Lucknow, August 23: Propelled by a sensational all-round performance from Ajeet Verma, the Lucknow Falcons secured a 12-run victory (via the DLS method) over the Noida Kings in Match 15 of the UP T20 League 2026 powered by Vimal Elaichi and NSC. The rain-interrupted encounter took place at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium.
Lucknow Falcons skipper and seasoned India international Bhuvneshwar Kumar won the toss, elected to bowl first, and immediately set a stifling tone by delivering a flawless maiden over.
Despite the tight start, Noida Kings opener Shoaib Siddiqui laid a solid foundation with a well-constructed 48 off 39 deliveries. However, the Falcons’ bowling attack soon took control, striking at regular intervals to trigger a middle-order collapse.
Spearheading the Lucknow bowling effort was Abhinandan Singh. He delivered a brilliant spell of 4/32, a performance that propelled him back to the top of the tournament’s wicket-taking charts (13 wickets in 5 matches) to reclaim the Purple Cap. Ajeet Verma provided vital support with two wickets, leaving the Kings in a precarious position at 127/8.
Facing a subpar total, Prashant Veer took matters into his own hands. The left-hander unleashed a brutal late assault, smashing 29 runs off the final two overs including 22 in the final over alone. Veer walked off unbeaten on a game-changing 59 off just 30 balls, single-handedly pushing the Kings to a competitive 156/8 in their 20 overs.
Chasing 157, the Lucknow Falcons endured a disastrous start. Pacer Naman Tiwari struck early with the new ball to remove openers Mohammad Saif and Himanshu Singh. The situation worsened when Priyam Garg was dismissed via a run-out, leaving the Falcons reeling at 32/3.
Ajeet Verma arrived at the crease to rescue the innings, partnering with Vipraj Nigam to stitch together a crucial 61-run stand. Backing up his impressive bowling effort, Verma took control of the chase, batting with authority to score a brilliant 59 off 43 balls.
As the Falcons closed in on the target, requiring just 13 runs from the final 15 deliveries, heavy rain halted play. With no further action possible, the Lucknow Falcons were declared winners by 12 runs on the DLS method, securing their second victory of the UP T20 League 2026.
For his exceptional match-winning contributions with both bat and ball, Ajeet Verma was adjudged the Player of the Match.
