Lucknow Super Giants greenhorn batter Prerak Mankad was delighted to play an instrumental role in guiding his team to a seven-wicket victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on Saturday.
Mankad scored an unbeaten knock of 64 runs off just 45 balls in the run-chase of 183 runs against the Orange Army. The 29-year-old added 73 runs with Marcus Stoinis, who also played a crucial knock of 40 runs from 25 balls.
Mankad then played a second-fiddle role in the 58-run alliance with Nicholas Pooran, who smashed a blistering knock of 44 runs off just 13 balls. Mankad scored seven fours and two sixes and played a big role in the team’s win.
“It feels amazing to play a big role in the team winning. I am very grateful to the team management and everyone for giving me this huge platform and giving me the opportunity to bat at this number in the order,” he said.
“I have been playing domestic cricket for the last five to six years in all formats. It helped me a lot. And performances there do help any player. I am glad that the team won the game today,” Mankad informed the media.
Meanwhile, Abhishek Sharma was taken for 31 runs by Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran as the youngster was smashed for five sixes in the 16th over and thus it was the turning point in the game. Mankad lauded Stoinis and Pooran for their brilliant knocks in the end.
“We have the firepower, and the big one came in the 16th over. Well, both Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran told me to back my strength, some basic things and that helped me execute the strokes.”
“It was a decent wicket and the ball was sticking a bit, especially when the bowlers were preferring cross-seam,” Mankad said.
The 16th over of the run-chase turned out to be the game-changer as Stoinis and Pooran were able to capitalize. LSG will next take on Mumbai Indians at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Tuesday.
