📅 May 08, 2026 | By Pulse India News Desk
🔥 LSG Hold Nerve in Lucknow Thriller as Marsh Century Sinks RCB Despite Patidar Fightback
Mitchell Marsh produced one of the finest innings of IPL 2026 as Lucknow Super Giants defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a dramatic rain-hit thriller at the Ekana Stadium.
Marsh smashed a breathtaking 111 off just 56 balls to power LSG to 209/3 in 19 overs before Lucknow’s bowlers survived a brutal counterattack from Rajat Patidar and Tim David.
RCB eventually finished at 203/6 despite a sensational middle-overs assault, falling short by just nine runs in a game that swung wildly across all phases.
📊 Match Summary
Lucknow Super Giants: 209/3 (19 overs)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 203/6 (19 overs)
Result: LSG won by 9 runs (DLS method)
Player of the Match: Mitchell Marsh – 111 (56)
📖 Match Story
Lucknow Super Giants came out with complete attacking intent despite multiple rain interruptions that repeatedly halted momentum during the innings.
Mitchell Marsh dominated from the start, smashing Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar with clean straight hitting and powerful strokes through the off side.
Arshin Kulkarni struggled for rhythm at the other end, but Marsh’s aggression ensured LSG raced to 68/0 in the Powerplay.
Marsh reached his fifty in just 20 balls and later completed a brilliant century off 49 deliveries, giving LSG total control despite the rain breaks.
Nicholas Pooran added important momentum with 38 off 23 balls before Rishabh Pant produced a stunning late cameo, hammering 32 not out off just 10 balls.
Pant’s explosive finish pushed LSG beyond 200 and gave them a strong total in a shortened 19-over contest.
RCB’s chase started disastrously. Jacob Bethell fell in the first over, while Virat Kohli was bowled for a duck by Prince Yadav in the second over.
Devdutt Padikkal and Rajat Patidar rebuilt the innings, with Patidar launching a fierce assault against spin and pace.
Patidar smashed 61 off 31 balls, including six sixes, but RCB collapsed suddenly from 104/2 to 112/5.
Tim David then brought RCB back into the contest with a brutal 40 off 17 balls, while Krunal Pandya and Romario Shepherd kept the chase alive till the final over.
But LSG held their nerve at the death as RCB finished nine runs short.
📊 Phase-wise Comparison
| Phase | LSG | RCB | Run Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powerplay | 68/0 | 40/2 | 11.33 – 7.05 |
| Middle Overs | 87/1 | 105/3 | 9.66 – 11.66 |
| Death Overs | 54/2 | 53/1 | 13.50 – 13.25 |
📌 Why Lucknow Super Giants Won
✔ Mitchell Marsh gave LSG a dominant Powerplay and match-defining century.
✔ Rishabh Pant’s 10-ball 32 gave Lucknow crucial death-over acceleration.
✔ Prince Yadav removed Virat Kohli, Padikkal and Jitesh Sharma in a decisive spell.
✔ RCB lost momentum after collapsing from 104/2 to 112/5.
✔ LSG defended the final-over pressure better despite RCB’s late fightback.
⭐ Players Who Shaped the Match
🔥 Mitchell Marsh: 111 (56) – a brutal century that gave LSG full control.
🔥 Prince Yadav: 3/33 – removed Kohli, Padikkal and Jitesh in a game-changing spell.
🔥 Rishabh Pant: 32* (10) – explosive finishing cameo that proved decisive.
🔥 Rajat Patidar: 61 (31) – kept RCB alive with six sixes in a superb counterattack.
🔥 Tim David: 40 (17) – brought RCB back into the chase with late power-hitting.
🔄 Turning Point
The biggest turning point came when RCB collapsed from 104/2 to 112/5.
Patidar and Padikkal had put Bengaluru in a strong position, but Prince Yadav and Shahbaz Ahmed struck quickly to drag LSG back into the match.
❌ What Went Wrong for RCB
❌ Virat Kohli’s early duck gave RCB a poor start in a big chase.
❌ RCB conceded 68 runs in the Powerplay without taking a wicket.
❌ Marsh was allowed to dominate too freely in the first half of the innings.
❌ The collapse from 104/2 to 112/5 completely changed the chase.
❌ Death bowling leaked crucial runs, especially against Rishabh Pant.
🧠 Final Analysis
This was a classic IPL thriller shaped by one world-class century, one damaging collapse and one nervous final-over finish.
Mitchell Marsh’s innings gave LSG the platform, while Pant’s late hitting added the cushion that eventually separated the two teams.
RCB showed fight through Patidar, Tim David, Krunal Pandya and Romario Shepherd, but the early wickets and middle-order collapse left them chasing too much at the end.
For Lucknow Super Giants, this win was more than just two points. It ended a six-match losing streak and gave the squad a badly needed confidence boost.
