On Friday in Mohali, the Indian Premier League saw a team scoring the second highest total in the history of the tournament, when Lucknow Super Giants hammered the Punjab Kings bowlers to put 257/5 on the board, forcing the Punjab batting coach, Wasim Jaffer, to admit that his team was "a bit clueless".
However, throwing his weight behind Punjab bowlers, Jaffer said they would pick themselves up after this thrashing.
"Today was one of those days when everything clicked for the opposition and we were a bit clueless. Our bowlers will come back strong," Jaffer said after Punjab's 56-run defeat.
The likes of Marcus Stoinis, Kyle Mayers, Ayush Badoni and Nicholas Pooran pummelled the Punjab bowlers into submission.
"Our bowling couldn't perform. They started off well in powerplay and just took off, they didn't stop, every one played... Ayush Badoni, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran. When someone plays like this, it's very difficult, they didn't lose momentum after the powerplay. As I said, It was an off day for our bowling."
Punjab's leading pacers Kagiso Rabada (2/52), Arshdeep Singh (1/54) and Sam Curran (1/38) conceded 144 runs between them across 11 overs.
1/10:IPL 2023: Lucknow Super Giants smash Punjab Kings
ANI
2/10:Marcus Stoinis
<p>Marcus Stoinis and Kyle Mayers smashed 11 boundaries apiece to bring Lucknow Super Giants the second-highest team total in IPL history during the 56-run demolition of Punjab Kings on Friday.</p>IANS
3/10:Kyle Mayers
<p>Lucknow finished on 257/5 after being sent in to bat with Mayers giving the visitors a racing start, putting on 41 runs from 21 balls with skipper KL Rahul. </p>IANS
4/10:Kagiso Rabada
<p>Kagiso Rabada sent back the openers, with Mayers caught at mid-on for 54, but Stoinis kept up the charge with a statement knock that delivered 72 from 40. </p>ANI
5/10:Super Stoinis
<p>Stoinis took 22 runs off the last nine balls he faced to finish in the 19th over with six fours and five sixes. </p>AFP
6/10:Rahul Chahar
<p>Wrist spinner Rahul Chahar was the only Punjab bowler who managed to slow down the batting charge, conceding 29 runs in his wicketless four overs. </p>PTI
7/10:Atharva Taide
<p>Punjab rode on Atharva Taide's 66 off 36 balls to finish at 201 runs in a brave but improbable chase. </p>ANI
8/10:Shikhar Dhawan
<p>Stoinis dismissed returning captain Shikhar Dhawan (1), who was caught in the deep after miscalculating with an uppercut in the first over. </p>PTI
9/10:Stoinis retired hurt
<p>Stoinis' night came to a premature end after he was hit on the hand while bowling and retired hurt.</p>IANS
10/10:Ravi Bishnoi
<p>Taide was out in the 13th over becoming leg spinner Ravi Bishnoi's first wicket of the evening. </p>AFPFormer India batter Jaffer feels there is no need to press the panic button just yet. He, however, admitted that the bowlers could have approached the situation differently.
"It's not a serious concern. Before this our bowling has defended in serious conditions against Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders. The bowling unit has performed better. Today was an off day.
"Maybe we could have used a Plan B, like using the slower balls a lot more and using the longer boundary consistently," Jaffer said.
Despite a mammoth total to chase, Punjab did not shuffle their batting line up to promote the big hitters of the side.
"Our top-three is a fix and (Atharva) Taide is someone who always does well in the powerplay. We also wanted to maintain a left-right combination throughout.
"Also, someone like (Liam) Livingstone hadn't played a lot of cricket, (Sikandar) Raza had done well for us and that's why he was promoted," Jaffer said.
"We thought that if we can get closer to the total, we have the power of Livingstone and Curran. As for Jitesh (Sharma) and Shahrukh (Khan), their roles are for the final five overs. Everyone did their best but it's just unfortunate that we fell short by 56 runs."
Having won the toss, Punjab skipper Shikhar Dhawan had decided to bowl first, a decision Jaffer backed.
"It is a trend for IPL sides to opt for chasing after winning the toss. Dew was obviously a factor too. We had seen it during practice and that was a reason as well. But when the opposition gets to 257, it's always tough to chase.
"They got a fast start in the powerplay and never slowed down at any stage. You have to give them credit."
Punjab Kings will next visit former champions Chennai Super Kings on Sunday, April 30.
(With agency inputs)
