Punjab Kings power duo Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly fell short of a deserved hundred but put together a record 182 runs for the second wicket to take the game away from Lucknow Super Giants in their IPL 2026 encounter at Mullanpur on Sunday.
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Punjab were rocked briefly early on when Mohammed Shami removed Prabhsimran Singh for a golden duck in the opener. For a moment it appeared that Lucknow might soon gain control of a surface that offered a hint of movement. That hope didn’t last long. Arya and Connolly settled in quickly, and once they did, the competition began to slip away from the visitors.
The left-handed pair of Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly took Punjab Kings to 63-1 at the end of the powerplay. They then continued the pressure and added 28 runs in the next two overs as Lucknow Super Giants looked to pull things back. Ayush Badoni was brought in for two left-handers but Connolly hit a four and a six off his first two balls. Avesh Khan was also recruited, with Punjab continuing to score freely.
Arya’s innings stood out for the control he showed amidst the aggression. Against Manimaran Siddharth, with the fielders spread out on the leg side, he adjusted his shape to paddle well for four, a small moment that reflected his awareness. His 19-ball half-century, his second of the season, set the tone for what followed.
Connolly kept up without forcing it. He turned the punch, found gaps and punished anything that got loose. His fifty came off 35 balls as Punjab moved to 129 for 1 in 11 overs. By then, Lucknow was already running the game. The sixth strike was relentless. Punjab hit 16 sixes in the first 13 overs, including nine from Arya, as the partnership swelled to 176 and the score climbed to 179 for 1.
The pressure showed in the middle overs. Six more sixes were hit between overs 11 and 13, including a 32-run over off Aiden Markram. Every change in bowling was met with equal acclaim. There was no phase where Lucknow could slow things down.
Arya made the shift with a tap that combined range with authority. His 93 off 36 balls included four fours and nine sixes and he scored freely against pace and spin. He forced constant changes in the field and forced the bowlers to search for answers.
Connolly’s 87 off 45 balls ensured there was no drop at the other end. He hit eight fours and seven sixes, building the innings alongside Arya instead of playing second fiddle. The partnership crossed fifty in just 31 balls and grew without interruption.
There were brief signs of control early in the innings, with Prince Yadav keeping things tight in his opening spell. But once Arya started targeting Mohsin Khan and clobbered him for several sixes, the momentum shifted fully in Punjab’s favour.
Lucknow eventually found their way back after the 14th over. Connolly fell for 87 and Arya soon followed for 93, both missing hundreds that looked certain. Shreyas Iyer was also dismissed as Punjab slumped from 179 for 1 to 193 for 4 in the 16th over.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
19 Apr 2026 21:07 IST
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