Marcus Stoinis scored a brilliant 72 as the Lucknow Super Giants beat Punjab Kings by 56 runs at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on Friday.
After being asked to bat first openers KL Rahul and Kyle Mayers got Lucknow off to a brisk start. The pair added 41 runs for the opening wicket before the former perished to Kagiso Rabada for 12.
Mayers reached his half century off just 20-balls by whacking a high full-toss from Kagiso Rabada for a maximum over mid-on. However the left hander perished in the same over, caught at mid-on by Shikhar Dhawan.
The pair of Ayush Badoni and Marcus Stoinis added 89 runs for the third wicket. The duo launched PBKS debutant Gurnoor Brar for 24 runs in the eighth over. However Liam Livingstone broke the partnership by dismissing Badoni (43), caught by Rahul Chahar.
Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran featured in a 76-run stand for the fourth wicket before the former was dismissed by Sam Curran for a 40 ball-72.
Pooran scored a blazing 19 ball-45 as Lucknow Super Giants posted a gigantic score of 257/5 in their 20 overs.
Chasing 258, Marcus Stoinis got LSG got off to a brilliant start as Shikhar Dhawan (1), slapped a short and wide delivery to Krunal Pandya at deep point. Prabhsimran Singh also fell for 9, pulling Naveen-ul-Haq to substitute fielder Sams at deep backward square.
The pair of Atharva Taide and Sikandar Raza added 78 runs for the third wicket before the latter slashed at a short and wide delivery outside off to Krunal at deep cover off Yash Thakur for 36.
Ravi Bishnoi then struck a body blow by dismissing the well set Taide for a breezy 36 ball- 66. However Punjab lost wickets at regular intervals and were eventually bowled out for 201, thereby losing the contest by 56 runs.
Lucknow Super Giants 257 for 5 (Stoinis 72, Mayers 54, Pooran 45, Badoni 43, Rabada 2-52) beat Punjab Kings 201 (Taide 66, Thakur 4-37, Naveen 3-30, Bishnoi 2-41) by 56 runs.