LSG vs PBKS: KL Rahul scores first half-century of IPL 2023 with patient knock in Lucknow
Lucknow Super Giants captain KL Rahul scored his first half-century of IPL 2023, after playing a patient knock against Punjab Kings at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.
In Short
- KL Rahul scores his 1st fifty of IPL 2023
- Rahul scores measured half-century vs PBKS
- Rahul becomes fastest to 4,000 IPL runs
Lucknow Super Giants captain KL Rahul scored his first half-century of IPL 2023, after playing a patient knock against Punjab Kings at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.
Rahul brought up his fifty in 40 balls to get his side to a positive start against PBKS. Interestingly, Rahul became the second-fastest batter to score 2,000 IPL runs as captain, taking only 47 innings to achieve the feat. The 30-year-old also became the fastest batter to hit 4,000 runs in the IPL, going past the legendary Chris Gayle’s previous record.
Rahul, alongside Kyle Mayers, started the game off on the front foot, scoring 49 runs in the powerplay. Mayers, who was the aggressor in the opening partnership, was dismissed after scoring 29 runs off 23 balls by PBKS spinner Harpreet Brar.
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Mayer’s dismissal was followed by Deepak Hooda, who departed after scoring just two runs. Rahul then stitched a crucial 48-run partnership with all-rounder Krunal Pandya to put his side back in the driver’s seat. Wickets kept falling around him as the hard-hitting Nicholas Pooran walked back to the pavilion without moving the scoreboard.
Rahul was then joined by hard-hitting Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis. The two batters upped the ante in the final overs of the game, but Stoinis couldn’t manage to hold on to his wicket for long, departing after scoring 15 runs off 11 balls. Rahul then tried to hit PBKS pacer Arshdeep Singh for a shot over long-on but was caught by Nathan Ellis.
Rahul ended the game at 74 runs off 55 balls, hitting eight boundaries and a solitary six. Rahul’s knock helped his side post a total of 159 for 8 in the first innings in Lucknow.
Lucknow Super Giants starting XI
KL Rahul (c), Kyle Mayers, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Ayush Badoni, Mark Wood, Avesh Khan, Yudhvir Singh, Ravi Bishnoi
Punjab Kings starting XI
Atharva Taide, Harpreet Bhatia, Matthew Short, Sikandar Raza, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shahrukh Khan, Sam Curran (c), Harpreet Brar, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh