'He is here to stay' - Netizens abuzz as Kyle Mayers' fiery half-century hands LSG dream start against PBKS

Shikhar Dhawan won the toss and opted to bowl first.

Published - 28 Apr 2023, 20:46 IST | Updated - 28 Apr 2023, 20:12 IST

13 Min Read

The Match No. 38 of the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) got underway as Punjab Kings (PBKS) squared off against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali. PBKS skipper Shikhar Dhawan won the toss and invited the KL Rahul-led side to bat first.

LSG got off to a good start, thanks to opener Kyle Mayers' half-century. In the sixth over of LSG's innings, the West Indies batter smashed his fourth fifty of the ongoing IPL off just 20 balls. He scored 54 runs from 24 balls, including seven boundaries and four maximums before being dismissed by Kagiso Rabada in the last over of the powerplay.

PBKS found an early breakthrough in the powerplay with Rabada dismissing LSG skipper KL Rahul in the fourth over. He bowled back of a length and outside the off-pole which was a cross-seam delivery. The keeper-batter attempted to cut this late but got it off the outside edge as it went straight to third-man fielder Shahrukh Khan.

LSG look for redemption

In the first fixture between the two sides, PBKS won by two wickets at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on April 15. All-rounder Sikandar Raza impressed with a stunning fifty as PBKS defeated LSG in their first encounter this season. LSG will look to seek revenge as they will try to set a huge target for the hosts.

Punjab Kings currently sit sixth in the IPL 2023 points table, having won four of their seven matches. They came into the contest off a sensational win over the five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians (MI) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 22. A clinical performance by stand-in skipper Sam Curran helped PBKS defeat MI by 13 runs in their previous encounter.

LSG, on the other hand, came off after a seven-run defeat against the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) on April 22 in front of their home crowd. Notably, it was a low-scoring encounter and LSG batters struggled with the bat as they faced a humiliating defeat against the Hardik Pandya-led side.

Here's how Twitter reacted:

Lucknow Super Giants

@LucknowIPL

1 4 4 0 0 4 4 0 6 0 4 0 0 6 0 4 6 1 0 6 50 off 20 balls for Kyle Mayers! 👏👏

07:57 PM · Apr 28, 2023

167

Johns.@CricCrazyJohns

Kyle Mayers in IPL 2023: 73(38), 53(22), 13(14), 0(3), 29(23), 51(42), 24(19), 54(24). He is having a dream season for Lucknow.

08:00 PM · Apr 28, 2023

1.7K

CricTracker@Cricketracker

Kyle Mayers in IPL 2023 so far: 8 - Innings 297 - Runs 160.54 - Strike rate 37.12 - Average 26 - 4s 20 - 6s 4- Fifties Steal deal of the IPL 2023 season?💰🫰 📸: IPL/BCCI

08:18 PM · Apr 28, 2023

207

Mufaddal Vohra

@mufaddal_vohra

Madness from Kyle Mayers! Fifty in just 20 balls - what a crazy knock by Mayers, he's on fire.

07:56 PM · Apr 28, 2023

1.7K

Ridhima Pathak@PathakRidhima

Kyle Mayers, in his last 13 balls: 6, 0, 6, 4, 0, 0, 6, 0, 4, 6, 1, 0, 6. A 20-ball fifty. Wowwww! Sheer destruction. 😍🔥 #PBKSvsLSG #IPL2023

08:01 PM · Apr 28, 2023

IndianPremierLeague

@IPL

Kyle Mayers is putting up a show here in Mohali. Brings up a quick-fire FIFTY off just 20 deliveries. Live - bit.ly/TATAIPL-2023-38 #TATAIPL #PBKSvLSG #IPL2023