Mitchell Marsh’s sensational century and a clinical bowling performance helped Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) keep their fading playoff hopes alive with a dramatic nine-run victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) via the DLS method in a rain-affected IPL 2026 clash at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
In a contest reduced to 19 overs per side due to rain interruptions, Marsh produced one of the innings of the season, smashing a breathtaking 111 off 56 deliveries as LSG posted a massive 209/3. Chasing a revised DLS target of 213, RCB fought hard through Rajat Patidar and Tim David but eventually fell short at 203/6.
The result ended LSG’s six-match losing streak while dealing a blow to RCB’s hopes of tightening their grip on a top-two finish.
Asked to bat first after Rajat Patidar won the toss and elected to field, LSG were powered almost single-handedly by Marsh’s brutal strokeplay. The Australian opener attacked from the outset, taking apart Josh Hazlewood and Rasikh Salam Dar during a destructive Power-play assault.
Despite multiple rain stoppages disrupting momentum, Marsh never lost rhythm. He brought up his fastest IPL fifty off just 20 balls before eventually reaching a stunning century in only 49 deliveries — the fastest hundred by an LSG batter in IPL history.
Arshin Kulkarni played a supporting role in a 98-run opening partnership, contributing 17, while Nicholas Pooran added further momentum with a brisk 38 off 23 balls.
RCB briefly clawed their way back through Krunal Pandya and Hazlewood, but Rishabh Pant’s late cameo ensured LSG finished strongly. The skipper smashed an unbeaten 32 off just 10 deliveries, including a flurry of boundaries in the final over, as LSG crossed the 200-run mark.
In reply, RCB endured the worst possible start when Mohammed Shami removed Virat Kohli for a duck and Jacob Bethell soon after, leaving the visitors under immediate pressure in the steep chase.
Devdutt Padikkal and Rajat Patidar launched a stunning counterattack to revive RCB’s hopes. Patidar, continuing his excellent form this season, hammered 61 off just 31 balls with six towering sixes, while Padikkal contributed a fluent 34.
The duo stitched together a crucial 95-run stand that briefly swung momentum back in RCB’s favour before Prince Yadav delivered a decisive breakthrough by dismissing both Padikkal and Jitesh Sharma in the same over.
Tim David then reignited the chase with a blistering 40 off 17 balls, while Krunal Pandya remained unbeaten on 28 off 16 deliveries to keep RCB alive heading into the final stages.
However, needing 20 runs from the last over, LSG spinner Digvesh Singh held his nerve superbly to close out the match and hand the hosts a memorable win.
Prince Yadav and Mohammed Shami starred with the ball for LSG, picking up two wickets each, while Shahbaz Ahmed also claimed two crucial scalps despite proving slightly expensive.
LSG vs RCB: Playing XIs
Lucknow Super Giants:
Rishabh Pant (c/wk), Mitchell Marsh, Arshin Kulkarni, Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Himmat Singh, Shahbaz Ahamad, Digvesh Singh, Mohammad Shami, Prince Yadav
Substitutes:
Mayank Yadav, Mukul Choudhary, Abdul Samad, M Siddharth, Avesh Khan
Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Dar
Substitutes:
Tim David, Jordan Cox, Mangesh Yadav, Vicky Ostwal, Venkatesh Iyer