Nicholas Pooran delivered a breathtaking knock, smashing 70 runs off just 26 balls to register the fastest fifty of IPL 2025 so far.
His explosive innings played an important role in securing Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) a much-needed five-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Thursday (March 27). Pooran received strong support from Mitchell Marsh, who played a blistering knock of 52 off just 31 balls.
Pooran smashed a 50 in just 18 balls, making it the fastest half-century of IPL 2025, so far. This knock is also the second-fastest fifty ever for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), only behind Pooran’s own 15-ball fifty against RCB in Bengaluru during 2023 IPL season.
After suffering a defeat in their opening match against Delhi Capitals, LSG was under pressure to bounce back, and Pooran’s fireworks ensured they did just that.
Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran star for LSG
The unbeaten 116-run partnership between Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran is now the highest-ever stand for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for the second wicket or lower. This record-breaking stand surpassed the previous best of 111 runs set by KL Rahul and Deepak Hooda against RR in Lucknow during last year’s IPL.
Sunrisers Hyderabad, batting first, posts 190/9
Sunrisers Hyderabad, batting first after losing the toss, posted 190/9. Travis Head led the scoring with 47 runs, while Aniket Verma’s explosive 36 off just 13 balls gave SRH a late boost.
Shardul Thakur was the pick of the bowlers for Lucknow, bagging four wickets. Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Digvesh Rathi, and Prince Yadav took a wicket each.
SRH got off to a shaky start as Shardul Thakur struck twice in quick succession, dismissing Abhishek Sharma (6) and Ishan Kishan (0) on consecutive deliveries. A 61-run stand between Travis Head (47 off 28, 5 fours, 3 sixes) and Nitish Reddy (32 off 28) steadied the innings before Head was bowled by Prince Yadav.
Heinrich Klaasen added 26 off 17 before being run out. Aniket Verma then stole the show with a blistering 36 at a strike rate of 300, smashing five sixes before falling to Digvesh Singh.
Abhinav Manohar (2) fell cheaply, but captain Pat Cummins (18 off 4, 3 sixes) provided fireworks at the death. Harshal Patel remained unbeaten on 12 off 11 as SRH finished at 190/9.
