Eliminator Showdown: Lucknow Falcons Knock Out Gorakhpur Lions with All-Round Brilliance

Eliminator Showdown: Lucknow Falcons Knock Out Gorakhpur Lions with All-Round Brilliance

UP T20 League Eliminator: The Lucknow Falcons kept their UPT20 campaign alive with a convincing 23-run victory over the Gorakhpur Lions, securing a spot in Qualifier 2 against the Meerut Mavericks.

The Lucknow Falcons rose to the occasion in a high-stakes Eliminator clash, defeating the Gorakhpur Lions by 23 runs in a spirited contest. Backed by a strong batting effort and a disciplined bowling performance, the Falcons proved too good for the Lions, who bowed out of the tournament after a brave fight.

Falcons Fly High with the Bat

Opting to bat first, the Falcons approached their innings with confidence and aggression. Abhay Pratap Singh gave them a lively start, smashing 33 runs from just 21 balls, ensuring the team built early momentum. His stroke play set the tone, putting the Lions’ bowlers on the back foot straightaway.

Once the foundation was set, contributions flowed from the middle order. Ansh Yadav (28) played a steady hand, while Mohd Saif added fireworks with his quickfire 32 runs, peppering the boundary at crucial stages. Sameer Chaudhary (21) also kept the scoreboard ticking with timely shots.

Despite the Falcons’ strong batting display, the Gorakhpur Lions fought back with the ball. Prince Yadav was their best performer, claiming 3 important wickets, while Abdul Rehman chipped in with 2 wickets, though he proved expensive, conceding 40 runs. Even so, the Falcons managed to post a formidable 170/8, giving their bowlers plenty to work with.

Lions Struggle Against Tight Bowling

Chasing 171 under pressure, the Gorakhpur Lions needed a strong start but never truly got going. Nishant Kushwaha (34) and Akash Deep Nath (15) showed early promise, but wickets kept falling, preventing momentum from building.

The biggest resistance came from Siddarth Yadav, who played a fighting knock of 50 runs from 41 balls. His half-century kept the Lions in the hunt and briefly raised hopes of a comeback. However, with little support from the other end and mounting scoreboard pressure, his effort went in vain.

The Falcons’ bowlers executed their plans perfectly. Navneet Kumar was exceptional, finishing with 3 wickets for 33 runs, striking at key moments to derail the chase. Veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar showed his class, returning figures of 2/20, while Akshu Bajwa also grabbed 2 wickets, ensuring the Lions never came close to their target.

Falcons Advance, Lions Exit

In the end, the Gorakhpur Lions were restricted to 147 all out, falling 23 runs short of the target. The result was a reward for the Falcons’ all-round effort a balanced batting performance followed by disciplined, wicket-taking bowling.

For the Lucknow Falcons, this win means progression to the next stage of the tournament and renewed confidence as they eye the title. For the Gorakhpur Lions, however, the loss spelled the end of their campaign, despite flashes of brilliance throughout the season.

This Eliminator victory once again highlighted how teamwork and composure under pressure can make the difference in knockout games and on this day, it was the Falcons who soared high.