Kanpur, Read: Lucknow Falcons have made a brilliant comeback in the UP T20 League 2026 and secured their place in the playoffs. In the 26th match of the tournament played at Green Park Stadium, Kanpur, Lucknow defeated Gorakhpur Lions by 24 runs.
With this win, Lucknow Falcons registered their fifth win in nine matches and became the second team after Meerut Mavericks to reach the playoffs.
After the victory, Lucknow captain Bhuvneshwar Kumar called it very important for the team. He said that this win was very important for qualifying and the team has achieved its first target.
Ajit-Kritgya took over the innings after 51/4
Lucknow Falcons, who came to bat first after losing the toss, did not have the start as expected. Lucknow lost four top wickets for just 51 runs in front of the tight bowling of Gorakhpur captain Shivam Sharma. Shivam Sharma recorded figures of 2/12.
In difficult situation, Ajit Verma and Kritagya Singh took charge. Both of them completely changed the course of the match by making an unbeaten partnership of 109 runs in just 64 balls.
Ajit Verma batted aggressively and scored unbeaten 75 runs in 45 balls. His innings included eight fours and three sixes. Whereas Kritagya Singh contributed 44 runs in 31 balls. Thanks to this partnership, Lucknow made a strong score of 170/5 in 20 overs.
Bhuvneshwar said- After the beginning, even 130-140 seemed like the fighting total.
Recalling the initial difficulties of the team, captain Bhuvneshwar Kumar said that the kind of start that was expected was not achieved. According to him, during the 10-over break, the team's target was to reach around 100 runs by the 15th over and add 40 to 50 runs in the last five overs.
He said that at that time in the dressing room the score of 130 to 140 runs was also considered a fighting total.
'Ajit made a huge impact'
Bhuvneshwar Kumar praised the partnership of Ajit Verma and Kritagya Singh. He said that the maturity displayed by both the young batsmen was fantastic.
According to the captain, the team was missing such partnerships till now in the tournament. He said that both their batting was better than expected and Ajit Verma made a huge impact. Due to his performance the team had to include him in the playing eleven.
Bhuvneshwar said that when a young player performs like this, the entire team benefits from it.
Gorakhpur had a bad start against the target of 171 runs.
Gorakhpur Lions, who set out to chase the target of 171 runs from Lucknow, also got off to a shaky start. Lucknow's fast bowler Abhinandan Singh put the team under pressure by sending the opening batsmen to the pavilion early.
After this, Akshu Bajwa shook the middle order of Gorakhpur by taking two wickets and Vipraj Nigam took one wicket. By 10.3 overs, Gorakhpur's score was 70/5.
Prince and Parth raised hopes, then Abhinandan turned the match
In a difficult situation, Prince Yadav and Parth Palawat tried to handle the innings of Gorakhpur. Both made a partnership of 56 runs in 40 balls. Prince Yadav scored 49 runs in 36 balls.
Gorakhpur needed 45 runs to win in the last three overs. At such a time, Bhuvneshwar Kumar gave the 18th over to Abhinandan Singh. Abhinandan dismissed dangerous looking Prince Yadav on the very first ball. After this Parth Palawat was run out.
Abhinandan finished the bowling with impressive figures of 3/32 in his four overs.
Bhuvi and Vipraj did all the work of Gorakhpur
In the 19th over, Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed Gorakhpur captain Shivam Sharma. After this, in the 20th over, Vipraj Nigam wrapped up Gorakhpur's innings by taking the remaining two wickets.
Vipraj gave a brilliant bowling performance of 3/17 and Gorakhpur Lions team was all out for 146 runs.
After the match, Bhuvneshwar Kumar said that the way the team performed in bowling after batting, it was an all-round and completely balanced victory for Lucknow Falcons.
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