An explosive half-century by Kyle Mayers went in vain as Moeen Ali’s four wickets and skilful death bowling by bowlers helped Chennai Super Kings (CSK) clinch a 12-run win over Lucknow Super Giants in a scintillating Indian Premier League (IPL) match at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Monday.
CSK finally opened its account in IPL 2023 after losing the opener to Gujarat Titans. LSG have registered their first loss in IPL 2023 as they won against Delhi Capitals in their campaign opener. Chasing a mammoth target of 218 runs, LSG was off to a great start. West Indies star Kyle Mayers continued from where he left in the previous match, with skipper KL Rahul serving as an anchor.
Mayers smashed Ben Stokes for two fours and a six in the second over, which gave away 18 runs. The next over of Deepak Chahar also gave away 13 runs, with Mayers hitting him for three fours.
LSG crossed the 50-run mark in 3.5 overs. Tushar Deshpande was heavily punished by Mayers, who hit him for a boundary and six. The bowler also gave away extras through three wides and two no-balls. The over gave away 18 runs. Mayers continued to punish Chahar and raced to his fifty, his second straight one in just 21 balls, consisting of eight fours and two sixes.
Moeen got the breakthrough, dismissing Mayers for 53 off 22 balls after he was caught by Devon Conway at deep midwicket. LSG were 79/1 in 5.3 overs.
At the end of powerplay, LSG were at 80/1, with Deepak Hooda (1*) joining skipper Rahul (19*).
Mitchell Santner took another quick wicket, dismissing Hooda for just two off six balls. He was caught for Ben Stokes at wide long-on. LSG were 82/2 in 7 overs. LSG continued to lose wickets, as skipper Rahul’s disappointing run continued. Ali got his second wicket by dismissing him for 20 off 18 balls. Gaikwad took a stunning catch and the scoreline read 82/3 in 7.2 overs. A six from Marcus Stoinis took LSG beyond the 100-run mark in 9.1 overs. Ali was on a roll. He continued to run riot on LSG batting attack, dismissing Krunal Pandya for a sloppy nine runs of nine balls after Ravindra Jadeja caught him at long-on. LSG was 105/4 in 10 overs.
Nicholas Pooran and Stoinis continued to build a partnership. However, Ali put an end to this budding 25-run stand by dismissing Stoinis for 21 off 18 balls, hitting the top of his leg stump. LSG were 130/5 in 13.2 overs.
At the end of 15 overs, LSG were at 150/5 with Pooran (31*) joined by Ayush Badoni (5*). Pooran took LSG to this score with two sixes in the 15th over.
Deshpande got his first wicket. Stokes took his second catch of the night to send back Pooran for 32 off 18 balls, consisting of two fours and three sixes. LSG were 156/6 in 16 overs. They need 62 in the final four overs. Chahar delivered three straight wides in the 17th over. His over gives away 18 runs. LSG were 174/6 in 17 overs, need 44 in 18 balls. LSG cut the deficit by seven more runs, bringing down the equation to 37 runs in 12 balls.
The equation came down to 28 runs in the last over, with Gowtham (17*) and Badoni (21*) unbeaten. Deshpande came to deliver the last over.