Lucknow Super Giants piled on 257/5 against Punjab Kings in Mohali - a total so large that it could only be matched on a video game with cheat codes or by Chris Gayle, who powered RCB to 263/5 with his knock of 175 in 2013 against Pune Warriors.

But unlike Chris Gayle’s destructive knock, LSG put on the second-highest team total in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) through a brilliant team effort. 

Marcus Stoinis (72 off 40), Kyle Mayers (54 off 24), Nicholas Pooran (45 off 19) and Ayush Badoni (43 off 24) contributed at a brisk pace collectively. LSG hit 41 boundaries (27 fours and 14 sixes) in their innings, which was also the second most in the IPL history.

A clinical bowling effort by the team then saw LSG home with a margin of 56 runs. The win took LSG to second place courtesy of a positive net run rate of 0.841. Only Rajasthan Royals have a better run rate than LSG in the IPL and lead the points table with the same number of points.

Mayers takes charge upfront

Taking on Arshdeep Singh, Punjab Kings’ premier fast bowler, and hitting him for four boundaries in his first over helped Super Giants set the tempo to put on the mammoth score. 

Kyle Mayers was dismissed in the sixth over but did his job by scoring at a strike rate of 225. His 24-ball 54 was laced with seven fours and four maximums.

Badoni takes on the mantle 

While Mayers nullified the threat of Arshdeep Singh, Ayush Badoni, who came in one down, pulled off the same feat against Rahul Chahar, the lead spinner for the Punjab Kings. 

Badoni hit a lofted drive on the off on Chahar’s first ball in the seventh over for a boundary. Gurnoor Brar bowled the next over and was treated in the same manner by Badoni. 

Badoni stayed in the middle till the 14th over and played second fiddle to destructive Marcus Stoinis.

Stoinis and Pooran put on a Big Show!

Super Giants shuffled their batting order on Friday and it turned out to be a masterstroke! After a 90-run partnership with Badoni for the third wicket, Stoinis combined with Nicholas Pooran for a 76-run stand which came in just 29 balls. 

While Stoinis made 72 off 40 by hitting six fours and five sixes, Pooran was even more destructive by scoring 45 off 19. Pooran hit just one six in his innings but laced it with seven fours.

Naveen’s keeps Kings in check

Naveen Ul Haq’s four overs gave away just 30 runs and got the wickets of opener Prabhsimran Singh, a dangerous Sam Curran and later Kagiso Rabada. He has played three matches and has bowled 12 overs at an economy of under six. With Mark Wood unavailable for matches later in the IPL, LSG seem to have found a perfect replacement. 

Yash Thakur (4/35 in 3.5 overs), Ravi Bishnoi (2/41 in 4 overs) and Marcus Stoinis (1/21 in 1.5 overs) were also among wickets.

What next for the Super Giants?

LSG will head back home and prepare for a match against Royal Challengers Bangalore on May 1, Monday. 

LSG chased down RCB’s 212/2 in Bengaluru on April 10. Nicholas Pooran (62 off 19) and Marcus Stoinis (65 off 30) were the team’s star performers that day. The two teams also squared off twice last season. LSG went down in both of those matches. 

Brief Scores: Lucknow Super Giants 257/5 (Marcus Stoinis 72, Kyle Mayers 54, Nicholas Pooran 45, Ayush Badoni 43, Kagiso Rabada 2/52) beat Punjab Kings 201 (Atharva Taide 66, Yash Thakur 4/37, Naveen Ul Haq 3/30, Ravi Bishnoi 2/41) by 56 runs.