LSG vs GT, 21st Match at Lucknow, IPL, Apr 07 2024 - Ball by Ball Commentary

11:40pm That will be all from us, folks. We will be back again tomorrow as the Chennai Super Kings return to Chepauk, hoping to snap their two-game losing streak, against a Kolkata Knight Riders side that is firing on all cylinders. Until then, this is me (Shashwat) signing off on behalf of Sudeep and everyone else at ESPNcrcinfo. Goodnight and take care!

Yash Thakur, Player of the Match: I am very happy with my first five-wicket haul and my first POTM award. (On bowling to Gill) The plan we had for Gill, we had two fielders on the leg side. So, we sort of knew that he (Gill) would try to make room. Rahul bhaiya told me to stick to my plans and that we will get a wicket that way. Unfortunate for us that Mayank picked up an injury. But Rahul bhaiya told me that this is my day and that I will win the game for LSG. In the last two seasons, we had not won against them. We won today so we are very happy. (On which wicket was his favourite) Shubman's wicket.

KL Rahul, Lucknow Super Giants captain: (On LSG making defending totals an art) We will take the win. Not going to make too much out of it. For the young bowing group we have, helps when we bat first and they can assess the conditions. They have been adapting really well, so credit to them. (On not losing a game when defending 160-plus) It is a good record to have. But it is where we have played. We know how the wickets were, very low-scoring wicket and low-scoring ground. Having the home advantage obviously helps a bit. The same guys were playing last season as well, they have adjusted their roles and they are reading the wicket well. That is something I try to speak to them about in the nets and in practice, to help them make the right choices when the pressure is on. Hopefully we can continue. (Thoughts at the half-way stage) We knew very early that it (the pitch) was not as good as the other day. We were not trying to get to a particular score, and were just trying to bat and see how many we would get. We put up a score and then you expect the bowlers to do their job. All three spinners have been key for us. Sid (Siddharth) has done very well, he bowls a crucial part when he bowls with the new ball. He has shown great temperament and he has given us steady bowling in the first 2-3 overs. He has picked up wickets, but his job is to restrict runs. KP (Krunal Pandya) has played for so many years, and he is smart and knows how to bowl. Have played with Bishnoi also for a lot of years. Feels good to get off the mark (against the Titans).

Shubman Gill, Gujarat Titans captain: (On the conditions) I think it was a good wicket to bat on. just a poor batting performance by us. We got off to a decent start but we lost it in the middle overs and were never able to recover from that. (On the bowling) I think our bowlers were exceptional to restrict them to that score. We were looking at 170-180 but to restrict them, it was a tremendous effort. (On Miller) He is a player who can change the game at any time. We had a couple of injuries but irrespective, this total was gettable. (On his dismissal) It was the last over of the powerplay and I just wanted to capitalise. Everyone was up on the off side, I wanted to give himself room. The ball I got out to, I was trying to play it too square and missed it. (On Umesh Yadav) He is definitely someone who is very experienced. Darshan and everyone in the bowling attack did a good job.

Krunal Pandya: When I went in, I just played a couple of balls. I was having a chat with Pooran and the wicket was very good, and we felt we were 10-15 runs short. At the end of the day, what I do is knowing the batter's strengths and weaknesses and bowling according to that. On some days, it works. On others it does not. One of those days where I was able to execute what I wanted. It feels great the way we have been defending in the entire tournament. It gives that extra confidence. But see, at the end of the day, you have to go there every day and execute your plans and we have done well so far. (On Mayank Yadav's injury) I don't know what is happening. I had a brief chat and he seemed okay, which is a positive. Whatever conversation I have had, whatever we see, he has a good head on his shoulder. Really excited to see how his carer pans out.

11:11pm At the half-way stage, it might have seemed the Super Giants were a little par. As it turned out, they weren't, and much of it was down to how well they bowled. They were put under pressure early, with Gill and Sudharsan getting the Titans off to a decent start. Once the latter fell to Thakur on the final ball of the powerplay, though, things went south for the 2022 champions.

None of their middle-order batters got going, and they kept finding ways to get out. Williamson perished to a sensational catch, while some of the other batters' shot selection left a bit to be desired. Tewatia got a few boundaries away towards the end but that only reduced the margin of defeat, rather than acting as a catalyst for a turnaround.

Coming back to LSG, Thakur picked up his career-best IPL figures, finishing with a five-wicket haul. Krunal was also very impressive, giving away only 11 runs in four overs and accounting for three batters. Bishnoi and Naveen also chipped in, ensuring that LSG, once they got the momentum in their bowling innings, never relented.

Noor is the last batter in

Thakur to bowl the penultimate over. GT need 44 off 12

Yash: "LSG really seem to be the masters of defending totals."

Naveen to bowl out. GT need 49 off 18. If they are to get close, Tewatia has to make this over (and every other over, in fact) count

Tewatia is not happy with the movement behind the bowler's arm, and he tells the umpire about what is bothering him

Over the wicket now

Johnson is the new batter in. Off-strike for now, though

Sudharsan and Gill to open the batting for the Titans. Siddharth is prepping himself up to bowl the first over, having come on as the Impact Player, replacing Stoinis. Over the wicket to Sudharsan - here we go!

9:28pm Right. We are back. LSG, remember, have never lost defending a total in excess of 160. GT, though, have never lost to LSG. One of these records will be broken tonight. Which one will it be?

Around the wicket to Gill. Slip in place