When it came to the final crunch in the last stages of the IPL, the somewhat beleaguered Lucknow boys, scarred by the ignominy of a 10-wicket defeat and heart-breaking 4 losses on the trot till this match, delivered a brilliant all round show on a rain-interrupted night to leave on happier note, though not qualifying for play-offs having lowest run-rate among other contenders. For the fancied Mumbai Indians and it’s newly anointed skipper, Hardik, it was a highly forgettable IPL season, where nothing really clicked for them.
For the LSG fans the innings started with a disastrous opening partnership & pretty sluggish power-play and just when it seemed that a repeat of their earlier displays was on cards, in walked lithe and pumped up Pooran, to lift the team with an awesome display of power-hitting, that not only swung the tide in LSG favour but empowered KL Rahul to show his aggressive intent. Nice cameos in the end came from Badoni & Krunal. The fielders deserved a mention – a leaping Krunal saving a sure 6, also saved the match for LSG !
What is frightening from the T20 World Cup point of view for India is that the burly West Indians of likes Russell, Pooran, Hetmeyer, Powell ( arc of Narine may not play in WC) who’ve entertained us in this IPL will now go back to represent West Indies. Bumrah and our wily spinners will have to invent canny ways to beat the arc of their swinging bats and massive shots ! Hope that after IPL, the WI power hitters leave their form behind in India.
Good news from our camp, King Kohli has hit his ‘purple patch’ and Rohit looked good in yesterday’s game. It’s believed that the ‘Hitman’ is a ‘Big Match’ player. Let’s take another shot at the WC and this time ‘Lift it too’ !
Working on Living 