The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
So, that is it from myself, Karthik Raj and my co-commentator, Sooryanarayan Sesha. Do stay tuned to Sportskeeda and catch up on the Vincy Premier League. Otherwise, take rest and join us for plenty of IPL action while the first Test between Sri Lanka and Ireland is also set to begin tomorrow. Until next time, it is a warm good-bye!
Sikandar Raza, Player of the Match: It feels great to be honest. Credit to Shahrukh for the way he finished the game. It was great to get a fifty but it wouldn't have been great if we didn't win. That was there but it is one of the biggest games out there. I had two average games, so was carrying the emotions. Thankfully, I played well too. For me, Jitesh's wicket was a turning point. If he had played 10-12 more balls, he would have finished the game on his own. Shahrukh is in great touch and hopefully he can carry on like this!
Sam Curran (Punjab Kings captain): Amazing win. Seems like this franchise loves a close game. Wasn't a perfect game but happy to win the game. KG does what he does and we bowled well at the end. The way Sikandar Raza played was very good and Shahrukh Khan the way he finished, that is why he is in the team. Trev and the coaching team have been very clear about his role. Hopefully, he can continue like this. In the IPL, there are different dimensions in the various grounds. So. the plans change from venue to venue. Hopefully, Shikhar is fit soon!
Time for the Post-match Presentation!
Let's hear from the man of the moment, Shahrukh Khan (Punjab Kings): Really feeling good. It's important that we played smartly in the middle. I think the way Raza and everyone for that matter played and set it up for me, I'm glad I was able to finish it. (On the first ball six off Wood) I was actually late to come in because just when Jitesh got out there was a timeout. When I went out my mindset was simple, I just wanted to react to the ball. I've been practicing really well so that helped. If I try and be cheeky it doesn't work. It's good that it came off though. Harpreet was batting and I told him to go for the big hit and even if he got out I was there in the last over. Unfortunately he got out to Woody.
KL Rahul (Lucknow Super Giants captain, who also presents Mark Wood the Purple Cap): I think we were about 10 short in the end. But the dew came in the last 10 overs. Not saying it made it easier but it just helped the batters a little more and we didn't execute well. When you're playing in a new ground, you can't really rely on previous games to know what kind of a score you need to set. We were just taking it as it comes, trying to assess what a good target could be, seeing what a par total was with a couple of guys getting set in. Kyle Mayers played really well but unfortunately a few of the big shots were caught on the boundary line. Another day it would have gone the distance and would have given us 12 runs extra. (On his catch) Game on the line, and you give it everything. I give it everything when I go on the field. I saw the ball and went for it. Each player plays differently, each player has a different role and that's why it's called a team game. Few of them have the power to clear any rope, few of them don't have as much power but have the skill. That's what makes a team exciting and that's what we need to do as a team. We do have power hitters down the order in Pooran and Stoin. Kyle Mayers up top does take the aggressive route. Few of us try and assess the conditions. It's just about giving them the confidence to do what they're comfortable in, let them think for themselves and do the best for the team.
MATCH OVER!
Punjab Kings win by two wickets!
Lucknow Super Giants 159-8 (20) Punjab Kings 161-8 (19.3)
Sikandar Raza 57 (41) | Matthew Short 34 (22)
Yudhvir Singh Charak 3-0-19-2 | Ravi Bishnoi 2.3-0-18-2
What a cameo from Shahrukh Khan. He has won the game for Preity Zinta's Punjab Kings. Just the kind of climax that is written in the stars! The game went too close for comfort but Punjab will be delighted at pulling this off.
Chasing 160 for victory, Punjab didn't get off to a great start as debutant Yudhvir Singh Charak removed fellow debutant Atharva Taide and Prabhsimran Singh. Matthew Short counter-attacked and release the pressure off his team but his 34-run knock was brought to an end in the sixth over by K Gowtham. Thereafter, Harpreet Singh Bhatia and Sikandar Raza got together for a partnership but they struggled to find the fence for a long time. Eventually, the pressure resulted in Yudhvir holing out to deep backward square off Krunal Pandya's bowling.
Just when the chase was in jitters, Raza broke loose by cracking 17 runs off Krunal's bowling in the 13th over. Suddenly, LSG were under pressure and KL Rahul brought in Ravi Bishnoi for the first time in the 15th over. The young leggie made an impact immediately by dismissing Sam Curran to give some hope to his side. Then, Raza finally got to his maiden IPL fifty but LSG skipper KL Rahul plucked out a stunning catch to send back Jitesh Sharma.
However, in came Shahrukh Khan and he signaled his intention right-away with a maximum off his very first delivery. Just when it looked like LSG went ahead again, Bishnoi got his second scalp and it was the big scalp of Raza in the 18th over. Things became interesting with Punjab needing 20 off the last 12 balls but Shahrukh released the pressure with yet another six off Wood. His partner, Harpreet Brar also struck a boundary but Wood had the final laugh by having him nick behind. Going into the final over, seven runs were required and Shahrukh didn't break a sweat as he finished the chase with three balls left even as Bishnoi tried his best to contain!
19.3 Ravi Bishnoi to Shahrukh Khan, FOUR! SHAHRUKH KHAN IS THE HERO FOR THE PUNJAB KINGS! Ice-cool under pressure and he finishes the job for his side. Full in length outside the off stump and he leans forward to power it up and over mid-off. Places it well wide of the man patrolling the fence as it clears the ropes on the bounce and out comes a look of determination and satisfaction from SRK. He has done the job that he's in the side for and what a match we've witnessed. Ekana has been breached as the Punjab Kings win by 2 wickets with three deliveries to spare!
19.2 Ravi Bishnoi to Shahrukh Khan, JUST SHORT! Full outside the off stump as SRK sits low to pump it down the ground. Mistimes it though as Hooda charges in from long on before it falls just short of his dive, before the deflection allows the batters to run two. 3 needed off 4...
19.1 Ravi Bishnoi to Shahrukh Khan, EXCELLENT RUNNING! Length delivery outside the off stump and SRK brings out a flat slog sweep wide of deep mid-wicket who picks it up and has a shy at the bowler's end. Rabada charges back and makes it but SRK takes some time to make his ground. He gets there in the end!
Wow, a dot ball off the last delivery but Shahrukh Khan will be on strike. That is the key thing for Punjab
19
overs
153/8score
1
1wd
6
1
4
W
0
runs
Kagiso Rabada*
0(1)
Shahrukh Khan
15(7)
Mark Wood
2/35
18.6 Mark Wood to Kagiso Rabada, excellent delivery. Fired into a good length on middle stump at 150.6 clicks. Rabada hangs back and can only punch it back into the pitch. Punjab Kings need 7 off the last over!
Kagiso Rabada, LHB, is into the middle
Oh! There seems to be another twist in this game. Harpreet Brar has edged it behind to Nicholas Pooran!
18.5 Mark Wood to Harpreet Brar, NICKS BEHIND! ANOTHER TWIST! Goes back of a length on middle and leg stump as Brar backs away again. He throws his hands at it but can only manage a thick edge as he's rushed for pace, with Pooran doing the rest without a fuss. Eight down now, the Kings!
Harpreet Brar c Nicholas Pooran b Mark Wood 6 (4b) (4*1 6*0)
18.4 Mark Wood to Harpreet Brar, FOUR! DRILLED! Disdainful from Brar! Backs away to access the off-side as Wood comes around the wicket and hones a full one that follows him. Brar just powers it with disdain as he picks the gap wide of mid-off and sends it blazing away like a tracer bullet. Just 7 required off 8 as it brings up the 150 for the Punjab Kings!
18.3 Mark Wood to Shahrukh Khan, OH! Wide of off stump on a length as SRK reaches for it. He ends up skewing it off the inside edge past his stumps for a single to square leg
Wanted match winning shot from Raza but still a very top innings...
18.2 Mark Wood to Shahrukh Khan, TOP EDGED...FOR SIX! What a result for the Kings! A sharp bouncer that is well-directed at the stumps. SRK stands tall and swivels looking to take it on with a pull but it rises high on him. Gets a top-edge that balloons over the keeper's head and manages to soar over the ropes as well