The China Mail - Shreyas Iyer scores maiden IPL century as Punjab beat Lucknow

Iyer scored 101 not out off 51 balls, hitting five sixes and 11 fours, as Punjab finished with 200-3 in 18 overs to end a six-match losing streak.

Prabhsimran Singh also hit 69 off 39 balls in a must-win game for Punjab.

"I am ecstatic to be honest," said Iyer.

"It is my first (IPL) hundred and it came at the right time when the team needed it. We won eventually after six consecutive losses.

"Our bowlers did brilliantly, especially Yuzi (Chahal) the way he restricted runs in the middle. It is a great positive and we will be supporting Mumbai Indians (against Rajasthan) tomorrow (Sunday)."

Earlier, Josh Inglis's 72 off 44 balls helped hosts Lucknow put on 196-6. Yuzvendra Chahal took 2-25 in four overs.

Punjab got the much needed two points from this win, and moved to fourth spot in the points table.

They are still not assured of top-four qualification, with Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders playing their final league games on Sunday.

However, Delhi Capitals are knocked out of contention owing to Punjab's win. Lucknow finished the IPL season with 10 losses in 14 games and placed 10th and last.

"It was a tough season," lamented Lucknow captain Rishabh Pant.

"We knew batting second gets easier here, so we were a few runs short. We want to look at the positives from this season and build on them. We need to take accountability and will come back stronger next season."

- Marsh blow -

Put in to bat, Lucknow made a bad start, missing in-form Australian opener Mitchell Marsh.

Azmatullah Omarzai and Marco Jansen struck the initial blows for the Kings. Nicholas Pooran was out for just two.

Inglis and Ayush Badoni added 49 off 23 balls for the third wicket. Wrist spinner Chahal broke through in the middle, removing both Badoni and later on skipper Pant (26).

For Inglis, it was a third half-century in five matches this season, coming off 28 balls. Overall, he hit nine fours and two sixes.

Lucknow kept losing wickets regularly, but Abdul Samed's 37 not out off 20 balls helped them past 190. Samed hit three sixes, and added 35 off 19 balls with Inglis for the fifth wicket.

Punjab's reply did not take off well with Mohammed Shami picking two wickets.

Shami's absence in the previous game had raised eyebrows for Lucknow, but he returned to dismiss opener Priyansh Arya for a golden duck. He also bowled Cooper Connolly (18) as Punjab were 22-2.

Iyer and Singh then came together, adding 140 off 76 balls, and it was Punjab's fifth-highest ever stand.

Singh hit his sixth half-century of the season at a crucial juncture, off 28 balls.

Singh hit two sixes and seven fours, out lbw to Arjun Tendulkar before the finish line.

Skipper Iyer, though, finished the job for his team, getting his maiden century with a celebratory six.

W.Cheng--ThChM