Mitchell Marsh’s Century Powers Lucknow Super Giants to 33-Run Victory Over Gujarat Titans

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) faced Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 64th match of the Indian Premier League at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. LSG, already eliminated from playoff contention, secured a 33-run victory over table-toppers GT, who were aiming to cement a top-two finish.

Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran Steal the Show

GT captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bowl as LSG’s innings began with Marsh and Markram opening against Siraj, who started with a wayward delivery that Markram drove for four. Despite the early swing, GT’s bowlers struggled with consistency. Arshad Khan, bowling the second over, slipped twice at the crease, causing concern, but continued after physio attention. Marsh capitalized on width, hitting a six over covers, while Markram drove elegantly, including a four through covers. By the end of the powerplay, LSG were 53 without loss, with Markram striking two sixes off Rabada in the fifth over.

Let the bat do the talking 🤫pic.twitter.com/hYRAJyL5tX

— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) May 22, 2025

The pitch, described as consistent with an average first-innings score of 192, offered some assistance to seamers but favored batsmen. Marsh then smashed a six off Sai Kishore in the eighth over, lofting it into the sightscreen. GT’s bowlers faced injury setbacks — Siraj briefly left after hurting his hand, and Arshad needed sawdust to avoid further slips. Despite these challenges, GT kept LSG to 83 without loss after nine overs.

Sai Kishore provided GT’s first breakthrough in the tenth over, dismissing Markram for 36 when he miscued a lofted shot to Shahrukh Khan at long-off. Pooran, entering at number three, immediately attacked, hitting a six off Sai Kishore. Marsh continued his onslaught, reaching his fifty in the tenth over and dominating Rashid Khan’s first over, which cost 25 runs, including two sixes and two fours. By the 12th over, LSG were 132 for 1, with Marsh on 84 and Pooran on 7.

Pooran’s aggression intensified, targeting Sai Kishore with a four and a six in the 14th over, while Marsh neared his century. A strategic timeout at the end of the 15th over saw LSG at 160 for 1, with Marsh on 89 and Pooran on 29. Siraj returned but was expensive, conceding a four to Marsh and facing Pooran’s paddle shot and a six over midwicket. Arshad, back for the 17th over, bowled a no-ball for height, reviewed unsuccessfully by GT, and Marsh reached his century, the fastest for LSG and the first by an overseas batter for the franchise that season.

Mahina toh May ka hai, par mausam Marsh ka 😉 pic.twitter.com/h3hJa7tPlJ

— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) May 22, 2025

Marsh’s innings ended in the 18th over when he miscued a shot off Arshad to Sherfane Rutherford at deep-backward point, departing for 117 off 64 balls, with 10 fours and 8 sixes. Pant, joining Pooran, hit a six off Rabada in the 19th over, showcasing his trademark flair. Pooran reached his fifty in the 17th over and finished unbeaten on 56 off 27 balls, with 4 fours and 5 sixes. LSG ended at 235 for 2, their third-highest IPL total, with Rabada closing the innings expensively, conceding 14 runs in the final over.

Sherfane Rutherford and Shahrukh Khan Get in the Run Chase

Chasing 236, GT opened with Gill and Sai Sudharsan, facing Akash Singh, who replaced Marsh as LSG’s impact substitute. Sai Sudharsan started aggressively, driving for four off the first ball and adding another boundary in the first over, which cost 11 runs. Akash Deep, from the other end, saw an lbw appeal turned down, and Sai Sudharsan drove for four again. Gill joined the attack in the third over, hitting three fours off Akash Singh, pushing GT to 33 without loss.

You can't keep Rathi out of this team 😂pic.twitter.com/kvmvGJTJSF

— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) May 22, 2025

O’Rourke, introduced in the fifth over, broke the opening stand by dismissing Sai Sudharsan for 21, caught by Markram at mid-off. Buttler, at number three, struggled initially but exploded in the sixth over, hitting Avesh Khan for a four, two sixes, and another four, scoring 20 runs off the over. Akash Singh, returning, was forced off after one ball due to a bleeding hand, with Avesh completing the over. GT reached 67 for 1 after the powerplay, with Buttler on 20 and Gill on 24.

Avesh struck in the eighth over, dismissing Gill for 35 when he miscued a lofted shot to Abdul Samad at long-off. Shahbaz Ahmed, bowling the seventh over, kept things tight, while O’Rourke continued to impress, conceding just nine runs in the ninth over. Akash Singh, despite his injury, returned and claimed Buttler for 33 in the tenth over with a slower inswinger that bowled him, leaving GT at 97 for 3.

Shahrukh Khan and Rutherford rebuilt, with Shahrukh hitting a six off Akash Deep in the 11th over and Rutherford adding a six in the same over. By the 13th over, GT were 129 for 3, needing 107 off 42 balls. Avesh’s 14th over was costly, with Shahrukh hitting two fours and Rutherford a six. Shahbaz’s 15th over saw Rutherford hit a six and a four, but GT remained five runs ahead of LSG’s score at the same stage, reaching 165 for 3.

The turning point came in the 17th over, bowled by O’Rourke, who dismissed Rutherford for 38, caught by substitute Ravi Bishnoi, and Tewatia for 2, caught at long-on. GT slumped to 186 for 5, requiring 50 off 18 balls. Shahbaz struck in the 18th over, removing Arshad Khan for 1, caught by O’Rourke, leaving GT at 193 for 6. Avesh, despite earlier struggles, returned in the 19th over and dismissed Shahrukh for 57, caught at cover, effectively sealing GT’s fate.

Bat se nahi toh ball se finish kar diya 🤩 pic.twitter.com/uqR6b2pjT7

— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) May 22, 2025

With 38 runs needed off the final over, Ayush Badoni, a part-timer, bowled for LSG due to their bowler shortage. He dismissed Rabada for 2 and Sai Kishore for 1, both bowled, finishing with figures of 2 for 4. GT ended at 202 for 9, with Rashid Khan unbeaten on 4. O’Rourke’s 3 for 27 and Avesh’s 2 for 51 were pivotal, while Badoni’s unexpected contribution closed the game.

What’s Happening in the Points Table?

The loss kept GT at 18 points, with their top-two hopes now resting on their final match against CSK on May 25. RCB and PBKS, both on 17 points, could overtake GT if they win their remaining games. LSG, despite their elimination, demonstrated their potential, with Marsh earning Player of the Match for his century.

IPL 2025 POINTS TABLE. 📈

– The Top 2 battle is on. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/XMxSFrlpyC

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 22, 2025

Moreover, coming to the other teams, it will be interesting to see how the rest of the teams now plan to come up in the table and secure the playoff spot within the first two spots. This is to get an additional chance in the tournament.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

The game swung in favour of the Lucknow Super Giants in the 12th over, referred to as TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Day, when Mitchell Marsh unleashed a ferocious assault on Rashid Khan, transforming the match’s momentum. LSG reached 132/1 after 12 overs, with a commanding run rate of 11.00. Marsh, unbeaten on 84 off 46 balls, including 8 fours and 6 sixes, dominated Rashid’s over, which cost 25 runs, shifting the pressure onto the opposition. Marsh’s onslaught began with the first ball, a dragged-down googly that spun in but sat up.

The kind of over that turns fans into believers 💙 pic.twitter.com/3cAR16M2rT

— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) May 22, 2025

He crouched and smashed a six over deep midwicket. The second ball, slightly short around off, allowed Marsh to clear his front leg and slap a cut into the ground for four. On the third ball, a length delivery outside off, Marsh seemed to miscue a lofted shot but still cleared long-off by 10 rows for another six, despite aiming for long-on. The fourth ball, slightly short on the fifth-stump line, was pulled wide of long-on for four, as Marsh capitalized on the extra time to muscle it. The fifth ball, another short one, went for four more as Marsh pulled it in front of the square. Finally, on the sixth ball, a length delivery chopped to cover fetched a single.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

Besides Mitchell Marsh, the man who deserves the TCNI’s Hero of the Day award has to be Nicholas Pooran, whose explosive batting shifted the momentum decisively for Lucknow Super Giants in their IPL 2025 clash against Gujarat Titans on May 22. Entering at number three after Aiden Markram’s dismissal, Pooran unleashed a blistering 56 not out off 27 balls, boasting a strike rate of 207.40.

LSG ब्रिगेड के दिलों की धड़कन 💙 pic.twitter.com/39ZZr2OQ0K

— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) May 22, 2025

His innings, studded with four fours and five sixes, began with a six off Sai Kishore and included a paddle four and a towering six against Mohammed Siraj. Pooran’s aggressive strokeplay, particularly in the death overs, complemented Marsh’s century, pushing LSG to a formidable 235 for 2. His ability to farm the strike and dominate GT’s bowlers, including Rashid Khan and Arshad Khan, ensured LSG maintained relentless pressure, setting a daunting target that ultimately led to a 33-run victory.