KL Rahul wasn’t pleased with his team’s batting performance even though Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 20 runs in Match 42 of the IPL 2022 on Friday (April 29).

Asked to bat first, LSG posted a modest total of 153/8 on the board with notable contributions from opener Quinton de Kock (46) and all-rounder Deepak Hooda (34).

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However, Lucknow bowlers did a tremendous job to restrict PBKS to 133/8. Mohsin Khan (3-23), Krunal Pandya (2-11), and Dushmantha Chameera (2-17) starred with the ball for LSG, sharing seven scalps among them.

"I was disappointed and fuming at the end of the first innings. Stupid cricket with the bat," Rahul said at the post-match presentation. "We need to get better with the bat. Half-time, when Quinny and Deepak were batting. They paced it really really well to get to 60 in 9 overs on a tricky wicket. Had we batted smartly, we could have gotten to 180-190."

"I think we just need to be smarter in reading the game. If we could have not played too many shots we could have done better. We have been good on the field and good with the ball. Just need to keep repeating the good things."

Rahul was full of praise for his bowlers who kept the Punjab batters under check throughout the innings.

"The way we responded with the ball was phenomenal. Krunal has been brilliant throughout the tournament. This season he has really worked on his bowling. Bowling economically is important but he has been giving us two three wickets in the middle overs," he said.

With this victory, Lucknow Super Giants moved to the third spot on the points table with 12 points from 9 games. They will next face Delhi Capitals on May 1 at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.