Both teams were playing this match for two completely different purposes. While GT needed to win the match to confirm their top two spots, LSG was playing for their pride. Gujarat captain Shubman Gill won the toss and decided to chase the target, a thing that they have done expertly this season. The M&M pair of Lucknow got off to a flyer, scoring 53 runs in the powerplay without losing a wicket.
Before Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram could complete another 100-run partnership, Sai Kishore got the latter out. However, LSG batters Marsh and Nicholas Pooran kept the carnage going. They scored 160 runs in 15 overs, with the Aussie hard-hitter nearing his first IPL century. He indeed got there and, along with his brother Shaun Marsh, became the first pair of brothers to score a century in the IPL.
With Pooran’s quickfire half-century, LSG posted a mammoth score of 235 runs. Although the GT batters were in excellent form this season, the pressure of chasing such a big total was evident. Gujarat’s top three crumbled somewhat under that pressure, as none of Sai Sudharsan, Gill, or Jos Buttler managed to score a half-century. The trio scored 21, 35, and 33 runs, respectively.
When all three of them got out, GT’s middle order was put under pressure for the first time this season. Although Sherfane Rutherford and Shahrukh Khan tried their best, the 2022 champions barely managed to cross 200. While Khan scored the second half-century of his IPL career, the West Indian contributed 38 runs by hitting three sixes. William O’Rourke was the star in the bowling department, taking 3 wickets for just 27 runs in his 4 overs. Marsh deservedly won the Man of the Match award for his 117 runs. All eyes will be on RCB tomorrow as they take on SRH.
Fans react to LSG’s victory over the table toppers Gujarat Titans
The fans expected a one-sided domination from the Titans, as Lucknow wasn’t performing at their best. However, they were proved wrong, as LSG became the only team to beat the 2022 champions twice this season. Some fans said that if it weren’t for captain Rishabh Pant’s poor outing, LSG would’ve qualified.
One fan praised O’Rourke’s performance and said he was calm and clinical under pressure. Another fan said LSG were the perfect party crashers, and they managed to do it against the Titans. Some fans even predicted that the Kiwi fast bowler might go for 7 to 8 crores in the next auction. Here are some of the top reactions from the fans:
One user said that this loss would certainly hurt GT’s chances of reaching the top 2 spots. Another fan stated that LSG at least ended the tournament on a high note and gave their fans something to cheer about. Some fans joked about Sanjiv Goenka being happy with the win. Others didn’t care about the loss and said that the Titans were still on top.