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May 09, 2026
6:57 AM
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LSG Finally Get a Night to Celebrate
After weeks of frustration, close defeats, and constant questions around their season, Lucknow Super Giants finally gave their fans something worth cheering for. And the timing could not have been better.
In a rain-shortened clash at Ekana Stadium, LSG defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 9 runs in a match that stayed alive till the final over. The scoreboard looked heavy, the pressure kept changing sides, and for a long time it honestly felt like RCB would somehow chase it down.
But Lucknow stayed calm at the important moments.
This win may not suddenly fix their entire season, but after six consecutive losses, it definitely felt like a release inside that dressing room.
Mitchell Marsh Set the Tone Early
Sometimes a batter walks in with complete clarity, and that is exactly how Mitchell Marsh looked from the first few overs. Home
He did not spend much time settling down. Anything slightly short disappeared quickly, and even the fuller deliveries were driven with confidence. The ball was coming nicely onto the bat, and Marsh made sure RCB never got comfortable during the powerplay.
What made the innings impressive was the control. It was aggressive batting, but not reckless hitting.
RCB kept trying different options with the ball, but nothing really slowed him down for long. By the time the innings entered the middle overs, Lucknow already had the momentum they had been missing for most of the tournament.
His century could not have arrived at a better moment for LSG.
Nicholas Pooran then added useful runs without wasting deliveries, while Rishabh Pant played one of those short but damaging cameos that completely changes the shape of a T20 innings. Pant’s unbeaten 32 from only 10 balls quietly pushed the total from good to dangerous.
And in the end, those extra runs mattered a lot more than expected.
RCB’s Chase Started in the Worst Possible Way
Chasing a revised target above 200 was never going to be simple, but losing early wickets made the situation even tougher.
Mohammed Shami removed Jacob Bethell in the opening over, and then came the big moment.
Prince Yadav bowled Virat Kohli with a delivery that completely changed the atmosphere inside the stadium. It angled in late, slipped through the gap, and crashed into the stumps before Kohli could adjust.
For a few overs, RCB looked shaken.
The required rate kept climbing, the crowd became louder, and Lucknow suddenly looked fully in control of the match.
Rajat Patidar Tried to Pull RCB Back
Just when things were slipping away, Rajat Patidar stepped up and changed the tempo of the chase.
He looked sharp against spin, confident against pace, and most importantly, he never allowed the pressure to settle for too long. Whenever LSG tried to slow things down, Patidar answered with a boundary or a clean six.
Devdutt Padikkal supported him really well from the other end. The partnership slowly brought RCB back into the contest, and for a while it genuinely looked like Lucknow were losing control again.
Patidar’s batting had intent without panic. That balance kept RCB alive.
Even the Lucknow bowlers looked unsure for a brief phase because the partnership was growing quickly and the asking rate was no longer impossible.
Prince Yadav Changed the Match in One Over
Every close T20 game usually has one turning point, and this one belonged to Prince Yadav.
First, he dismissed Padikkal with a return catch. Then he removed Jitesh Sharma almost immediately with a sharp short ball. Two wickets in the same over suddenly pushed RCB back under pressure.
That over completely changed the mood again.
Patidar continued attacking and reached a well-made fifty, but once Shahbaz Ahmed dismissed him, the chase became dependent on individual brilliance rather than proper control.
Tim David nearly provided that miracle.
Tim David Almost Took the Game Away
For a few minutes, it felt like Lucknow were about to lose another game from a winning position.
Tim David came out swinging hard and connected beautifully. The boundaries started coming quickly, and the equation suddenly became manageable again. Romario Shepherd joined the attack later, and together they kept RCB alive till the last over.
At that point, the pressure was completely on Rishabh Pant.
He had to decide which bowler would deliver the final over with 20 runs still needed. Pant trusted Digvesh Rathi despite the pressure, and that decision ended up winning Lucknow the match.
The young spinner stayed composed, mixed his pace cleverly, and avoided giving RCB the one big over they desperately needed. About Us
RCB finished close, but not close enough.
This Result Could Matter Later in the Season
For Lucknow, this was more than just two points.
The team had been struggling badly at home, confidence looked low, and criticism around performances was increasing after every game. Winning a high-pressure match like this can sometimes shift the energy inside a squad very quickly.
Mitchell Marsh will obviously receive most of the attention, and deservedly so, but Lucknow also got strong contributions from younger players when the game became tense.
For RCB, the defeat raises a few uncomfortable questions. Their batting still looks dangerous, but the bowling unit has started leaking too many runs at important stages.
And with the playoff race getting tighter, back-to-back losses are not something they can ignore anymore.
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