Pooran's six-hitting spree ensures easy win for LSG

Rishabh Pant's side chase down Gujarat Titans' 180/6 with three balls and six wickets to spare

- Press Trust of India

LUCKNOW: Nicholas Pooran's power-hitting and Aiden Markram's calm demeanour shaped Lucknow Super Giants' comfortable six-wicket win over Gujarat Giants in an IPL match here on Saturday.

Pooran (61 off 34) and Markram (58 off 31) shared 58 runs off 29 balls for the second wicket to set the tone for the 181-run chase, which they managed in 19.3 overs.

Earlier, skipper Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan struck quick-fire half-centuries during their 120-run opening stand before LSG pulled things back brilliantly to restrict GT to 180 for six.

Sudharsan (56 off 37) struck his fourth fifty of the season and created a platform for a massive total with Gill (60 off 38) but the home team bowlers made a valiant comeback, picking up three quick wickets to put brakes on the scoring rate.

The visitors could manage just 60 in the last eight overs after raising the best opening wicket partnership of the season.

Chasing the target, in Mitchell Marsh's absence, who is sitting out of the match because of his daughter's illness, home skipper Rishabh Pant (21 off 18) opened the innings.