LSG vs PBKS, 21st Match at Lucknow, IPL, Apr 15 2023 - Ball by Ball Commentary

11:55pm Right. That will be that from us for tonight. Hope you enjoyed our coverage as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. The action in the IPL, especially on weekends, comes thick and fast. MI take on KKR in the afternoon game before GT and RR clash later in the evening. Do join us for those games too. Until next time, this is me (Shashwat) signing off on behalf of Thilak and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo! Goodbye, goodnight and take care!

Sikandar Raza, Player of the Match: (On the feeling) It feels great, to be honest. When I got out, there were a few demons. Credit to Shahrukh for the way he finished. If we had not won, I might not have felt so good. (On the pressure) It is one of the biggest stages and now that you are here, you want to do well. I had average games (prior to tonight) so that was the emotion I was carrying as well but it was important to channelise it. Jitesh's wicket was very crucial. We all know how he bats. If he stayed for 6-8 balls, he would have finished the game by himself. Then Shahrukh came out and hit the first ball for six, and I felt really confident that he can finish off the game.

Sam Curran, Punjab Kings captain: Amazing win and this franchise seems to love a close game. The boys chipped in; it was not a perfect game but good to win. The guys bowled really well; the spinners bowled nicely. The way we bowled towards the end was good. Dew came in but the wicket was still offering a bit. Raza played nicely in the middle, and the way Shahrukh came in and finished. The word around the dressing room is that he has worked very hard and the coaching staff have been clear with his role. Fingers crossed he can keep continuing. Different dimensions, so, each game, you have to come up with different plans. The rhythm is good. We used 6-7 bowlers, we have so many options and that is good to have.

Shahrukh Khan: As I told you after the first innings, it was important to play smartly in the middle. The way that Raza and everyone played, it allowed me to go out and finish off the job. (On first-ball six off Wood) I was late to come in. Just when Jitesh got out, the time-out happened. I just wanted to keep my mind clear. I think my practice is paying off. If I go too cheeky, I don't think it will work too much. So, I try to play straight and happy that it paid off. When Harpreet was batting, I told him to go for the big hit off the last ball. Unfortunately, he got out to Wood but it is important that I was on strike (for the final over) and finished it off for my team.

KL Rahul, Lucknow Super Giants captain: I think we were about 10 runs short towards the end. The dew came in and it seemed to help the batters a little bit more. We did not execute well with the ball. When you are playing on a new ground and a new pitch, you cannot rely on the previous games. We take it as it comes, assess it on the go and not really set ourselves a target. If a couple of batters get in, play good knocks, we can get to 180-190. Unfortunately, today, few of the batters hit good shots but got caught just on the boundary line. On another day, we would have got those 10-15 runs extra that would have made the difference.

(On his catch) The game was on the line and I try to give everything when I am on the field. Each player has a different role to play and that is why it is called a team game. We have 7-8 batters in our team and few can clear any boundary. Some are not as powerful but have skill. It is about each player playing their part and role and that is what makes a team exciting, and that is what we need to do. We do have power hitters down the order in Pooran and Stoinis. Mayers up top takes the aggressive route and a few of us have to assess the conditions and stick to what works for them. Just about giving them the confidence to do what they are comfortable with.

11:30pm Wow, what a game that turned out to be. For large stretches of this innings, it did not look like it would come down to the final over but it did, largely thanks to Bishnoi's brilliance. That, though, also highlights how Rahul and LSG missed a trick by not introducing him earlier. While the ploy might have been to delay his arrival and use him at the death as much as possible, they allowed the game to drift, especially when Raza and Bhatia were at the crease together. LSG would also be ruing the way they batted, and the runs they left out in the middle. Rahul scored 74 but after this defeat, the murmurs around his strike rate will only get louder.

As for the Kings, they would be thrilled with how they held their nerve. Just a few days ago, they failed to win in the final over, so, from that perspective alone, this is an improvement. Shahrukh also came to the party, with Raza also notching up his maiden IPL fifty. They were excellent with the ball too towards the end, and a combination of those factors means that they are now level on points with LSG.

And it will indeed be Bishnoi who will bowl the final over. 7 runs to get, Shahrukh on strike. Who are you backing?

Rabada in at 10

Calin: "Super over!" -- Hmmm....

Wood versus Shahrukh. This could be the game right here.

Wood to bowl the penultimate over. How does Shahrukh play this? Does he try to get as many runs in this over as possible? Or does he take his deep?

Brar is the new batter at the crease. Slip in place

Bibhav: "Bringing Ravi Bishnoi in at around 10th over would have been much better isn't it?" -- Well, here he is now, bowling just his second over. PBKS need 23 off 18 balls