Whenever the Lucknow Super Giants have reached 160 or more in the IPL, they have never lost. Their bowlers, especially Yash Thakur, ensured the script didn’t change at home on Sunday, as they brushed the Gujarat Titans aside for a 33-run win.

The relaid pitch at the Ekana International Stadium has been far better for strokeplay this edition, but Lucknow’s 163/5 — after they elected to bat first — didn’t seem too good a total.

Lucknow: Lucknow Super Giants batters KL Rahul and Marcus Stoinis run between wickets during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 T20 cricket match between Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans PTI

Titans’ Sai Sudharsan, promoted as an opener in the absence of Wriddhiman Saha (out with a back spasm), and captain Shubman Gill gave them a solid start as they raced to 54/0 inside sixovers of their reply. Things looked ominous for Lucknow as their trump card Mayank Yadav could bowl just an over due to a side strain.

But Yash, the other pacer, more than made up for Mayank’s unavailability. He first castled Gill and then accounted for Vijay Shankar, Rashid Khan, Rahul Tewatia and Noor Ahmad to finish with figures of 5/30. In between, Krunal Pandya (3/11), keeping it slow throughout, triggered Gujarat’s collapse after the Powerplay to give his side the upper hand.

Earlier for Lucknow, now third on the table, Marcus Stoinis (58) top-scored while Nicholas Pooran (32 not out) unleashed a few blows at the death to help them breach 160.