IPL 2023: Sikandar Raza's all-round show helps PBKS beat LSG

On back of Sikandar Raza's all-round performance, Punjab Kings defeated hosts Lucknow Super Giants by 2-wickets in a last over thriller.

Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium is not easy to conquer for any batting heavy team. Lucknow’s clash with Punjab Kings has proved this yet again. Ekana produced one more low scoring yet interesting game for the fans. Punjab Kings in a tough run chase, defeated Lucknow Super Giants by 2 wickets. Punjab’s Sikandar Raza and Shahrukh Khan’s heroics helped the team cross the Lucknow Super Giants score of 159 runs. Batting first, LSG gave Punjab a target of 160 runs. Captain KL Rahul scored a magnificent fifty. Rahul was the top scorer in the entire game with 74 runs. This was a game run and ruled by the bowlers, yet Punjab’s finishing was brilliant to snatch two points from Lucknow. Sikandar Raza with his 57 and Shahrukh Khan with his 23 in 10 balls made Punjab victorious.

Sikandar Raza becomes Punjab's Sikandar against Lucknow

Zimbabwean All-rounder, Sikandar Raza was also awarded Player of the Match for his brilliant 57 runs and also a wicket with the ball. Sikandar Raza was happy with his performance and expressed his joy after the hard fought win over Lucknow. He said, “Feels great, to be honest. When I walked in, there were a few demons in my head. Credit to Shahrukh, Nice to get a fifty but if we had lost, I would not have felt so good”.

Captaining Punjab in the absence of Shikhar Dhawan, All-rounder Sam Curran was also ecstatic after the win. He said, “Amazing win, I thought our spinner bowled nicely…The way Sikandar played was brilliant… The way Shahrukh finished "That's what he is in our team to do”. Shahrukh Khan was unmoved by all the chatter around the green top wickets. He played a quickfire knock of 23 runs in 10 balls.  

On the other hand, the Lucknow Captain, KL Rahul had a brilliant game with the bat, but failed to give the team two important points. He along with his key bowlers did try their best but Shahrukh Khan had other plans on Sunday night. KL Rahul felt his team was 10 runs short. He said, “We were about 10 runs short, the dew came in to help the batters a bit. We did not do well with the ball”. Talking about the wicket he said, “When you are playing on a new pitch, you can’t rely on previous games so we are taking it as it comes”.