Ahmedabad/IBNS: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) recorded a 33-run win over table-toppers Gujarat Titans (GT) in Match 64 of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 on the back of a superb batting show.

LSG bagged a consolation win after being knocked out of playoff contention earlier in the week, but dealt a huge blow to GT's Top-2 hopes in the process.

Mitchell Marsh's maiden IPL hundred (117 off 64) and Nicholas Pooran's 27-ball 56* helped GT put on a mammoth 235/2. Despite a strong response from GT, LSG's bowlers held their nerves to restrict the hosts to 202.

Despite being out of the qualification race already, LSG’s top three, Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, and Nicholas Pooran, have been a big positive for them this season.

The in-form trio were once again at the heart of a destructive batting performance, and LSG indeed played like a team with nothing to lose.

Markram took on the role of aggressor early on, but GT managed to keep the scoring rate relatively under control, with LSG scoring 53/0 by the end of the powerplay.

After getting his eye in, Marsh went on the charge and simply did not look back thereafter. He brought up a fifty off 33 deliveries with a six off Sai Kishore as he and Markram put on 91 runs for the opening wicket, before Markram holed out for 36(24) later that same over.

Pooran deposited his first ball into the stands for six, thus setting the tone for what turned out to be a stunning partnership with Marsh.

The Australian welcomed Rashid Khan into the attack with a 25-run over, including two sixes and three fours, as LSG raced to 132/1 after 12 overs. The platform was set for a mega finish with five overs to go, before Marsh moved into the 90s in a 20-run over off Mohd. Siraj.

Marsh brought up his maiden TATA IPL hundred off just 56 deliveries with a scrappy single in the next over, before Pooran got to his half-century off just 23 balls soon after. This was Pooran’s fifth fifty this season, with all coming in 25 deliveries or fewer.

In a rare moment of joy for GT, Arshad Khan struck in the 19th over with the wicket of Marsh, who walked back for a magnificent 117(64). The wicket also ended a partnership of 121 from just 51 deliveries. A few more big hits, courtesy of Pooran and Rishabh Pant, helped LSG amass 235/2 from 20 overs.

Similar to LSG, GT's top-3 have enjoyed a dream run this season. After chasing down 200 runs all by themselves against Delhi Capitals (DC) in the previous game, skipper Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan picked up from where they left off.

With a combined nine fours in the first 26 deliveries, they got GT off to a flier at 46/0. But just then, Sudharsan walked back for a rare score of below 25 as Markram took a good low catch at mid-off off William O'Rourke.

Jos Buttler wasted no time in getting going with 4, 6, 6, 4 off Avesh Khan to end the powerplay at 67/1.

GT kept up the scoring rate, but LSG produced two moments of brilliance in two crucial blows to GT.  First, Avesh Khan got the wicket of Gill (35) as Abdul Samad held onto a stunning diving catch running in from long-off. A few deliveries later, Akash Singh castled Buttler (33 off 18) with a lovely slower one, and GT were 97/3 after 10 overs, needing 139 more.

On a day when GT's top three could not get the job done, their middle order stood tall. Sherfane Rutherford and Shahrukh Khan went berserk, scoring 68 runs off the next five overs to bring GT's equation down to 71 needed from the last five overs.

Shahrukh brought up a scintillating 22-ball 50, but a match-turning 17th over saw O'Rourke dismissing both Rutherford (38 off 22) and Rahul Tewatia. That over comfortably sealed the deal for LSG as GT lost more quick wickets to end with 202/9, with O'Rourke's 3/27 being the shining light on a day that saw 437 runs being scored.