IPL 2022: Holder, Avesh shine as Lucknow beat Hyderabad by 12 runs for second win in a row

Pacers Avesh Khan and Jason Holder picked seven wickets between them as Lucknow Super Giants successfully defended 169 for seven against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Monday.

Avesh Khan was the pick of the bowlers for Lucknow Super Giants with figures of four for 24 in four overs.

Sunrisers Hyderabad was struggling at 38 for two, chasing Lucknow Super Giants' 169 for seven, when the cameras zoomed in on the team’s batting coach Brian Lara. The West Indies legend was engaged in a conversation with Nicholas Pooran in the dugout, perhaps instructing him on how to plan his innings.

And the seasoned Pooran seemed to have lent a keen ear to Lara as his 24-ball 34 (3x4, 2x6) brought Sunrisers closer to the target. But Avesh Khan (four for 24) claimed two wickets in two balls, including that of Pooran, in the 18th over as Super Giants pulled off a 12-run win in an IPL fixture at the DY Patil Stadium on Monday.

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Earlier, Avesh had dismissed Sunrisers openers Kane Williamson and Abhishek Sharma within the first six overs. Rahul Tripathi (44, 30b, 5x4, 1x6), however, forged a 44-run stand with Aiden Markram for the third wicket. Making the most of a dropped catch by Deepak Hooda, Tripathi spearheaded the chase before Krunal Pandya delivered a double blow, removing both Markram and Tripathi.

The onus was on Pooran to fire, and after settling in, he was involved in a 48-run partnership with Washington Sundar.

With just 33 required off 18 deliveries, Pooran welcomed Avesh with a six and attempted another big one but ended up offering a catch to Hooda.

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And even before Sunrisers could react, Avesh removed Abdul Samad for a golden duck. With 16 needed off the final over, Jason Holder, playing his first match this season, produced a perfect finish.

The West Indian gave away just three runs and picked up three wickets as Sunrisers fell 12 runs short. Earlier, Sunrisers’ decision to bowl first paid off as Washington sent back Quinton de Kock and Evin Lewis cheaply. When Manish Pandey, too, perished, Super Giants were 27 for three.

The Lucknow side fought back through Hooda (51, 33b, 3x4, 3x6) and captain KL Rahul (68, 50b, 6x4, 1x6), who built an 87-run stand for the fourth wicket. The duo took 20 in the 10th over bowled by Umran Malik. Hooda also hit Malik for two fours and a six in the 14th over to take control of the game despite the best efforts of birthday boy T Natarajan.