Twitter Reactions: Sikandar Raza, Shahrukh Khan help Punjab Kings trump LSG in hard-fought contest

The theme of last-over finishes in IPL 2023 continued after Punjab Kings (PBKS) edged past Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in a thrilling contest at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. It was the Punjab Kings' all-rounder duo of Sikandar Raza and Shahrukh Khan who starred in their side's brilliant victory after the bowlers did their job in the first innings. 

Chasing a par total on a tricky surface, Punjab got off to a worrisome start after Atharva Taide was dismissed for a duck on his debut for the side. Prabhsimran Singh's horrible run with the bat continued as he was dismissed cheaply for a third game in a row.

The chase was going nowhere before Matthew Short took it upon himself to resurrect the innings. The Aussie dasher smashed 34 off 22 deliveries to put the pressure on the home side. But his dismissal on the final delivery of the powerplay got the home side back into the contest. 

The tourists were feeling the heat in the middle overs, but they found a hero in the form of star all-rounder Sikandar Raza, who registered his maiden IPL half-century to shift the momentum of the game once again. It looked like the Punjab Kings were in cruise control with Raza and Curran at the crease but Rahul's decision to hold back Ravi Bishnoi proved to be a masterstroke.

The young leggie, who dismissed the Punjab skipper in his first over of the match, scalped the prized wicket of Raza in his second over to land a severe blow to Punjab's hopes. However, the game was far from done at that point as Shahrukh Khan came out all guns blazing to propel his side over the line in another thrilling final over.

LSG stutter after KL Rahul's well-compiled half-century

It was Punjab Kings' stand-in skipper Sam Curran who won the toss and decided to bowl first on a seemingly green surface in Lucknow. The home side, batting first in front of a vociferous crowd, made a brisk start to the game on the back of a solid opening stand between Kyle Mayers and skipper KL Rahul.

However, Curran's decision to introduce spin into the attack paid dividends for his side as LSG lost Mayers in the eighth over of the match. Deepak Hooda, who was making his 100th appearance in the competition, could not make it count on his landmark occasion after being dismissed for just two runs to his name.

Rahul, who was looking in decent touch for the first time in the tournament, stitched a decent partnership with Krunal Pandya. But the visitors clawed their way back into the game after dismissing Pandya and Nicholas Pooran, for a golden duck, on successive deliveries. There were no heroics from Marcus Stoinis either as the home side finished with a par total of 159 runs in their 20 overs.

Ian Raphael Bishop@irbishi

Shahruk Khan💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾

11:04 PM · Apr 15, 2023

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Yusuf Pathan@iamyusufpathan

On a slow track, @SRazaB24 batted beautifully. @shahrukh_35 was brilliant with the bat in the death overs. Congratulations @PunjabKingsIPL #LSGvPBKS

11:33 PM · Apr 15, 2023

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Ryan Burl@ryanburl3

Awesome 50 @SRazaB24 👏🏼 Now go on and win the game for @PunjabKingsIPL 🙌 #TATAIPL2023

11:00 PM · Apr 15, 2023

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Irfan Pathan@IrfanPathan

This was difficult chase than it looked. Well done @PunjabKingsIPL

11:30 PM · Apr 15, 2023

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Ian Raphael Bishop@irbishi

Happy for Sikandar Raza. Playing in the IPL was a dream of his that finally came through. Today, a maiden IPL half century and a wicket in winning the game for @PunjabKingsIPL

11:28 PM · Apr 15, 2023

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Punjab Kings@PunjabKingsIPL

What's with us and last over thrillers? 😳 #LSGvPBKS #JazbaHaiPunjabi #SaddaPunjab #TATAIPL

11:27 PM · Apr 15, 2023

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Wasim Jaffer@WasimJaffer14

Wo Sikandar hee dosto kehlata hai 😉 A fighting win to get the campaign back on track 💪🏽 Well played boys @PunjabKingsIPL 👏🏽 #LSGvPBKS #IPL2023

11:42 PM · Apr 15, 2023

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Aakash Chopra@cricketaakash

Bishnoi playing?

10:36 PM · Apr 15, 2023

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IndianPremierLeague@IPL

For his match-winning half-century under pressure in the chase, @SRazaB24 becomes our 🔝 performer from the second innings of the #LSGvPBKS clash in the #TATAIPL 👌👌 A look at his batting summary 🔽

11:40 PM · Apr 15, 2023

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IndianPremierLeague@IPL

Shahrukh Khan gets @PunjabKingsIPL over the line 🔥🔥 What a finish to an epic chase 🙌 Scorecard ▶️ bit.ly/TATAIPL-2023-21 #TATAIPL | #LSGvPBKS

11:39 PM · Apr 15, 2023

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Punjab Kings@PunjabKingsIPL

Back in the win column! 💪 Sadde sheran de jazbe ne gazab kar diya. 🤩 #LSGvPBKS #JazbaHaiPunjabi #SaddaPunjab #TATAIPL

11:37 PM · Apr 15, 2023

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The Bharat Army@thebharatarmy

🔴🏏 VICTORY FOR PBKS! The Punjab Kings move to the 4th place after this splendid run chase. 💥 Shahrukh Khan gets his "Main Hoon Na" moment as his cool & composed nature helped PBKS defeat LSG in their backyard! 😎 📷 BCCI • #LSGvPBKS #IPL #IPL2023 #TATAIPL #BharatArmy

11:42 PM · Apr 15, 2023

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Lucknow Super Giants@LucknowIPL

We will bounce back, stronger and better 💪 #LSGvPBKS | #IPL2023 | #LucknowSuperGiants | #LSG | #GazabAndaz

11:43 PM · Apr 15, 2023

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Robin Aiyuda Uthappa@robbieuthappa

What a finish from @shahrukh_35 and what a match winning knock from @SRazaB24 !! 👏🏾@CurranSM takes the win tonight with a brilliant bowling spell! Great spell by the young gun Yudhvir Singh. Exciting prospect!! #PBKSvLSG

11:53 PM · Apr 15, 2023

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Mithali Raj@M_Raj03

What a fantastic chase from @PunjabKingsIPL! Shahrukh Khan oozed confidence in the final over and Sikandar Raza played a crucial knock. Another thrilling finish in #TATAIPL. 👌 #LSGvPBKS

11:52 PM · Apr 15, 2023

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