Hyderabad, March 27, 2025 – Nicholas Pooran’s blistering 70 off just 26 balls powered Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to a thrilling five-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in a high-octane IPL 2025 clash at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The explosive knock, studded with six fours and six sixes, turned the game on its head and handed LSG their first win of the season, while SRH suffered a rare home defeat.
Chasing a challenging 191, LSG stumbled early with opener Aiden Markram falling for a mere 1. However, Pooran, alongside Mitchell Marsh (52 off 31), unleashed a ferocious assault on the SRH bowling attack. The duo stitched a match-defining 116-run partnership, with Pooran’s strike rate of 269.23 leaving the Hyderabad crowd stunned. His 18-ball fifty also marked the fastest of IPL 2025 so far, showcasing his dominance over a formidable bowling lineup, including SRH skipper Pat Cummins, who eventually dismissed him lbw.
Earlier, LSG’s decision to bowl first paid dividends as Shardul Thakur’s career-best 4/34 rattled SRH’s top order. Despite Travis Head’s aggressive 47 off 28 and a late cameo from Aniket Verma (36 off 13), SRH could only muster 190/9. Prince Yadav’s dismissal of Head proved a turning point, silencing the home fans who had hoped for another high-scoring spectacle after SRH’s 286-run outing in their opener.
With Pooran’s fireworks setting the tone, Abdul Samad (22*) and David Miller calmly steered LSG home with 23 balls to spare. The victory propelled LSG to second in the points table, while SRH slipped to sixth. Pooran’s heroics also earned him the Orange Cap, with 145 runs in two matches. As LSG celebrated a statement win, SRH will look to regroup ahead of their next challenge.
