“LSG would reach 18-20 points if Pooran and Marsh remain in form in IPL 2025”: Mohammad Kaif
HYDERABAD, India (AP) and Staff Writer – Mohammed Shami had Aiden Markram caught at mid-off off his fourth ball in Lucknow’s run-chase before Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh featured in a brisk 116-run stand off just 43 balls.
Pooran completed his half-century off 18 balls with a swept six against Adam Zampa as Lucknow sprinted to 96-1 in just seven overs.
Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins trapped Pooran’s leg before wicket with a full-pitched delivery from round the wicket before his countryman Marsh completed his 50 with back-to-back boundaries against him.
Marsh fell soon afterward to Cummins when he holed out to long-on. Pant (15) sliced a catch to short third man, and Ayush Badoni was spectacularly caught by Harshal Patel, who ran from mid-wicket and dived in time to pluck a brilliant catch.
Pooran amassed 70 runs off 26 balls, with the help of 6 fours and 6 sixes. On the other hand, Marsh amassed 52 runs off 31 balls, including 7 fours and 2 sixes.
Abdul Samad looked in a hurry when he smacked two sixes and two fours in his quickfire 22 off eight balls as Lucknow recorded its first win after losing to Delhi Capitals in their opener.
Former player Mohammad Kaif lauded Marsh and Pooran and made a bold prediction about LSG. “Lucknow Super Giants would reach 18-20 points if Pooran and Marsh remain in form. If Lucknow qualifies for the playoffs, these two will be the reason. Marsh is powerful and can hit sixes. When he struck hard against Mohammed Shami, SRH got afraid. Marsh hasn’t played that well before in the IPL. He played cameos but not the innings like that,” Mohammad Kaif said.
Kaif reserves special praise for Pooran. “He took the game away in 25-30 balls. Pooran didn’t spare any bowlers, and his performance is a slap on the face of the bowlers. He has a long reach, a high backlift and relaxed shoulders. These qualities helped him in dominating the bowlers,” he added.
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