IPL: Lucknow Super Giants post second-highest team total in tournament's history

The Indian Premier League is arguably the most entertaining cricket league in the world as fans get to witness world’s best players in action. On Friday, April 28, cricket fanatics got to witness another mind-boggling game of cricket in IPL 2023 as Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants were up against each other in Match 38 of the season.

After being put in to bat first, Lucknow ripped apart Punjab’s bowling as they posted they scored 257/5 in their allotted 20 overs and registered the second highest team total in the history of IPL. The KL Rahul-led side surpassed RCB’s total of 248/3 against Gujarat Lions from 2016 edition and climbed to the second spot.

Highest team totals in IPL history

263/5 - RCB vs PWI, IPL 2013

257/5 - LSG vs PBKS, IPL 2023

248 /3 - RCB vs GL, IPL 2016

246/5 - CSK vs RR, IPL 2010

245/6 - KKR vs PBKS, IPL 2018

LSG got their innings off to a flying start as openers KL Rahul and Kyle Mayers added 41 runs for the first wicket off 20 balls. Rahul was dismissed in the fourth over by Kagiso Rabada for 12 off 9, however, Mayers continued his onslaught from the other end and brought up his half-century off just 20 balls.

The West Indian also fell prey to Rabada in the sixth over getting holed out to mid-on after scoring 54 off 24 balls with the help of seven fours and four sixes. LSG finished the powerplay on 74/2 with Marcus Stoinis and Ayush Badoni at the crease. PBKS captain Shikhar Dhawan took a sigh of relief seeing the back of Mayers inside the powerplay, however, much to his dismay, there was more carnage to follow.

Stoinis and Badoni took off from where Mayers had left and added 89 runs for the third wicket off just 46 balls. Badoni got dismissed for a well-made 43 off 24 in the 14th over which brought Nicholas Pooran to the crease. The southpaw came set from the pavilion itself and started his innings with three consecutive boundaries against Liam Livingstone. 

At the other end, Stoinis brought up his fifty off 31 deliveries and shifted gears in the death overs. The Australian all-rounder and Pooran got involved in a 76-run stand off just 29 balls and took LSG’s total past 230. Stoinis was finally dismissed in the 19th over after his breathtaking knock of 72 off 40 balls while Pooran got out in the last over after scoring 45 off 19 balls. Deepak Hooda (11* off 6) and Krunal Pandya (5* off 2) provided the perfect finish to the innings as LSG ended their innings on 257/5 and etched their name in the record books.