Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants Indian Premier League, 2022

OUT! CAUGHT! Three wickets in the over for Jason Holder and the experienced lad has delivered for his team under pressure.  This is a full delivery, on off. Romario Shepherd goes for a big hit down the ground. He ends up slicing the ball to point. Ayush Badoni there takes the catch and Lucknow win this close encounter by 12 runs!

A full ball, on off. Malik goes for a big swing across the line. He gets a thick outside edge to third man for a single.

Umran Malik walks out to bat now.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Good catch by Quinton de Kock and this wicket and no run from it seals a deal for Lucknow now! A slower full delivery, on off. Kumar goes for a big swing across the line. He completely miscues it and the ball goes high in the air behind the keeper. Quinton de Kock moves back and to his right and takes a fine catch. 14 needed from 2 balls!

Just a single! A low full toss, around off. Romario Shepherd swings hard but mistimes it to deep mid-wicket for a single. 14 needed from 3 now!

A perfect yorker, outside off. Kumar digs it out to point and takes a single. Romario Shepherd will be on strike now! This coming ball need to go for a boundary, West Indian against a West Indian!

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is in next.

OUT! CAUGHT! Holder strikes in the first ball and now Lucknow will feel that they the match is in their grasp now. A very full delivery on off. Sundar looks to clear the long fence but fails to get the distance. The ball goes left of long on and Rahul runs to his left and takes a fine catch. Pressure on Hyderabad now. 16 needed from 5 balls!

Jason Holder has been entrusted with the final over. Can he defend 15 runs?

Dropped! However, it is a dot ball! 16 needed now from the final over! It is very full, outside off. Romario Shepherd gets deep in his crease and hits it hard to extra-cover fielder in the ring. Ravi Bishnoi there drops it. He is usually a very good fielder but it probably went too hard.

SIX! Ohh...big shot and this is what Romario Shepherd can do! A low full toss on middle. Romario Shepherd gets under it and launches it over long on for a biggie.

A very full delivery, outside off. Sundar goes deep in his crease and hits it to long on for a single.

A low full toss, outside off. A Slower delivery again. Romario Shepherd mistimes his hit to extra-cover for a single.

A slower wide yorker. Just a brilliant delivery and Romario Shepherd fails to get under it. Misses.

WIDE! Tries a wide yorker but ends up bowling way too wide. Romario Shepherd goes chasing for it but misses. Wide called.

A fuller delivery, outside off. A slower one at 118.2 kph. Sundar hits it to deep cover for a single.

Andrew Tye (3-0-29-0) to bowl the all-important penultimate over.

What an over from Avesh Khan! He has turned this game back in the favour of Lucknow! Dot ball to end and 7 runs with two wickets. This ball is delivery on a length and outside off. Romario Shepherd throws his bat at it but misses. 26 needed now from 12 balls!

WIDE! A full delivery but it is way too wide outside off. Romario Shepherd leaves it alone.

A perfect yorker on middle. Romario Shepherd manages to dig it out.

Romario Shepherd comes in to face the hat-trick ball.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Abdul Samad departs for a gloden duck and Khan is turning it on for his team. This is full and outside off. Samad goes for a big booming drive but ball catches the faint edge of his blade. It goes back to Quinton de Kock and he takes an easy catch. So two in two now for Avesh Khan and he will be on a hat-trick now!

Abdul Samad walks in at number 8.

OUT! TAKEN! Avesh Khan gets his revenge and the dangerous Nicholas Pooran departs! Lucknow are still in it. Big, big wicket this! A full toss on off. Nothing delivery really and it was there to hit. However, Pooram goes a bit too hard as he swings his blade. He miscues it and the ball goes towards long off. Deepak Hooda takes an easy catch and we have a match in our hands folks!

A perfect yorker, outside off. Pooran goes chasing for it but misses.

SIX! This is a mighty blow from Pooran! A short ball on off. Pooran picks the length quickly and pulls it over deep square leg for a maximum. It was a slower delivery but picked by Pooran there.

KL Rahul has gone for the risk and has brought his strike bowler on for the 18th over. Avesh Khan (3-0-17-2) is back on.

Another over and another boundary from the last ball of the over! It is full and outside off. Sundar goes deep in his crease and powers it through extra-cover for a boundary. 33 needed from 18 balls!

A fuller delivery on off. Pooran heaves it but mistimes it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Good short ball but it is a brave ball with third man and fine leg inside the circle! It is short, on off. Pooran gets across and looks to pull it but misses.

Nails a yorker this time, on middle and leg. Sundar somehow manages to dig it out towards square leg for a single.

A fuller delivery on off. Pooran drives it to covers for a single again.

NOT OUT! A slower one, outside off. Sundar mistimes his drive to covers and sets off for a single. The fielder in the cover fires a direct hit at the bowler's end. There is an appeal and the umpire takes it upstairs. The replays though show that Sundar is well inside his crease. So a single in the end.

Drinks! Nicholas Pooran has pulled up his socks and has put his side in a match-winning position after Hyderabad seemed to be on the downfall in the middle overs with Aiden Markram and Rahul Tripathi both getting out. Krunal Pandya got Lucknow back into the match with his two wickets but from here on, Lucknow need more wickets to stay in the match. 41 needed off 24 balls and at an asking rate of just 10 runs per over should be fairly simple for Hyderabad but we have seen stranger things happen. Also, Andrew Tye is back into the attack. He still has a couple of overs to go but has been a bit expensive so far.

FOUR! No, he can't! Pooran spoils the over with a quality shot off the last ball. 41 needed now from 24 balls! Coming to the ball - It is a fuller delivery on off;. Pooran leans forward and creams it through extra-cover for a boundary. This is the class of Pooran and now Lucknow will be feeling some pressure.

A fuller delivery on off. Sundar drives it to long off for a single. Can Ravi Bishnoi finish off this over well now?

A fuller delivery on middle. Sundar works it to deep mid-wicket for a couple.

Dot ball now! Lovely delivery. He pitches this googly, around off. It turns away and beats Sundar as he looks to drive it away. Quinton de Kock collects the ball and whips the bails off. There is an appeal and the leg umpire takes it upstairs. The replays show that the back leg never went out of the crease or in the air so Sundar will continue.

So two singles from the first two balls. Shorter and outside off. Pooran cuts it to deep point for a single.

A fuller delivery on middle. Sundar works it to deep square leg for a single.

Ravi Bishnoi (3-0-20-0) is back on.

FOUR! 15 off the over and Hyderabad back on top of proceedings here! Fuller and sliding onto the pads, Pooran walks towards the bowler and clips it past square leg for a boundary. Jason Holder is not happy with himself. 50 needed now off the remaining 30 deliveries.

WIDE! Jason Holder tries to bowl it full and wide and wide and shape it away but misses his mark. Wided.

On the pads, clipped away through square leg for one.

Close shave! Holder comes from 'round the wicket and serves a yorker outside off. Pooran drives it firmly to mid off and sets off for the single. KL Rahul just misses the shy at the bowler's end. Pooran might have been a goner had that hit.

Back of a length, angled across off. Washington Sundar stands tall and punches it off the back foot through extra cover. Evin Lewis has to cover a lot of ground to his left from the point fence but is able to cut it off. Three taken.

A low full toss, wide of off and this is sliced away behind point for a single. Pooran wants the second run but has to settle for one.

FOUR! Nicholas Pooran upping the ante now. Short from Holder and slanted across. It sits up nicely and Pooran pulls it well in front of square for a boundary.

Fuller and on middle, turned through mid-wicket for a single. 65 needed off 36 balls.

SIX! Half-tracker and Nicholas Pooran needed that to get going. Outside off and shorter in length. Pooran stays in his crease and launches it over the cow corner fence for a huge hit.

Slowed up and pushed a bit wider. Sundar pushes it towards the cover region for one more.

Very full, on off. This is drilled down to long off for just another single.

Flatter delivery, around the pads. Sundar goes deep in his crease to work it leg side for a single.

Washington Sundar walks in at number 6.

OUT! CAUGHT! Krunal Pandya comes back into the attack and maybe, just maybe picks up the wicket that turns the game in Lucknow's favour. Nicholas Pooran hasn't got going and hence Rahul Tripathi has to take the risk and it doesn't pay off. Speared into middle, Tripathi gets low and gets a decent connection on the slog-sweep but hits it straight down the throat of the fielder at the mid-wicket fence. Ravi Bishnoi takes a sharp catch and Hyderabad crumbling under pressure.

Krunal Pandya (3-0-17-1) is back on.

Beaten again! Nicholas Pooran does seem a bit out of touch at the moment. The cut shot is one of his favorite shots but he just can't connect. A touch fuller and a bit wider, going across. Pooran misses the cut yet again. Just 4 off the over.

Quicker again, at 97.3 kph and sliding across the off stump. Pooran goes for the cut shot but gets beaten past the outside edge.

Flatter this time, on off stump. Rahul Tripathi hangs back and bunts it out towards point for one more.

Another googly, sliding across off but this time Pooran manages to drive it down the ground for a run.

Ripper! This is pushed through quicker and on off by Ravi Bishnoi and it's the googly. Nicholas Pooran strides forward but is well beaten past the outside edge.

WIDE! Bishnoi goes full again but spills it down leg. Pooran misses the sweep and a wide is called.

Full and outside off, stroked away to sweeper cover by Tripathi for a single.

Around middle and leg, worked through mid-wicket for a single. 79 needed now off 48 balls.

This time the line is tighter around off stump and Tripathi can only manage to dab it towards short third man.

FOUR! Rahul Tripathi finds the gap and picks up a boundary to ease the nerves a bit. Good-length but wide of off stump. This is cut away late and into the gap between backward point and short third man for a boundary.

A bit of an awkward bounce for Evin Lewis and he fumbles. Full and wide, slashed away towards deep cover for a couple of runs by Tripathi.

On the bounce! Banged in short and Nicholas Pooran almost pulls it straight into the palms of the man at long on. Single taken.

Beaten! Khan pitches it up on off stump and this one just nips away a touch after pitching. There's extra bounce on offer as well and Pooran is taken aback.

This one slides on with the arm as well, from outside off and Tripathi cuts it straight towards point.

Just drifting down the leg side. It's the one that comes on with the arm from Krunal Pandya. Rahul Tripathi looks to work it leg side but misses and gets rapped on the pads. Stifled appeal from the keeper and nothing more.

Nicholas Pooran is finally off the mark. Shorter this time, pulled away to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Dot after dot and the pressure keeps on rising. This is pushed wider and Pooran cannot get it away.

On off, Pooran defends it back onto the deck.

Nicholas Pooran is the next man in.

OUT! CAUGHT! Soft dismissal for Aiden Markram and has he now given Lucknow a way back into the match? Krunal Pandya pushes it quicker and fuller, around off. Markram makes a bit of room and looks to go inside-out. Markram neither gets the elevation nor the timing and hits it straight towards the fielder at extra cover. KL Rahul just puts his hands up above his head and takes a comfortable catch. The partnership is broken and Pandya is pumped up.

Quicker delivery and on off. Rahul Tripathi defends it back to the bowler. 88 needed now from 60 balls!

Goes slightly shorter, around off. Aiden Markram chops it to deep point for a single.

This is pitched outside off. Rahul Tripathi gets across and looks to scoop it. The ball hits his glove and then brushes the thigh. Goes behind the stumps to Quinton de Kock. He, however, tries to evade it and the ball hits his glove and goes behind him. A single is taken.

Again on the shorter side, on off. Aiden Markram cuts it to deep cover for another single.

A googly, around off. Rahul Tripathi picks it and guides it to third man for a single.

Goes shorter and flatter on off. Aiden Markram makes a bit room and cuts it to sweeper cover for a single.

Ravi Bishnoi (1-0-11-0) is back on.

Around off and slightly shorter. Aiden Markram punches it to long off for a single.

Darted on middle and leg. Aiden Markram works it behind square on the leg side but finds the fielder.

A fuller delivery on middle. Rahul Tripathi pushes it to long on for a single.

Darted on middle and leg. Rahul Tripathi works it to deep mid-wicket for a couple.

SIX! Rahul Tripathi is finding his range now! A full delivery on leg. Rahul Tripathi sweeps and sweeps it aerially. The ball goes just over the fielder at deep backward square leg and a maximum for Rahul Tripathi.

A flatter and quicker delivery on middle. Aiden Markram works it to long on for a single.

Drinks! Hyderabad might have lost both their openers but are currently cruising along. Kane Williamson and Abhishek Sharma gave them a fast start but failed to capitalize as a resurgent Avesh Khan send both of them back to the pavillion. Rahul Tripathi has just started to play his shots and if he can get set, then the bowling side will have a headache. The key for Lucknow is to pick up regular wickets which will automatically keep the scoring rate in check. 104 runs required off 72 balls and the game is nicely poised at the moment. Also, Krunal Pandya is back into the attack.

FOUR! Poor delivery but nice timing from Rahul Tripathi! A low full toss on the pads. Rahul Tripathi just flicks it off his pads and bisects the fielders at deep square leg and deep mid-wicket with perfection. In the gap and it races away for a boundary. 104 needed now from 72 balls!

Angling into middle and leg. Aiden Markram works it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

A fullish delivery on off. Rahul Tripathi drives it to deep cover for a single.

FOUR! Deft touch this time, lovely batting! On the shorter side again, around off. Rahul Tripathi waits for it and then guides it towards thr third man fence for a boundary.

FOUR! Firmly hit by Rahul Tripathi! Tye goes for an effort ball, short on off. Rahul Tripathi picks the length quickly and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

On the shorter side, on off. Aiden Markram gets on the top of the bounce and punches it to deep cover for a single.

Andrew Tye (1-0-6-0) comes from the opposite end now.

A fuller delivery, outside off. Aiden Markram drives it right of the cover fielder in the ring. Rahul there makes a good stop and keeps it to just a single. 119 needed now from 78 balls!

Slightly shorter on middle. Rahul Tripathi works it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Lovely shot! This is tossed up on off. Rahul Tripathi gets under it and hits it straight down the ground for a boundary.

Shorter and around off. Aiden Markram cuts it to sweeper cover for a single.

A flatter delivery on middle. Aiden Markram drills it down the ground but the fielder in deep cuts it off. Two runs taken.

NO BALL! This is a fuller delivery, outside off. Aiden Markram drives it to covers yet again. However, Rahul Tripathi has overstepped and Free Hit coming up now.

A fuller delivery, outside off. Rahul Tripathi drives it to sweeper cover for a single.

Ravi Bishnoi is into the attack now.

Back of a length, on middle. Rahul Tripathi pulls it to fine leg for a single. After Powerplay, Hyderabad are 40/2!

Back of a length, outside off. Rahul Tripathi cuts it to backward point.

Pitched up, on off. Rahul Tripathi drives it a bit uppishly towards mid off.

Dropped! Tough chance though!  A length delivery, outside off. Rahul Tripathi cuts it hard and left of backward point. Deepak Hooda over there dives but fails to pouch it as it dips on him as well. Might prove to be a costly miss!

Back of a length, outside off. Aiden Markram punches it to deep cover for a single.

Aiden Markram walks in at number 4.

OUT! CAUGHT! Avesh Khan strikes again and Manish Pandey does well to take a very high catch. Both the openers are back in the hut now. It is a full ball, on off. In the slot and Sharma goes for a big hit downtown. He completely miscues it and the ball goes high in the air towards mid off. Manish Pandey waits for it as the ball is way too high and settles under it to take a fine catch. So two early wickets and Hyderabad are in early trouble again.

This is slanted into off and Tripathi solidly defends it out.

FOUR LEG BYES! Andrew Tye errs in his line and pays the price. Sliding down leg, Tripathi looks to flick but gets it off the pads. The ball runs away fine and ends up in the fence.

Back of a length, bunted out off the back foot on the off side for a quick run.

FOUR! Abhishek Sharma making full use of the fielding restrictions. Around the top of off, Sharma hangs deep and just lifts it over mid off. The ball almost travels the distance but falls just short. A boundary for Sharma.

Length, around off and kept out on the off side.

Tye starts off with a length ball, around middle and leg. Tripathi tucks it away behind square on the leg side for a single.

Andrew Tye comes into the attack now.

A dot to end a successful over by Avesh Khan. Full and a bit wider, driven straight to the man at extra cover. 7 runs and a wicket off it.

Hitting the top of middle and Sharma defends it from inside his crease.

Brilliant hustle from the batters to get back for the third! Around off, nicely driven through covers by Rahul Tripathi. Krunal Pandya hunts it down but the batters race back for the third.

Rahul Tripathi is the next man in.

OUT! TAKEN! Avesh Khan picks up a wicket in his first over and Kane Williamson who looked in good touch out there has to depart. Williamson pre-meditates and shuffles well across the off stump. Khan follows him with a fuller delivery but bowls it slower at around 120 clicks. Williamson attempts the scoop but this time it comes off the bottom part of the bat and loops up to the right of the man at short fine leg. Andrew Tye slides in to take a comfortable catch and Williamson is livid with himself. The replays show that the ball took the arm-guard on the way and that is why Williamson seemed disappointed.

Fullish delivery, angling into middle. Williamson defends it on the on side.

FOUR! Kane Williamson greets Avesh Khan with an effortless shot. Length ball, just a touch wide and Williamson just times it perfectly through point for a boundary.

Will we see Krunal Pandya bowling his second over? No, Avesh Khan is into the attack now.

Angled into middle, punched towards mid on for a quick single. Steady start here for Hyderabad so far.

Full and wide, Williamson steps out looking to thump it over extra cover but misses.

SIX! Clever from Kane Williamson and this has gone all the way! Williamson moves across the off stump early and Holder bowls a slower short ball over middle. Williamson is able to get inside the line of the ball and help it over the fine leg fence for a maximum.

Short and wide, cut away hard in front of point for just a single by Abhishek Sharma.

WIDE! Holder tries to go full and wide but ends up pushing it beyond the tramline.

On the pads, clipped away through square leg for one.

This is on a good length, on middle and Holder gets a bit of an extra bounce due to his height. Williamson does well to keep it down towards short mid-wicket.

A fifth single to end the over. On the pads, worked away towards deep backward square leg for a run.

One more! Very full, around leg. Sharma chips it through mid on and rotates the strike.

Flatter this time, on off. Kane Williamson eases it down to long off for a run.

On middle, Williamson makes room but is unable to get it past the man at mid on.

Nicely bowled! Slowed up, on a length and on off stump. Sharma just bunts it out on the off side and collects a single.

On a length, sliding down leg. Williamson watchfully tucks it behind square on the leg side for a single.

Krunal Pandya to start from the other end.

FOUR! Fine way to end the over by Abhishek Sharma. Short, on the body and Sharma half-pulls it past the man at short fine leg for the first boundary of the innings. Six runs come off the first over.

Good running! The skipper is off the mark as well. Good-length, on off and dabbed down on the off side for a quick single.

Pitched up, around off and this is firmly driven towards extra cover.

Everyone knows how much Williamson likes to work the ball behind point and that's brilliant field placement from KL Rahul. Outside off, edged down with soft hands past the slip cordon but there's a fine short third man to cut it off.

Nicely bowled! Fuller in length, angled into off and the ball just holds its line. Kane Williamson defends it under the eye line.

Abhishek Sharma is up and running straight away! Jason Holder pitches it up on middle and there is movement in the air. Sharma plays it with soft hands towards mid-wicket for a quick single.

OUT! RUN OUT! Ayush Badoni is out while stealing a bye off the last ball but he has played a good handy knock yet again. This is a slower length delivery, outside off. Ayush Badoni dances down the track and looks to heave it towards the leg side. He misses. The ball goes off the bounce to the keeper. Nicholas Pooran. He throws it at the non-striker's end as the batters try to steal a bye. Romario Shepherd collects the ball and flicks it onto the stumps quickly. The leg umpire takes it upstairs and the replays comfirm that Ayush Badoni is short of his crease. So Lucknow finish with 169/7.

A fuller delivery on middle. Holder heaves it towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

SIX! Just over the fence! A slower length ball, around off. Holder drags it over long on and just over Aiden Markram there for a maximum.

A fuller delivery on middle. Ayush Badoni hits it to long on for a single.

THREE WIDES! This is full and down the leg side. Way too down the leg side and Ayush Badoni leaves it. The keeper misses it too and two byes are taken.

FOUR! This is high quality batting! Ayush Badoni sees that the fielders are in the ring on the off side. He makes room and smashes this length ball, on middle over covers for a boundary.

A length ball, outside off. It is a slower delivery at 120 kph. Ayush Badoni gets across and sweeps it to deep backward square leg for a couple.

Romario Shepherd (3-0-25-2) to bowl the final over of the innings.

Goes for a yorker again, on off. Ayush Badoni gets across and takes it on full. He paddles it to fine leg for a single. Just 8 from the over and two wickets. Brilliant stuff!

A very full ball, on off. Holder drills it to long off for a single.

Jason Holder is in next.

OUT! BOWLED! This is what T Natarajan is known for and it is amazing to see how perfectly he has mastered this art of bowling yorkers. This is a yorker on middle and leg. Pandya looks to whip it away but the ball sneaks through his legs as it beats him and shatters the stumps. Two wickets in the over for T Natarajan.

FOUR! T Natarajan tries a short delivery on middle. Pandya pulls and pulls it well towards deep backward square leg for a boundary.

A low full toss on middle and leg. Pandya whips it to deep square leg for a couple.

Krunal Pandya is in at number 7.

OUT! LBW! T Natarajan strikes and the death-specialist does his job! This is a very full delivery on middle. Rahul looks to paddle it but misses. The ball hits his pads and there is a big appeal. The umpire raises his finger as it looks dead straight. Rahul takes a review though. The replays roll in and the UltraEdge shows no bat involved. The Ball Tracker shows three reds. So Rahul has to walk back and this is a big wicket for Hyderabad.

T Natarajan (3-0-18-0) to bowl the penultimate over of the innings.

Another yorker to end the spell! On middle and all Rahul can dot is to somehow hit it to long off for a single.

A brilliant yorker again on middle. Ayush Badoni looks to hit it away but ends up getting it towards the leg side for a single.

A low full toss on middle. Rahul stays deep in his crease and hits it to long on for a single.

Nails a yorker on off. Rahul digs it out back to the bowler.

Dropped! Brilliant effort from Abdul Samad though! A length delivery, outside off. Rahul hits it uppishly towards deep cover. Samad runs to his right and dives. He reaches towards the ball but fails to pouch it. Two runs taken.

A full toss on middle. Rahul works it towards cow corner and gets a couple.

FOUR! Top shot from Ayush Badoni! 17 runs from the over! This is full, around off. Ayush Badoni gets low and sweeps it to deep square leg. The fielder in the deep runs to his left and dives to stop it but makes a mess of it. Boundary.

Spears this quicker on off. Rahul again slog-sweeps it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

A single again! A flatter delivery on middle. Ayush Badoni dances down the track and heaves it to deep backward square leg for a single.

Goes fuller on off. Rahul slog-sweeps it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

SIX! Giving 17th over to the spinner was always a gamble and Rahul is taking on Sundar here! Sundar fires it quicker but shorter on off. Rahul hangs back and deposits it over deep mid-wicket fence.

FOUR! Rahul starts the over with a boundary! On the shorter side on middle. Rahul pulls it to deep backward square leg for a boundary.

Washington Sundar (3-0-11-2) comes back in to finish his spell.

Hits the length hard again, on off. Ayush Badoni blocks it out.

On a length, on middle. Ayush Badoni works it to mid-wicket.

FOUR! That will be the first boundary for Ayush Badoni today! It is full and outside off. Ayush Badoni creams it through cover-point. Abdul Samad runs to his left and dives to stop it but his body touches the ropes as he tries to stop the ball.

Fifty for KL Rahul! Another captain's knock from him, his team needed him to drop anchor and he has done it perfectly. A short ball, around off. Rahul pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Lands on a length, around off. Ayush Badoni opens the face of his blade and steers it towards third man for a single. He is off the mark.

Ayush Badoni is in next for Lucknow.

OUT! CAUGHT! So Romario Shepherd comes back into the attack and gets rid of dangerous Deepak Hooda! End of a very fine knock from Deepak Hooda! It is on the shorter side on off. Hooda makes room and looks to launch it over deep mid-wicket. However, he fails to get enough distance and probaly it hits the bottom of his blade. The ball goes straight to Rahul Tripathi there and he takes a good catch. Can Hyderabad now restrict the scoring rate?

Excellent over from T Natarajan, just six singles off it. Natrajan sees Hooda walking towards him and spears one in at the toes. Hooda jams it out towards long on for a run.

Full and on off, Rahul can only push it towards mid off for yet another single.

Fifty for Deepak Hooda and what an important knock this has been for his side! Full and on middle, Hooda works it towards wide long on for one more. He will now look to up the ante a bit more.

Length again, on middle and hit on the bounce towards long on for a single.

In the air...safe! Deepak Hooda had his heart in his mouth for a moment but survives. It's the off cutter from Natarajan, bowled on a good length and angled across the batter. Hooda gets taken aback and ends up getting a top edge around the cover region. Bhuvneshwar Kumar tries to get to it from point but isn't able to. Single taken.

Leg bye! Stifled appeal from T Natarajan but pitching outside leg it seems. Fuller and around leg, Rahul misses the flick. The ball goes off the pads and towards covers. The batters get a leg bye and the replay confirms that it was indeed outside leg.

DRINKS! Lucknow have made a strong comeback after losing three early wickets and now have a platform to launch in the final six overs. KL Rahul has gone about his business in his usual clinical way but it has been the innings of Deepak Hooda that has provided them the impetus here. Hyderabad, will feel they have missed out on an opportunity to restrict Lucknow to a low total here but still a good performance at the death will help them restrict Lucknow to a chaseable total. T Natarajan (2-0-13-0) is back on.

SIX! Pace is a good thing but when the line is not right, it can be used against you and Deepak Hooda is doing just that. On the hips and whipped away over the fine leg fence for a biggie. Umran Malik is proving to be really expensive here.

Big swing and a miss! Good-length, around off and Hooda throws the kitchen sink at it. He gets beaten for pace though.

FOUR! The quicker the ball is, the quicker it's racing away to the fence. Length ball, at 152.4 kph. Deepak Hooda just makes room and swings through the line of the ball. He doesn't get a good connection but the ball skips across the turf and past mid on for a boundary.

Quick single this time. Angled into middle and leg, Rahul looks to heave it leg side but ends up getting an inside edge onto the pads and the ball goes towards short leg. They scamper through for a single.

Around 149 clicks, full again and close to the off stump. Hooda squeezes it out towards deep cover for one.

FOUR! Carved away! Deepak Hooda seems to have Umran Malik's number. Full and wide at 150.1 kph. Hooda just goes over point and the ball ends up in the fence in a flash.

Will we see another bowling change here? Yes, Umran Malik is back on. He has gone for 23 runs in his two overs so far.

Nice bit of timing from Rahul. Length, around off and punched on the up to the right of the man at sweeper cover for two more.

Bhuvi looks for the yorker tailing into the toes but serves a low full toss. KL Rahul clips it towards wide long on and picks up a couple of runs.

Around the top of off, Hooda hits it on the up and gets it down to long on for another single.

Just another single. Outside off, Rahul taps it towards deep cover and rotates the strike.

Full and straight, flicked away towards deep square leg for a run.

A slower length ball on off. Hooda looks to go big downtown but gets it off the inner half of the bat towards mid-wicket.

Nearly carried back to the bowler! Pitched up, around off. Rahul pushes it uppishly back towards the bowler but luckily for him, the ball falls short.

Shepherd sees Hooda advancing and bowls it slower again. Hooda can only push it towards wide long off for a single.

No wide given and rightly so. Deepak Hooda shuffles across and Shepherd bowls it slower and down the leg side. Hooda misses the lap and the ball goes a few inches past the leg stump.

Just short of a length, Rahul pulls it down to long on for a single.

Shepherd goes fuller and a bit slower. Hooda pushes it down to long on for one.

SIX! Deepak Hooda on the charge here! Romario Shepherd comes back into the attack and tries to attack the pads, Hooda moves leg side and swings it high and handsome over the square leg fence for a biggie. The 50 partnership is also up between these two.

Romario Shepherd is back on. He went for 10 runs in his first over and got the wicket of Manish Pandey.

This is bowled on middle, Rahul punches it to extra cover and calls for 'No' straightaway. Lucknow slowly but surely growing into the game.

Length, on the fifth stump line. Hooda nudges it through covers for a run.

Full and wide, squeezed away to the left of the fielder at deep backward point and Deepak Hooda picks up a couple of runs.

Slower one, slanted into middle. Rahul bunts it down to long on and collects a single.

Two more! Angling into middle and leg, just dabbed down in front of square on the leg side for an easy brace.

Natarajan comes from over the wicket and bowls it on a length outside off. Rahul hangs back and slaps it towards deep point for a single.

SIX! Ohh... Bhuvneshwar Kumar got his hand to it but the ball just goes over the fence in the end! This is on the shorter side,on off and at 145 clicks. Hooda makes a bit toom and just guides this ball towards the third man fence. Bhuvneshwar Kumar there, jumps and gets a hand to hit but the ball pops out and goes over the fence. A maximum in the end and 20 runs from this over!

A low full toss on middle. Rahul drives it to long on for a single.

FOUR! Third boundary of the over! Lands on a length, around off. Rahul smashes it towards deep point for a boundary.

FOUR! Lovely shot! This is on the shorter side, around off at 151.8 kph. Rahul sways away a bit and just opens the face of his blade. Uses the pace well and it races away towards the third man fence.

A fullish delivery, around off at 151.2 kph. Hooda drives it to sweeper cover for a single.

FOUR! Good shot! Malik tries a yorker but it ends up being a low full toss on middle. Hooda makes room and creams it through covers for a boundary.

Drinks! Hyderabad have come out today with an aggressive intent and so far it has worked wonders for them. Kane Williamson decided to use Washington Sundar right from the second over and he has uprooted two hard-hitting left-handers. KL Rahul has his work cut out in front of him and he will now look to stitch a partnership with Deepak Hooda to give Lucknow a platform to launch at the death. A couple of wickets in the middle overs for Hyderabad and they will be right on top of proceedings. Also, Umran Malik is brought back into the attack.

Good start from T Natarajan! Lands on a length and it is angled across Rahul. He looks to push it away but gets beaten.

Goes fuller and it's a slower delivery at 121.6 kph. Hooda works it to long on for a single.

Slightly on the shorter side, outside off. Hooda punches it to deep extra-cover for a couple.

Another single! On a length, on middle. Rahul pushes it to long off for a single.

A fullish delivery, around off. Hooda drives it to deep cover for a single.

Lands on a length, on middle. Hooda works it to mid-wicket.

Slightly shorter and provides the width. Hooda cuts it to sweeper cover for just a single.

Goes flatter on off. Rahul knocks it down to long on for a single.

It is shorter on off. Hooda pulls it to long on for a single.

Very full and quicker on off. Hooda digs it out to point.

Goes fuller on off. Rahul drives it to long off for a single.

FOUR! A gift from the bowler and Rahul is not going to miss out on that. A full toss on middle. Rahul smashes it straight down the ground for a boundary.

Abdul Samad comes into the attack now.

This time a full ball, on middle. Rahul works it to mid-wicket. Good start from the pacer!

It is shorter and outside off. The pace if around 145 kph this time. Rahul looks to guide it away but misses.

6.4: Umran Malik to KL Rahul, Goes fuller on off. Rahul drives it back to the bowler.

Goes fuller, outside off. Hooda drives but gets a thick outside edge. The ball goes just away from the diving point fielder for a single towards third man. A single taken.

Beats him for pace! Lands on a length and angling into middle and leg at 147.5 kph. Hooda looks to work it towards the leg side but misses. The ball hits him high on the pads and s stifled appeal follows but going down leg and too high.

Back of a length, outside off at 148 kph. Rahul punches it off the outside half of his blade to thired man for a single.

A low full toss on off. Rahul drives it to long on for a single. Good Powerplay for Hyderabad. Lucknow are 32/3 after the Powerplay.

Shorter and flatter on middle. Hooda punches it to long on for a single.

Pushed quicker again on off. Rahul turns it to mid-wicket for a single.

Goes fuller and quicker on off. Hooda drives it to long on for a single.

Goes slower and fuller on middle. Rahul works it to square leg for a single.

Sundar serves it flatter and slightly shorter on off. Rahul chops it to cover-point.

Short of a length, around off. Hooda hops and keeps it down on the leg side.

Deepak Hooda is the next man in.

OUT! CAUGHT! Romario Shepherd has his reward for being persistent and that is another soft dismissal for Manish Pandey. Back of a length again, over middle stump. Pandey walks towards the ball and tries to force it over the man at mid on. The ball comes off the toe end of the bat and is chipped straight towards Bhuvneshwar Kumar at mid on. Bhuvi takes the simplest of catches and that is an unecessary shot from Pandey. Shepherd though seems elated and Lucknow in a spot of real bother here.

Back of a length, around middle and tucked away off the back foot towards mid-wicket.

SIX! Just over! Romario Shepherd goes short again and Pandey takes him on. This is angled into the body and Pandey flat-bats it over a jumping Umran Malik at the square leg fence for a maximum.

FOUR! Gets right on top of the bounce on this occasion does Manish Pandey. Short of a length, around off and pulled powerfully along the ground into the mid-wicket fence.

Shepherd hits the length hard first up and bowls it on off. Pandey dabs it down towards mid on.

On middle, pushed down to long on for a single and Manish Pandey is off the mark. End of another successful over from Washington Sundar.

A bit of turn now and Sundar is proving to be a thorn for Lucknow. On middle and this one spins in sharply. Pandey gets caught on the crease and is pushed back as he looks to tuck it away. He misses and gets hit on the pads.

Pushes this quicker and outside off. Pandey chops it to point.

Pitches outside off and it turns into Pandey. He looks to cut but misses.

Tossed up, outside off. Pandey drives it to covers.

Manish Pandey is the next man in.

OUT! LBW! Evin Lewis is a goner and Washington Sundar is on fire! Two left-handed batters have fallen prey to the off-spinner and one has to question whether Lewis should have been sent in and not Manish Pandey. Just a regulation delivery, on a length and sliding into middle and leg. For a third time, Lewis gets down on one knee and looks to sweep but misses. He is rapped on the back leg and this time it is adjacent enough to be given out. Rahul questions whether Lewis got a knick on it but Lewis just starts walking. What a start from Washington Sundar though!

FOUR! KL Rahul getting into the groove now. Bit of width on offer and this is classically driven on the up, through cover for a boundary.

Good running! On middle, Rahul plays it with soft hands into the vacant space around the mid-wicket region and races back for the second.

Around the hips, Lewis sets up to pull but ends up just jabbing it towards deep mid-wicket for a run.

Top delivery from Bhuvi! A yorker this time, nailed just outside the off stump. Evin Lewis looks to jam it out but is well beaten.

A length ball, well outside off. Rahul taps it through the point region for a single.

Full and straight, driven firmly towards mid on.

Down the leg side, Lewis misses the paddle sweep yet again and gets hit on the pads.

NOT OUT! A very tight call but Evin Lewis survives. On a length and Washington Sundar slides this time into middle stump. Lewis misses the sweep and gets pinged on the pads. Washington Sundar seems very interested but the appeal is turned down. The skipper though has obliged and takes the review. It seems straightforward on first glance and UltraEdge confirms that there's no bat involved. Ball Tracker though shows that it is umpire's call on wickets hitting and Sundar cannot believe it.

Evin Lewis walks in at number 3.

OUT! TAKEN! Skipper Kane Williamson takes a brilliant catch and the move to bring the off-spinner at the start has worked wonders for Hyderabad. This is flighted from 'round the wicket and bowled on middle. Quinton de Kock makes a bit of room and looks to cover drive. He does so but uppishly and times it well. Williamson though springs to his right at covers and pouches it with both hands. De Kock's weakness against the off-spin has been exploited and Sundar has given his side the perfect start.

Sundar gives it more air and drifts it into leg stump. De Kock pushes it back to the bowler.

Straightaway now Sundar pulls back his length. Shorter, on middle and leg. Rahul works it in front of square on the leg side for one.

FOUR! Lovely shot from KL Rahul. Washington Sundar starts off with an overpitched delivery on middle. Rahul makes a bit of room and creams it through extra cover to bring up the first boundary of the match.

Washington Sundar to start from the other end.

Tidy start from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, just 3 runs off it. A bit wider this time and Rahul slashes it hard towards the right of third man for a run.

A length ball, slanted into middle and leg. Rahul nudges it towards square leg.

Bhuvi drifts onto the pads and de Kock is able to get off the mark. Sliding down leg, tucked away to fine leg for a single.

Nicely timed but for no run. Full and wide, Quinton de Kock strokes it to the man at extra cover.

KL Rahul and Lucknow are underway! Around off, pushed gently towards covers for a quick single.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar starts off with a fullish delivery, on off. There's a bit of away shape on offer and KL Rahul gets solidly behind it to keep it out.

We are all set to begin! The umpires make their way into the middle. Hyderabad players are in the huddle and they now disperse to take their respective postions. KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock are the openers for Lucknow. Bhuvneshwar Kumar to start with the ball for Hyderabad. KL Rahul will be on strike. Here we go...

So Hyderabad going with an unchanged team and it will be interesting to see if they will make any changes to the batting order, with the likes of Aiden Markram more than capable to bat at the top of the order. However, they need to bowl well first and they will be banking on Bhuvneshwar Kumar to make early inroads with the new ball. Lucknow, on the other hand, now looks even stronger unit with Jason Holder in the lineup and let's see how he goes about his business against his former team.

KL Rahul, the skipper of Lucknow, says that they would have wanted to bowl first as that has been the trend. Informs that they have once change willth Holder coming in for Dushmantha Chameera. Tells that with the new ball one always tries to hit that good area but is is about assessing the conditions and executing in the middle. Adds that Jason Holder is one of the top all-rounder and he strengthens both batting and bowling. Says that the win in the last game was a confidence booster and adds that the performance of the lower- middle order has given them confidence to go hard at top. Applauds Ayush Badoni for his performance and says that it is good to see him perform under pressure and stay calm in those situations and hopes that he can continue the same form.

Kane Williamson, the skipper of Hyderabad, says they will have a bowl first. He adds that they take conditions into account while selecting the playing XI and the surface seems pretty similar to the ones that have been used and there's potential due on the cards as well. Mentions that the game is about fine margins and hopes to put on a better performance tonight. Informs that there are no changes to the playing XI and gives an update about his elbow and says that it is better now.

Lucknow (Playing XI) - KL Rahul (C), Quinton de Kock (WK), Evin Lewis, Manish Pandey, Deepak Hooda, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, Jason Holder (In place of Dushmantha Chameera), Avesh Khan, Andrew Tye, Ravi Bishnoi.

Hyderabad (Unchanged Playing XI) - Kane Williamson (C), Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Tripathi, Nicholas Pooran (WK), Aiden Markram, Abdul Samad, Romario Shepherd, Washington Sundar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umran Malik, T Natarajan.

TOSS - The coin goes up and lands in favour of Hyderabad. They have elected to BOWL first.

PITCH REPORT - Rohan Gavaskar is pitchside and he says that it is a fresh pitch and it's an even 70 meters square of the wicket on both sides. He adds that at this stadium back of the length was the way and you couldn't pitch it up but tonight it is a different track and the pacers will look to pitch it up a bit further and the likes of Bhuvi will get more help.

Jason Holder has got his cap in the Lucknow huddle. So expect at least one change in the Lucknow lineup.

Hyderabad, on the other hand, had a forgettable outing in the last game. The bowling unit with enough quality bowlers leaked far too many runs while the new batting lineup just couldn’t handle the pressure of the big score and failed miserably. They seem to be heavily dependent on a few international stars and they need their local talent to contribute with the bat if they want to go deep in the tournament. Can they lift themselves up and produce a better performance this time around? Or will Lucknow get their second win on the trot? We shall find out. Toss and teams sheets in a while.

Lucknow, one of the newest entrants in the Indian T20 League started the tournament with a loss in a close encounter but came back with a more clinical display in the second game. In both the games so far, the new franchise has displayed great fighting spirit and the depth of their batting department has been the highlight of their performance so far. Jason Holder is set to be available for selection in this game and that will boost their seam attack which has been a tad expensive. However, it was Ravi Bishnoi who yet again displayed why he is rated so highly with his crafty spin bowling in the last game and Lucknow will hope that he continues in the same vein.

It’s time for the battle of Nawabs and Nizams as Lucknow get ready to lock horns against Hyderabad. We welcome everyone to our coverage as we get ready for another mouth-watering contest of this 15th edition of the Indian T20 League.

... MATCH DAY …