IPL 2026: Mitchell Marsh's Century Ends Lucknow's Losing Streak, RCB Defeated by 9 Runs

In a high-stakes encounter of IPL 2026, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) successfully snapped their six-match losing streak by securing a hard-fought 9-run victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Playing at the Ekana Stadium, Lucknow displayed a dominant performance with the bat, followed by a disciplined bowling effort to overcome the challenge posed by RCB. The match was highlighted by a sensational century from Mitchell Marsh and a game-changing bowling spell by Prince Yadav.

Mitchell Marsh's Explosive Century and LSG's Batting

Batting first, Lucknow Super Giants posted a formidable total of 209 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in their allotted 19 overs. Mitchell Marsh was the star of the innings, playing a whirlwind knock of 111 runs off just 56 deliveries. His innings was decorated with 9 boundaries and 9 sixes as he took the RCB bowlers to the cleaners across all parts of the ground. Supporting him, Nicholas Pooran contributed a solid 38 runs, while captain Rishabh Pant remained unbeaten on 32 to ensure the team reached a massive total.

RCB's Bowling Performance and DLS Target

The RCB bowling unit struggled to contain the flow of runs at the Ekana Stadium. Josh Hazlewood, Krunal Pandya, and Rasikh Salam managed to pick up one wicket each, but they couldn't prevent LSG from crossing the 200-run mark. Due to the DLS method, the target for Royal Challengers Bangalore was revised to 213 runs in 19 overs. Chasing a steep target, RCB needed a flying start, but their top order faltered early in the innings.

Prince Yadav's Lethal Spell and RCB's Top-Order Collapse

RCB's chase began on a disastrous note as Mohammed Shami dismissed Jacob Bethell in the very first over. The pressure intensified in the second over when Prince Yadav clean-bowled Virat Kohli for a duck. Prince Yadav emerged as the hero with the ball for Lucknow, finishing with a total of 3 wickets and consistently troubling the RCB batters. Despite the early setbacks, captain Rajat Patidar kept the chase alive with a resilient 61-run knock, while Tim David added a quick 40 runs to the tally.

Thrilling Finish and Digvesh Rathi's Decisive Final Over

The match headed towards a tense finish as Shahbaz Ahmed dismissed both set batters, Patidar and David, to tilt the scales back in Lucknow's favor. Krunal Pandya played a cameo of 28 runs off 16 balls (not out) to keep RCB's hopes flickering until the end. With 20 runs required off the final over, Digvesh Rathi held his nerve and defended the total successfully, restricting RCB to 203/6 in 19 overs. Lucknow Super Giants eventually secured the win by 9 runs.

This victory marks a significant turnaround for Lucknow Super Giants after a series of defeats. While Rajat Patidar and Tim David showed great intent, the clinical bowling performance by Prince Yadav and the final over execution by Digvesh Rathi ensured that RCB fell short of the target. Shahbaz Ahmed's two wickets in the middle overs proved to be the turning point in the second innings.