Daijiworld Media Network - Hyderabad
Hyderabad, Apr 5: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper Rishabh Pant struck a boundary with one ball to spare as his side clinched a dramatic five-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Sunday, marking Lucknow’s first win of the IPL 2026 season.
Chasing 157, Lucknow looked in control for most of the innings, but Hyderabad staged a late fightback to make the finish nail-biting. Pant held his nerve, driving Jaydev Unadkat over mid-off for four off the penultimate ball to seal the win.
Earlier, SRH recovered from a poor start to post 156/9. Lucknow pacers struck early, with Mohammed Shami removing Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, while Prince Yadav accounted for Ishan Kishan, leaving Hyderabad reeling at 11/3. After Liam Livingstone’s dismissal, SRH slumped further to 35/4.
A counterattacking partnership between Heinrich Klaasen (62 off 41) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (56 off 33) rescued Hyderabad, putting together a 116-run stand for the fifth wicket. Despite their efforts, Lucknow bowlers restricted the total to a manageable target.
In reply, Aiden Markram gave Lucknow a brisk start, scoring 45 before falling to Shivang Kumar. Pant anchored the innings, rotating strike and keeping the scoreboard ticking, while Nicholas Pooran and Ayush Badoni fell to sharp fielding and tight bowling.
The contest came down to the final over, with Lucknow needing nine runs. Pant’s composed batting, supported briefly by Abdul Samad’s cameo, turned the game. Two boundaries off the first two balls of the last over and a finishing four off the penultimate delivery sealed the win for Lucknow.
Brief Scores:
• Sunrisers Hyderabad: 156/9 in 20 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 62, Nitish Kumar Reddy 56; Mohammed Shami 2-9, Prince Yadav 2-34)
• Lucknow Super Giants: 160/5 in 19.5 overs (Rishabh Pant 68*, Aiden Markram 45; Harsh Dubey 2-18) – Won by 5 wickets
Pant’s unbeaten half-century proved decisive, showcasing his ability to stay calm under pressure and lead his team to a memorable victory.