Punjab Kings captain Shikhar Dhawan was surprised by Mayank Yadav’s brisk pace after they suffered a 21-run loss against Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Saturday. After opting to bat first on a re-laid surface, LSG posted the joint-highest T20 score at their home venue – 199-8.

Punjab got off to a promising start, as their openers Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow added 102 runs off just 69 balls. However, LSG bounced back when debutant Mayank Yadav breathed down the neck of the opposition with his extra pace.

Yadav clocked 155.8 kmph and consistently bowled above 145 to trouble the PBKS batters. The right-arm pacer from Delhi bounced out Jonny Bairstow and Prabhsimram Singh. Furthermore, he also accounted for Jitesh Sharma and returned with match-winning figures of 3-27 in his quota of four overs.

Shikhar Dhawan said in the post-match presentation, “They played well, pity that Livi (Livingstone) got injured, that hurt us, he would have come at 4. We started off well, but Mayank bowled well with his pace. It was nice facing him, I was surprised at his pace, but I wanted to use his pace against him, but he bowled the bouncers and the yorkers well.”

Dhawan added, “I was quite mindful, asked the batters to use the short side and use his pace, but he bowled into his body (on Bairstow’s dismissal) and got him OUT, I said the same to Jitesh as well. But Mohsin bowled really well, he kept a good length and suffocated us. We will have to analyse these defeats, the drop catch did cost us some momentum. That’s something we’ll have to improve going forward.”

Dhawan scored a fine knock of 70 runs off just 50 balls but his efforts went in vain as he didn’t receive support from the other end.

Punjab Kings will next take on Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Thursday.