Harshini 
The 20th match of IPL 2025 between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Ekana Stadium witnessed a batting masterclass, courtesy of the thunderous duo – Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram. LSG’s first innings was a whirlwind ride packed with fireworks, clever bowling counters, and last-over drama.
🚀 Powerplay Carnage: Marsh and Markram Set the Stage on Fire
The LSG innings exploded into life early, with Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram tearing into the SRH bowling lineup right from the get-go.
- 4.1: Marsh upper-cut Harshal Patel for a six over extra cover.
- 5.1: Eshan Malinga got welcomed with a flat six over square leg by Marsh.
- 5.5: Markram responded with a cover drive boundary off Malinga – pure class.
- 6.5: Markram lofted Ansari for a stunning back-foot six over long-on.
By the end of the powerplay, LSG had raced past 60, with both batters in cruise control and boundaries raining every over.
🎯 Twin Fifties: Marsh & Markram Dictate Middle Overs
The middle phase was sheer dominance by LSG’s foreign duo.
- 8.0: Marsh brought up his fifty with a calm single off Dubey – his innings laced with 6 fours and 4 sixes.
- 9.5 & 9.4: Two boundaries from Marsh — one a brute pull and the other a streaky edge through the keeper — kept LSG ticking.
- 12.1: Markram too got to his 50 – his fifth of the season – with a controlled push down to long-on.
This middle overs partnership, aggressive yet controlled, put LSG in prime position to go past 200.
🧠 SRH’s Fightback: Dubey, Malinga and Harshal Hit Back
Just when LSG were threatening to breach 220, SRH bowlers struck back with timely wickets.
- 10.3: Harsh Dubey dismissed Marsh for 65 (39), caught at short third by Malinga – his first IPL wicket.
- 12.0: Rishabh Pant, promoted to No.4, fell to a brilliant caught-and-bowled by Malinga.
- 15.4: Harshal Patel bamboozled Markram (61 off 38) with a dipping slower yorker that rattled the stumps.
This spell between overs 10 and 16 saw three major wickets fall and momentum slightly tilt back towards SRH.
💥 Pooran’s Power Finish: Left-Handed Fury Unleashed
Despite the mini-collapse, Nicholas Pooran brought the carnage back with a dazzling display of power-hitting at the death.
- 14.4 to 18.5: Pooran punished every loose delivery. He slammed Harshal and Malinga for boundaries and even converted a high no-ball into a six.
- 19.1: He finally got hold of one and smoked a 93-meter six off Nitish Reddy.
- 18.5: A clever flick between short fine and square leg fetched him another boundary.
Pooran’s innings of 45 off 26 (6 fours, 1 six) added crucial late momentum.
Dramatic Final Over: Run-Out Mayhem & Dot-Ball Pressure
The 20th over, bowled by Nitish Reddy, brought chaos to the crease.
- 19.3: Pooran got run out trying to sneak a bye – a direct hit by Ishan Kishan ended his blitz.
- 19.5: Thakur attempted another cheeky single and got run out again! This time Kishan’s throw was relayed by Reddy.
- 19.5 (Ball 6): Samad, who was already struggling, dragged one onto the stumps – Nitish Reddy ended with two wickets and was involved in two run-outs in one over!
A potential 200+ score was suddenly trimmed to 198/8.
🔍 Key First Innings Highlights at a Glance
| Player | Runs (Balls) | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Marsh | 65 (39) | 6 | 4 |
| Aiden Markram | 61 (38) | 4 | 4 |
| Nicholas Pooran | 45 (26) | 6 | 1 |
| Rishabh Pant | 7 (6) | 1 | 0 |
Top Bowling Figures for SRH:
- Harshal Patel: 4-0-41-2 (key wickets of Markram & Marsh)
- Eshan Malinga: 4-0-36-2 (Pant and Badoni’s wickets, plus a screamer of a catch)
- Nitish Reddy: 2-0-10-1 (plus 2 run-outs)
🧠 Turning Points: What Changed the Momentum?
- 10th Over: Marsh’s dismissal by Dubey stopped the middle-overs onslaught.
- Pant’s early exit (12th): A tactical promotion didn’t work, losing a batter with potential finishing skills.
- 19th Over Madness: Three wickets in five balls killed any late acceleration.
📉 SRH’s Fielding: From Catching Brilliance to Missed Chances
- Catch of the Day: Malinga’s flying return catch to dismiss Pant.
- Missed Opportunity: Ishan Kishan let a thick Marsh edge burst through his gloves early – a chance that could’ve changed the game.
📊 Final Verdict: Can 205 Be Defended?
Lucknow Super Giants ended with 205/7 in 20 overs — a score built on brilliance at the top and resilience in the middle, but stifled slightly at the death. SRH’s late strikes pulled things back marginally, but the scoreboard pressure is now on their batters.
If SRH’s top-order clicks, the chase could be thrilling. But with LSG’s bowling attack loaded with variations and spinners like Krunal and Ravi Bishnoi to exploit the surface, this match is perfectly poised.
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