PBKS vs LSG Match 29 Results

6:28 PM IST PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Priyansh Arya receives the award for his swashbuckling 93 off just 37 balls, at a staggering strike rate of 251.35. On what stood out in his innings, he tells that he was pleased to have continued batting deep after the Powerplay and kept contributing runs for the team. On his six-hitting training, he shares that he does not practice hitting sixes at all. Adds that he focuses purely on timing the ball as well as possible in the nets, and finds that approach pays off more when he gets out to bat. On his fitness routine, he says he has put in work over the last four to five months, following whatever schedule his coaches send him and crediting the routine for the improvements he has seen. On his partnership with Cooper Connolly and the lack of conversation between them at the crease, he explains that he believes too much talking while batting only clutters the mind with unnecessary thoughts, and that a quieter partnership allows both batters to play with more clarity.

6:25 PM IST A quick recap of the double header - What an entertaining day it was! A proper Sunday treat. The day began at Eden Gardens with Kolkata Knight Riders getting a very narrow win against Rajasthan Royals, their first of the season. They almost botched up an under-par target, but Rinku Singh took them home with a responsible knock. Come the evening game, Punjab Kings again shattered the mathematical possibilities by smashing 254 runs on the back of ruthless ball-hitting and in the defence, they were just as clinical. They look like a team playing on a different stratosphere and maintain their unbeaten run. Lucknow Super Giants were left staring at the ceiling as they have a lot of soul-searching to do in all departments.

6:23 PM IST That's a wrap - The weekend comes to a close. Hope you all had a lot of fun. But IPL never stops. Monday, 20th April sees the clash between the western neighbours. Gujarat Titans are set to host Mumbai Indians at the gigantic Narendra Modi Stadium of Ahmedabad. The first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). But our buildup begins well in advance. Until then, cheers!

6:21 PM IST A defensive bowling masterclass - What followed after the restrictions lifted was a masterclass from the Kings' bowlers. On a belter of a pitch, they identified the bigger boundary and built their defensive plan around it. The overs dried up, the boundaries stopped coming, and LSG found themselves stuck in a phase of the game where they needed runs the most and found them the least. The asking rate climbed in silence. That is the cruel arithmetic of a T20 chase. A few quiet overs do not just cost runs, they shoot up the asking rate as well. The likes of Chahal and Vyshak tightened up the screws with cunning variations and were spot on with execution. By the time LSG looked up, the game was already gone. PBKS had pulled so far ahead that they couldn't even see their opponents in the rearview mirror.

6:21 PM IST Mayhem in Mullanpur - Prabhsimran was gone off the third ball, with Shami drawing first blood. That was as good as it got for LSG all night. Priyansh Arya, carrying the rust of a mixed season, chose tonight to shed all of it in one go. Connolly walked in and matched him shot for shot, as the two youngsters fed off each other in a partnership that left the LSG bowlers shellshocked. They added 182 runs in just 80 balls before Arya fell agonisingly short of a hundred. Connolly was not too far behind either, but by then the damage was well and truly done. The carnage did not stop there. Stoinis, Wadhera and Shashank piled on in the back end, squeezing every last run out of a demoralised attack. In an evening where LSG's bowlers were put to the sword one after another, Prince Yadav was the solitary bright spot, finishing with figures of 2/25.

6:20 PM IST The captain of the Punjab Kings - Shreyas Iyer says it was exceptional, with some of the shots being jaw-dropping, and adds that it takes a lot of courage and composure. He mentions that hitting fast bowlers off the back foot straight down the ground requires great bravery. He also feels that while things can slip at times, the way that the partnership was built, especially through the middle overs, was sensational. Iyer reveals he was chatting with Cooper Connolly and Priyansh Arya, jokingly asking them to compete for the most sixes, with his bat as the prize. Shreyas says that the team’s mantra is to let players be, trusting them to follow their own patterns without over-instruction. He mentions that Ricky Ponting delivers the motivation before the game, while he plays his part, and the players respond on the field. Iyer also points out that most of their bowlers are experienced, international players. Further says that the team has clear plans against opposition batters, and it ultimately comes down to execution. He stresses the importance of not getting complacent. On making this venue their fortress, he says absolutely. Adds that whenever they come here and look at the wicket, it gives them immense pleasure to be part of this setup. He mentions that last year they had to sit down and rethink their approach for this season, and wanted to prepare a surface that supports both their batters and bowlers.