In an exciting Indian Premier League encounter at Eden Gardens on Thursday, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) clinched a three-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on the final delivery. The turning point was an unbeaten 54-run collaboration between Mukul Choudhary and Avesh Khan for the eighth wicket, which now stands as the highest for that position or lower in a winning IPL pursuit. This rapid partnership, built in only 24 balls, shifted the game’s direction and revealed KKR’s challenges in the closing overs. Targeting 182 runs, LSG were in trouble at 128 for 7 after 16 overs, even with a solid 54 from Ayush Badoni. However, Mukul, appearing in just his third IPL match, delivered a remarkable aggressive display. His knock featured seven sixes, the highest by any LSG player at number seven or below. This figure also matches the IPL record for the most sixes in a victorious chase from that spot, equaling Dwayne Bravo’s performance for Chennai Super Kings against Mumbai Indians in 2018. Teaming up with Avesh, they created a landmark alliance that not only secured the win but also emphasized LSG’s strong record against KKR, with five victories in seven clashes, including three out of four at Eden Gardens. Against Cameron Green in the 19th over, Mukul struck two sixes and a boundary to change the momentum. Needing 14 runs from the last over delivered by Vaibhav Arora, he hit two additional sixes, one on the second-to-last ball. With a single run required off the final delivery, the duo completed the run to finish the chase, marking LSG’s second last-ball success in a pursuit, after their one-wicket triumph over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2023. Previously, KKR had reached 181 for 4, but their novice fast bowlers could not maintain control in the tense final moments.
