Krunal Pandya stifles Punjab Kings to earn crucial win for Lucknow Super Giants

Quinton de Kock top-scored for Super Giants, who opened up a four-point gap over Punjab in the process

Pune: Lucknow Super Giants 153-8, Punjab Kings 133-8 - Lucknow Super Giants win by 20 runs

Scorecard

Krunal Pandya's exemplary spell of left-arm spin was crucial as Punjab Kings fell 20 runs short of victory against Lucknow Super Giants.

Kings, whose modus operandi throughout this year's Indian Premier League has centred on boundary-hitting, were thwarted by KL Rahul's side, who took regular wickets in a run-chase of 153 to win comfortably in the end.

For Lucknow, this was a victory that strengthened their playoff aspirations in their first year as a franchise.

Quinton de Kock top-scored for Super Giants, who opened up a four-point gap over Punjab in the process, with Deepak Hooda his only teammate to pass 17 in an innings that never caught fire Their 85-run stand for the second wicket was pivotal in the final outcome.

That partnership meant a middle-order collapse wasn't fatal to their hopes, with late contributions from Jason Holder, Dushmantha Chameera and Mohsin Khan providing sufficient impetus for their defence.

^{Mohsin Khan impressed for Lucknow}

Kagiso Rabada was the pick of the Punjab bowlers, claiming four wickets, with Rahul Chahar taking two with his leg-spin.

In reply, Kings began steadily enough, with Mayank Agarwal falling for 25 in the fifth over, with Shikhar Dhawan struggling to break loose. He fell for just five in the seventh over, but Jonny Bairstow took charge at No.3 on a difficult surface.

He made 32 and held the innings together as Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma and Rishi Dhawan struggled for fluency, ultimately leaving Agarwal's men well short of a total that ought to have been within reach.