104/5 (14.0)
CR : 7.43
174/7 (20.0)
CR : 8.70
Lucknow Falcons won by 14 runs (DLS METHOD) 🏆
Player of the Match
Mohammad Saif
89(57)
Most Dependable bowler of the match award goes to Karan Sharma
Atal Bihari Rai bags the award for the most stylish catch of the match
Fantastic Fours of the Match award goes to Himanshu Singh
Mohammad Saif receives the Maximum 6s of the Match
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Lucknow Falcons Captain): "(Rain going in favour of Lucknow) think it has rained in four out of our five matches. But luckily, our last two matches have gone in our favour, so we won't complain. Even after that, the way we batted, we put up a respectable total. We knew the wicket was going to be difficult, especially after six overs. And the way we bowled, credit goes to everyone.
(Is he calm or strict with his players?) You should ask the players that—they'll be able to answer better! But the effort is always to explain things normally and calmly, because I've been through that situation myself, when you want to do something but things still don't work out. I think I understand quite well that cricket is a game where you can try your best and still things might not happen. Sometimes, you need to address certain things strictly, but most of the time, the effort is to handle things as calmly as possible. The calmer you can keep things, the better.
(On Mohd Saif) Absolutely. Saif is one of our old players and a senior player. He's doing what we expected from him. As I said, cricket is such a game where sometimes you try very hard, but things don't go in your favour. But the way he is batting—I won't say anything before the match is over—but the way he batted today and the way he has been batting throughout the match, he is delivering exactly what we needed from him. I think he's giving us everything you would expect from a senior professional.
(On introducing Akshu Bajwa early in the innings) I had it in my mind while he was bowling. Especially after I bowled the first over, you immediately start adjusting and figuring out what is working and what isn't. I think you make those decisions in the moment, and at that particular moment, it felt like the right decision."
(Is he calm or strict with his players?) You should ask the players that—they'll be able to answer better! But the effort is always to explain things normally and calmly, because I've been through that situation myself, when you want to do something but things still don't work out. I think I understand quite well that cricket is a game where you can try your best and still things might not happen. Sometimes, you need to address certain things strictly, but most of the time, the effort is to handle things as calmly as possible. The calmer you can keep things, the better.
(On Mohd Saif) Absolutely. Saif is one of our old players and a senior player. He's doing what we expected from him. As I said, cricket is such a game where sometimes you try very hard, but things don't go in your favour. But the way he is batting—I won't say anything before the match is over—but the way he batted today and the way he has been batting throughout the match, he is delivering exactly what we needed from him. I think he's giving us everything you would expect from a senior professional.
(On introducing Akshu Bajwa early in the innings) I had it in my mind while he was bowling. Especially after I bowled the first over, you immediately start adjusting and figuring out what is working and what isn't. I think you make those decisions in the moment, and at that particular moment, it felt like the right decision."
Player of the Match award is bagged by Mohammad Saif
Mohammad Saif (POTM): "(About the team's environment) The atmosphere within our team is very good. If you look at it, we had lost the first few matches, but nobody panicked. Bhuvi bhai is also our captain, and the management has been very supportive. We have remained composed because this happens in T20 cricket. Once a team gets momentum, things start going well, and that’s exactly what happened. So, there is no pressure. Of course, there is always some pressure, but performing well under it and doing so consistently—that is the important thing.
(About his mindset while batting today) When I faced the first ball, I felt that around 160 would be a good total here. But as the match progressed, Himanshu batted really well. Once he started batting well, I thought, “Okay, let’s allow him to play, and then we’ll see.” The powerplay was very good, so after the powerplay I started thinking about 180. But they bowled well, and the wicket also wasn’t that easy today. The ball wasn’t coming on easily; it was holding a little bit. So, timing the ball and taking calculated risks were very important.
(About retaining the strike in the last few overs today) No, actually, the batters who were coming in later—whether it was Sameer or Akshay—they are hitters as well. So, I had the confidence that they could come in and connect with the ball too. It’s not like they couldn’t. I had been batting for a long time, so the bowlers also knew what I was trying to do. But you never know—a new batter can come in and hit one or two boundaries as well. And it wasn’t as if the wicket wasn’t falling either. I was trying that whenever the ball came to me, I would attack it. But the other players can also hit boundaries, and they play according to the situation.
(Message for all the Lucknow Falcons fans) Keep supporting us. We are playing well, and it feels really good. We really enjoy your support."
(About his mindset while batting today) When I faced the first ball, I felt that around 160 would be a good total here. But as the match progressed, Himanshu batted really well. Once he started batting well, I thought, “Okay, let’s allow him to play, and then we’ll see.” The powerplay was very good, so after the powerplay I started thinking about 180. But they bowled well, and the wicket also wasn’t that easy today. The ball wasn’t coming on easily; it was holding a little bit. So, timing the ball and taking calculated risks were very important.
(About retaining the strike in the last few overs today) No, actually, the batters who were coming in later—whether it was Sameer or Akshay—they are hitters as well. So, I had the confidence that they could come in and connect with the ball too. It’s not like they couldn’t. I had been batting for a long time, so the bowlers also knew what I was trying to do. But you never know—a new batter can come in and hit one or two boundaries as well. And it wasn’t as if the wicket wasn’t falling either. I was trying that whenever the ball came to me, I would attack it. But the other players can also hit boundaries, and they play according to the situation.
(Message for all the Lucknow Falcons fans) Keep supporting us. We are playing well, and it feels really good. We really enjoy your support."
The rain has again been in favour of Lucknow Falcons for the second time in two days. They have been adjudged as the winners of this fixture by 14 runs via the DLS method. A clinical performance by them as after posting a healthy score of 174/7, Falcons bowlers kept things tight by picking up a flurry of wickets in the powerplay itself. Kashi Rudras have suffered another batting collapse and they will seriously need to address this issue.
With this, Lucknow Falcons have registered their third win of the season and move to the second spot in the points table. Kashi Rudras have now suffered their third loss of the season and slip to the third position in the points table.
Don't go anywhere as the second game of the day between Noida Kings and Gorakhpur Lions is going to start in some time. Swtich your tabls and keep following Crickxo for the live coverage of that fixture.
Don't go anywhere as the second game of the day between Noida Kings and Gorakhpur Lions is going to start in some time. Swtich your tabls and keep following Crickxo for the live coverage of that fixture.
That's it from our live coverage of this game. This is Mohammad Anab signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Abhishek Sharma and our scorer/analyst Zeeshan Naiyer. Cheers.