A two-wicket thriller at Ekana Stadium keeps fans on the edge as Noida Kings edge Lucknow Falcons in the final over
A Night of Drama at Ekana Stadium
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Premier League 2025 produced its first edge-of-the-seat thriller as the Noida Kings clinched a two-wicket victory over Lucknow Falcons in the third match of the season at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. The contest, played under humid evening skies on August 18, kept fans gripped until the final delivery. Chasing 166, Noida scraped through to 168 for 8 in 19.5 overs, thanks to the calm head and match-winning performance of their senior campaigner Karn Sharma, who was named Player of the Match.
Falcons Start Strong but Lose Their Way
Put into bat after Noida Kings elected to field first, Lucknow Falcons began confidently, moving swiftly to 13 without loss inside the opening over. At the halfway mark, they stood at a promising 79 for 3, with Priyam Garg and Samarth Singh keeping the scoreboard moving. However, the innings faltered soon after as regular wickets broke the rhythm. Despite flashes of aggression from the middle order, the Falcons could not stitch together the big partnerships needed to cross the 170-mark.
The innings closed at 165 for 8 in 20 overs, a total that appeared competitive on paper but was always slightly below par on a ground where chasing teams have traditionally enjoyed success. The lack of a late flourish meant the Falcons left runs on the table, something that would eventually come back to haunt them.
Noida’s Disciplined Bowling Effort
The Kings’ bowlers showed remarkable discipline in restricting the Falcons. Karn Sharma’s leg-spin was pivotal, stifling scoring opportunities and picking up crucial wickets in the middle overs. His variations kept the batsmen guessing and ensured the Falcons never ran away with the game. Young pacers like Naman Tiwari and Mohammed Sharim complemented Sharma well by bowling tight lines in the closing overs.
Although the Falcons threatened to break loose at several stages, the Kings’ bowlers struck back every time, showcasing excellent control and teamwork. By the end of the innings, the sense was clear: Noida had given themselves a manageable chase.
Kings Survive a Scare in the Chase
Chasing 166 was never going to be straightforward under lights, and Noida Kings quickly found themselves in a battle. Early wickets dented momentum, and the Falcons’ bowlers—led by the experienced Bhuvneshwar Kumar—applied consistent pressure. The Kings looked shaky in the middle overs as wickets continued to tumble, bringing the match alive.
With the equation tightening, Karn Sharma once again stepped up, this time with the bat. Showing maturity and composure, he anchored the lower order, guiding the chase while punishing loose balls. The game swung back and forth, and when Noida entered the final over needing just a handful of runs with two wickets in hand, the tension was palpable. Sharma ensured there was no collapse, steering his side home with one ball remaining.
A Result That Sets the Tone
The thrilling finish not only gave Noida Kings a crucial early win in the UPPL 2025 but also underlined the importance of experience in crunch situations. The Falcons, though disappointed, showed enough spark to suggest they will be strong contenders once they tighten their batting in the middle overs and sharpen their death bowling.
For the fans at Ekana, it was a night of drama, tension, and celebration—a match that reaffirmed why the Uttar Pradesh Premier League is fast becoming a hub of high-quality T20 cricket.
