. There are positives to take forward, and we are figuring things out as a team,” he added.
With this victory, PBKS have laid down an early marker in the tournament, while LSG will look to bounce back and refine their strategy for upcoming matches.
