New Chandigarh: The stadium which always turns up in overwhelming support for the home side, witnessed yet another electrifying evening as Punjab Kings extended their unbeaten run this season with a commanding victory over Lucknow Super Giants in a high-scoring encounter on Sunday.Playing at the New Chandigarh venue, Lucknow opted to field after winning the toss — only to be met with a batting onslaught of the highest order.“We are expecting a closely contested match. Both sides have strong batting line-ups, and conditions here generally favour high-scoring encounters,” said a spectator ahead of the start — words that proved prophetic as the contest unfolded into a run-fest.Punjab Kings registered the highest team total of the IPL 2026 season, piling up a staggering 254 for 7 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. The innings was headlined by a breathtaking knock from Priyansh Arya, who smashed 93 off just 37 deliveries, laced with four boundaries and nine towering sixes.The home side’s batting display was nothing short of explosive, with the ball frequently sailing into the stands. The crowd’s energy mirrored the trajectory of those hits, rising with every big shot. The standout moment came in the 13th over, when Arya and Cooper Connolly unleashed a brutal assault, hammering 32 runs—including five sixes—in a single over.Connolly complemented Arya brilliantly, scoring 87 off 46 balls with eight fours and seven sixes. The duo stitched together a mammoth 182-run partnership off just 80 balls—an aggregate that often surpasses full team totals in many T20 contests.Amid the batting carnage, Lucknow found some respite through Prince Yadav, who delivered a disciplined spell. The pacer claimed 2 wickets while conceding just 25 runs in his four overs, standing out as the pick of the bowlers. LSG tried giving a fight in the powerplay however an expected explosive innings could not be achieved, changing the batting order repeatedly does not seem to be favouring the batters. The stands added to the spectacle, with actor Arjun Rampal spotted in red alongside Preity Zinta, both cheering for the home side.With such a commanding total on the board, Punjab Kings not only thrilled their home crowd but also maintained their perfect record this season, continuing an unbeaten streak built on dominant, all-round performances.“The atmosphere in the stadium reflected the magnitude of the performance. The crowd responded appreciatively to every milestone,” added a spectator.
