Lucknow Super Giants secured a composed five-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in a well-contested encounter, chasing down 157 with one ball to spare. After being put in, Sunrisers Hyderabad posted 156/9 in their 20 overs, recovering from a disastrous start thanks to a strong middle-order effort.

The innings began poorly as Mohammed Shami struck early, removing Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head cheaply. Sunrisers slipped to 11/3 before Heinrich Klaasen and Nitish Kumar Reddy led a remarkable recovery. Klaasen scored a fluent 62 off 41 balls, while Reddy counterattacked brilliantly with 56 off 33 deliveries, lifting the scoring rate. However, late wickets from Avesh Khan and Prince Yadav restricted Hyderabad to a below-par total.

In reply, Lucknow Super Giants got off to a steady start through Aiden Markram, who played an aggressive knock of 45 from 27 balls. Despite a few middle-order hiccups, captain Rishabh Pant anchored the chase with a composed unbeaten 68 off 50 balls. He found support from Abdul Samad, whose quick 16 proved valuable in maintaining momentum.

Sunrisers bowlers showed glimpses of fight, particularly Harsh Dubey, who picked up two key wickets. However, Pant’s calm finishing ensured Lucknow crossed the line at 160/5 in 19.5 overs.

Rajasthan Royals held their nerve in a high-scoring contest to edge past Gujarat Titans by six runs, successfully defending 210 in a last-over thriller.

Batting first, Rajasthan posted an imposing 210/6, powered by a superb knock from Dhruv Jurel, who smashed 75 off 42 balls. He was well supported by Yashasvi Jaiswal (55 off 36) and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (31 off 18), as the Royals maintained a strong run rate throughout the innings. Late cameos from Shimron Hetmyer and others ensured a challenging total. For Gujarat, Kagiso Rabada was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets.

In reply, Gujarat Titans mounted a spirited chase led by Sai Sudharsan, who scored a fluent 73 off 44 balls. Contributions from Jos Buttler and Rashid Khan kept the chase alive, while a late flourish from Rabada brought the equation down to the wire.

However, the turning point came through Ravi Bishnoi, who delivered a match-winning spell of 4/41, derailing the middle order at a crucial stage. Despite needing just a handful in the final over, Rajasthan held their composure to restrict Gujarat to 204/8.

A dramatic penalty shootout decided the fate of the Cup final as St. Mary’s SC overcame Saunders SC 3-1 after a 1-1 deadlock under lights at the Race Course grounds on Saturday.
The match sprang to life in the opening minutes, with St. Mary’s drawing first blood. Danjuma Gumbari struck in the third minute, finishing off a swift attacking move to hand his side an early lead.

Saunders SC wasted no time in responding, leveling the score just two minutes later. Clauvice Franck found the net in the fifth minute, taking advantage of space in the box to restore parity and set up an evenly balanced contest.

Following the early exchange, both teams settled into a competitive rhythm, battling for control in midfield while probing for openings. St. Mary’s looked composed in possession, whereas Saunders relied on quick counterattacks to trouble the opposition defense. Despite their efforts, neither side managed to break the deadlock during regulation time.

With the scoreline unchanged, the final moved into a penalty shootout. St. Mary’s SC kept their composure from the spot, with Danjuma Gumbari, S. Aarinkan, and John Lawani all converting successfully.

Saunders SC, however, faltered under pressure. Mohamed Zaid was the only scorer for his side, while two other attempts missed the target, ultimately sealing their defeat.