Chasing 191, LSG had an early setback as Aiden Markram departed cheaply. However, the duo of Pooran and Mitchell Marsh (52 off 31) took control, forging a game-changing 116-run stand for the second wicket. Pooran was in a destructive mood, launching massive sixes, particularly targeting Simarjeet Singh and Abhishek Sharma. His aggressive approach put SRH on the back foot, with his boundaries raining mostly towards the square-leg region.
SRH bowlers struggled to contain Pooran, who brought up the fastest fifty of the season in just 18 balls. Even Pat Cummins wasn’t spared, as Pooran dispatched him for two boundaries in his first over, helping LSG reach 77/1 by the end of the powerplay.
The West Indian’s blistering knock was finally halted by Cummins, who trapped him LBW in the ninth over. After Pooran’s departure, Marsh continued the charge, reaching his half-century in just 29 deliveries. While Rishabh Pant (15 off 15) couldn’t make a significant impact, Abdul Samad’s late cameo ensured LSG crossed the finish line with ease.
Earlier, opting to bowl first, Shardul Thakur struck early, delivering a fiery spell that dismantled SRH’s top order. He removed Abhishek Sharma and last-match centurion Ishan Kishan in successive deliveries in the third over, sending Sharma back with a short ball before trapping Kishan down the leg side.
Travis Head (47 off 28) looked in ominous form, counterattacking with brute power. The Australian punished Avesh Khan, smashing him for two sixes and a four in the fourth over. However, Head had some luck on his side, as Nicholas Pooran dropped a sitter off Ravi Bishnoi’s bowling. The missed opportunity proved costly, as Head continued his assault, hammering Bishnoi for a six over covers.
Head’s fortune ran out in the seventh over when Prince Yadav rattled his stumps, securing his maiden IPL wicket. Heinrich Klaasen (26 off 17) looked threatening but was run out in an unfortunate manner when a straight drive from Nitish Reddy ricocheted off Yadav’s follow-through and crashed into the stumps.
Young Aniket Verma provided late fireworks with a blistering 36 off 13 balls, clobbering five sixes before falling to Digvesh Rathi. SRH skipper Cummins (18 off 4) struck three sixes off his first three deliveries but couldn’t carry on, as SRH fell short of a 200-plus total.
LSG’s all-round performance, spearheaded by Thakur’s brilliance with the ball and Pooran’s fireworks with the bat, ensured a comfortable first win of the season after their opening-match defeat.