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We now come to the conclusion of our coverage of the Indian Premier League for the day. We'll be back with more of the same tomorrow as the Delhi Capitals get to host the Sunrisers Hyderabad on their own home soil - the Arun Jaitley stadium. Join us right here on Sportskeeda for that, and keep an eye on our tabs for coverage of other cricketing action from across the globe! This is Rajarshi Das, signing off on behalf of Shashwat Kumar. Good night - see you tomorrow!
Never an easy feat to beat a side with a fanbase all over the country - the home support factor plays its part. The Lucknow Super Giants, though, did not let that faze them one bit - KL Rahul, alongside Quinton de Kock, planned the chase out to perfection, and now, the Lucknow Super Giants are level on points (8) with the Kolkata Knight Riders, the Chennai Super Kings, and the Sunrisers Hyderabad. They needed this win having come into the game on the back of a couple of losses.
This Chennai Super Kings side hasn't quite been able to crack the code of acing these 'low-scoring' contests just yet. They conceded defeat to the Sunrisers Hyderabad in similar fashion away from home earlier in the tournament, and that is the case tonight as well. As Gaikwad mentioned in his post match interview, the two factors they need to address are their scoring rate going into the death overs, and their ability to pick wickets in the powerplay. They have time until the 23rd to do so - both these sides will face each other in the return fixture at Chepauk in four days.
KL Rahul, Lucknow Super Giants captain, is the Player Of The Match for his match-winning 53-ball 82! Here's what he has to say: Feels good at the end of the day. When you win, all the decisions seem right. We committed to what our plans were. There's a bit of time we spend doing homework on tactics and strategies against the opposition, one of our strategies was to use pace, spin and make sure they don't settle to playing one type of bowling. Credit goes to the bowlers - I can do all the changing, but if they couldn't execute would have made us look stupid as a team. They executed really well, we worked hard at training, good to see the team sticking to the plans. I would have been happy with 160 at the halfway stage, felt like the wicket was slow from behind the stumps. There was a bit of grip, not much square turn, but there was help for the spinners. 160-165 would have been ideal. But then again, it's MSD, he walks in and the pressure gets to the bowlers. That's the presence and intimidation he's had over teams and bowlers. We had a young team, they were put under pressure by a huge figure in him, and the crowd was really loud. Still thought they stuck to their plans, but he's a phenomenal figure to still hit them for sixes. We knew if we batted well we could chase this down. I always try to assess the situation and see what's best for my team, and today was another such day when I tried it and it came off. I knew the Chennai spinners would put pressure after the powerplay, it was important we got off to a good start. Chose my bowlers, picked whom to go after, it came off today luckily. Quinton batted beautifully after that - makes life for both batters easy and we can take a few more chances, and that's what happened. It's a different ball game playing in Chennai against a packed Chennai crowd. Felt like mini-Chennai today - I was telling the boys in the huddle - get used to this, this is what we'll face in a couple days' time, maybe louder. It's good fun, it's a young team, they enjoy playing under pressure, and that's what brings the best out of some players. If not, you learn from the experiences. Looking forward to playing CSK in a couple of days.
Right then - time for the post-match presentation ceremony.
Marcus Stoinis: We did need it, an important win for us. We have them in Chennai a couple of days also. Nice to be back on the winning board and that was a confident win. I think with how we started with the ball, we could have kept them under that total. Hats off to the way they played and finished, especially with MS. it was a nice wicket, we built partnerships. KL and Quinny batted beautifully and then Nicky iced the cake. That (the opening partnership) is an important partnership at the top. Having that continuity, of them getting us off to good starts. We have got that confidence (that we can win three-four games on the trot). Different boys stepping up at different times. Different people putting their hand up, and that is a good sign for the team. (On his first-ball wicket) I said to KL if that was me done for four games or if I would get the ball again (laughs). Always in the captain's ears (to give me the ball).
Ruturaj Gaikwad, CSK captain: (On the score) We finished off really well but after the powerplay, we could not kick on until 14-15th over. Kept losing wickets at regular intervals and felt we were 10-15 runs short. (On if the pitch was tricky) Slightly difficult, yes. But with this impact player rule, you maybe need 10-20 runs extra. It was sluggish to start off with but with dew coming in later...I feel 180-190 could have been a good score. This (lack of powerplay wickets) is the one area we would like to improve on. It puts opposition on the back foot if we get powerplay wickets, especially when we are 10 runs short, and one area we need to definitely work on. Good to play them (LSG) again. We will come up with our homework done.
Match summary:
Lucknow Super Giants win by 8 wickets with 6 balls to spare
While Quinton de Kock struggled for timing initially, his opening partner and skipper KL Rahul was off the blocks in no time, and that turned out to be integral to the LSG's fortunes in the game. The ball didn't seem to come onto the bat nicely enough, but Rahul found a way to score quickly, and while he didn't quite look his elegant best at times, the runs kept coming along thick and fast in the powerplay. LSG ended the first six overs with a run rate of 9, and the premise was set for the home side.
Ravindra Jadeja looked to keep things tight from his end with his darts, but the odd boundary almost every other over meant that the Super Giants were always ahead of the 8-ball. The fact that both openers batted deep into the innings helped them immensely - de Kock was content with playing second fiddle as Rahul completed a fine half century with a finely executed cut off Jadeja in the 11th over.
Moeen Ali went for five in his first, and as it turned out, his only over in the game - Gaikwad trusted the likes of Pathirana and Mustafizur in digging into that LSG middle order. Pathirana came back for his second over and piqued some interest by giving a mere three in the 13th. But the boundaries kept flowing about more often - the shackles were off against Mustafizur in the 15th over, and even though de Kock departed after his own half-century - fending one into Dhoni's mitts - LSG had firm control over proceedings by then.
Nicholas Pooran walked in and made doubly sure of it. Three nicely-timed boundaries off the 17th over saw the required rate drop under a run-a-ball. A stupendous flying grab from Jadeja saw KL Rahul's knock come to an end after that, but it came along far too late for the Super Kings. It wasn't quite the brutal finish that was expected once Pooran was in, but he and Marcus Stoinis proceeded to get the job done with an over to spare. Presentations to follow....
Done and dusted! The Lucknow Super Giants prevail over the Chennai Super Kings on home soil! The people at the cricket got what they wanted - a memorable MS Dhoni cameo, and a victory for the home side!
19
overs
180/2score
1
4
1wd
1wd
0
2
1
1nb
4
runs
Nicholas Pooran*
23(12)
Marcus Stoinis
8(7)
Tushar Deshpande
0/42
18.6 Tushar Deshpande to Nicholas Pooran, POORAN FINISHES IT OFF WITH A BOUNDARY! Dug into the track on off stump. Pooran gives himself just enough room and slaps it over point to seal the deal. LSG with a clinical run-chase and they move level on points with CSK!
Whoops! A bit of bat on that would have meant the end of the game, but Pooran will get to do so in a more sumptuous manner now - he has a free hit to smash!
18.6 Tushar Deshpande to Nicholas Pooran, OH DEAR! HIgh full toss just outside off. Takes Pooran by surprise and he does well to get out of the way. Dhoni stops it with his pads, and the scores are now level. But hang on, CSK have reviewed this now. Looked like a No ball. We wait for the Ball Tracking graphic. It comes up, and it is well above the waist. Free hit for LSG, with just one needed!
18.5 Tushar Deshpande to Marcus Stoinis, knee-high full toss on off. Stoinis tugs it towards deep mid wicket
18.4 Tushar Deshpande to Marcus Stoinis, low full toss outside off. Stoinis throws his hands at it and slices it towards deep backward point for a brace
18.3 Tushar Deshpande to Marcus Stoinis, into the track outside off. Stoinis has a swipe at it and clinks it off the toe-end towards the keeper
18.3 Tushar Deshpande to Marcus Stoinis, another wide yorker but beyond the tramlines again. More exercise for the umpire
18.3 Tushar Deshpande to Marcus Stoinis, nails the yorker this time but it is too wide according to the umpire. Just six needed now
18.2 Tushar Deshpande to Marcus Stoinis, STOINIS FINDS THE FENCE! Wide half-volley and that is just crying out to be hit. Stoinis uses the angle from around the wicket and drills it past extra cover. Rizvi makes up plenty of ground, puts in the dive but cannot save the boundary!
Deshpande from round the wicket
18.1 Tushar Deshpande to Nicholas Pooran, low full toss on middle and leg. Pooran eases it down the ground to long on
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Q de Kock
R Gaikwad
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Nicholas Pooran
*
Tushar Deshpande
Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
