KATHMANDU: In an exhilarating finish to their TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 campaign, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) secured an 18-run victory against the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium.
MI, winning the toss, chose to bowl first, making notable changes to their line-up, including Arjun Tendulkar replacing Jasprit Bumrah.
LSG’s innings was a tale of two halves. Struggling initially, they found themselves in trouble at the halfway mark, scoring only 69 for three.
Devdutt Padikkal, promoted to open, was dismissed leg-before by Nuwan Thushara in the first over.
Marcus Stoinis provided a brief spark with 28 off 22 balls before being trapped leg-before by Piyush Chawla at the end of the powerplay.
Chawla continued his disciplined bowling, dismissing Deepak Hooda and keeping MI in control.
The turning point came with Nicholas Pooran’s entry.
Despite a cautious start, playing his first three balls as dots, Pooran exploded, reaching his fifty off just 19 balls.
Displaying his signature horizontal bat shots, Pooran dismantled the MI bowling attack.
The 13th over alone went for 22 runs, featuring two of Pooran’s six sixes.
Arjun Tendulkar, cramping, bowled the 15th over and was punished with two more sixes, forcing him off the field.
Naman Dhir completed the over, conceding a six and a four, making it a 29-run over.
KL Rahul, steady at the other end, reached his fifty off 37 balls.
Thushara returned to dismiss Pooran for a 29-ball 75, and Piyush Chawla sent Rahul back in the next over.
At 178 for six, LSG still aimed for a high total. Krunal Pandya and Ayush Badoni pushed the score to 214 with crucial boundaries in the final overs.
In response, MI’s innings started strongly with an 88-run opening partnership between Rohit Sharma and Dewald Brevis. Rohit, in top form, reached his fifty off 28 balls.
However, Brevis’s dismissal slowed MI’s momentum. Suryakumar Yadav fell to Krunal Pandya, and Rohit’s dismissal for 68 by Ravi Bishnoi in the next over further dented MI’s chase.
With the run-rate climbing, young Naman Dhir fought valiantly, reaching his fifty with a six off Naveen in the final over. Despite his unbeaten 62 off 28 balls, MI fell short, finishing on 196 for eight.
LSG’s bowlers delivered a collective performance, with Krunal Pandya’s economical spell of one for 29 in four overs and Ravi Bishnoi’s two for 37 playing crucial roles.
The spinners’ effectiveness in the middle overs was key to LSG’s victory.
This win allowed LSG to end their season on a high note, showcasing their resilience and strategic acumen in a high-stakes match.
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