Punjab Kings defeated Lucknow Super Giants by 54 runs thanks to thrilling half-centuries from Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly in Sunday’s IPL 2026 encounter in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh.
PBKS scored 254/7, this IPL season’s best total, surpassing RCB’s 250/3 thanks to an incredibly entertaining second wicket partnership between Arya and Connolly, who added 182 runs in just 13.2 overs.
The two were dismissed in quick succession by LSG along with Punjab captain Shreyas Iyer, but by then the home team had established a fantastic launching pad for Marcus Stoinis (29) to profit upon.
Despite some fight from captain Rishabh Pant (43), opener Mitchell Marsh (40), and Aiden Markram (42), LSG was only able to achieve 200/5 in 20 overs.
Earlier, the Punjab Kings destroyed the Lucknow Super Kings with an overwhelming 254/7 after Priyansh Arya, one of the nation’s most promising T20 batting talents along with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, hammered his way to a stunning 93 off just 37 balls.
The next most talked-about Australian batting potential, Cooper Connolly, who again exuded class in his 45-ball-87, teamed up with the 24-year-old Delhi cricketer.
With 16 sixes (9 from Priyansh and 7 from Connolly) and 12 fours between them, the pair amassed an incredible 182 runs off of just 80 balls. They were much better in the middle phase between overs 7 and 11, when 66 runs were scored, if the powerplay score of 63/1 was good.
Balls came thick and fast as Priyansh, the muscular southpaw, simply stood and delivered with little footwork and maximum bat speed. The full balls were either muscled over further cover or down the ground. Without a trace of emotion on his face, the short and broad deliveries were slashed or ramped while the bouncers on the shoulders were either dragged or hooked.
Even his franchise coach Ricky Ponting would have been pleased with Connolly’s lofted sixes over extra cover and front-foot pull-shots into the deep mid-wicket stands. Priyansh scored his half-century off just 19 balls, while the next 43 was scored off 18 balls, demonstrating the disparity in their batting styles.
Priyansh, who had an outstanding debut season, has repeatedly demonstrated that 2025 wasn’t a passing fad. Even though his opening partner Prabhsimran Singh was out on the first ball after he nicked an outswinger from Mohammed Shami, the Delhi youngster remained unfazed.
When left-arm seamer Mohsin Khan trapped Connolly in front somewhat early in the innings, a naive LSG captain Rishabh Pant will undoubtedly regret not taking the DRS. The TV umpire would have declared Connolly out, according to the replays. After that, Mohsin lost confidence and handed up 20 runs in his third over, allowing LSG to lose all momentum.
Prince Yadav (2/25 in 4 overs), who excelled when the majority of his teammates were dispatched on a leather hunt, was their only hope. His blockhole deliveries and change of speed were just amazing. When the century was up for grabs, Connolly and Priyansh were both quickly dismissed.
Mitchell Marsh caught the young Indian player at the boundary ropes as he was aiming for his tenth six. The harm that the Priyansh-Connoly combo had already caused appeared to be irreparable, despite the fact that LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka was observed exhaling with relief.
