With each passing game, the race for top 4 gets more intense. All the teams are fighting hard to seal a spot and it will interesting to see which team does get there. We are into match number 53 which witnesses a clash between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 2nd match of the doubleheader Saturday.
LSG has won seven of their last ten matches and will be hoping to finish in the top two. They won their last game by 6 runs after reaching 195 runs in 20 overs for the loss of three wickets. Only two bowlers had an economy of less than 10 in their previous game, therefore LSG is hoping for a stronger performance from them.
The Kolkata Knight Riders have won four of their last ten games, and a victory will help them climb one spot in the points standings. In the previous match, KKR defeated Rajasthan Royals by 7 wickets after chasing a target of 153 runs in 19.1 overs. KKR is still figuring out their best opening pairings and may make some top-order alterations after both openers failed to get off to a good start in their last game.
LSG vs KKR – Match Details
Match #53
Venue: Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune
Date & Time: 7th May at 7:30 PM IST and Local Time
Live Streaming: Star Sports Network and Disney+Hotstar
Pitch Report
As this is an evening match, the humidity levels are projected to rise during the day, making batting much easier for the chasing team in the second half. While at this stadium, the side batting first has won seven of ten games.
Thus, the captain who calls it right at the toss will have little problem in bowling first. A total of more than 180 can be difficult to chase down.
Top Performers
Lucknow Super Giants
So far this season, the LSG captain has had a great run with the bat. He has two century against the Mumbai Indians and a 51-ball 77 against the Delhi Capitals coming into this match.
Rahul has scored 451 runs in ten appearances, including two undefeated knocks averaging 56.38 and a strike rate of 145.02. When he faces the Kolkata bowling attack, he’ll be looking to keep up his good form.
Kolkata Knight Riders
So far, Umesh Yadav has been KKR’s best bowler. From the first game against the defending champions CSK, he has been their go-to man with the ball in hand.
The senior pacer may have gone wicketless on a number of occasions, but it hasn’t stopped him from making the Orange Cap list with 15 scalps to his name. The Vidarbha quick is hungry to add to his tally of wickets.4
Predicted XI
Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, Krishnappa Gowtham, Jason Holder, Dushmantha Chameera, Mohsin Khan, Ravi Bishnoi.
Kolkata Knight Riders: Aaron Finch, Sunil Narine, Shreyas Iyer (c), Baba Indrajith (wk), Nitish Rana, Anukul Roy, Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, Shivam Mavi.
