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Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on May 15 beat Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by six wickets with 20 balls to spare. This was LSG’s second win of the season at home and first while chasing. As LSG's top-order lived up to the potential in the chase, skipper Rishabh Pant rued lack of implementation in the season that led to them being knocked out of playoffs race early. As Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis shared a 135-run partnership, Pant said that the idea was to stack the top order with overseas batters. He said that the team had potential but it was frustrating to see that there was a lack of implementation.
"See, definitely that was the first thought," Pant said "That getting two overseas players to open the innings and Nicky (Pooran) batting at three. That was the idea. Sometimes it's difficult when thought process is not being implemented all the time. But at the same time, we take pride, and we are confident as a team,” Pant said at the post-match presentation.
Pant also seemed to take an indirect dig at LSG’s big coaching staff and having too many contrasting beliefs in the dressing room.
“The only thing I would say is it's frustrating when you know what you have as a team, [but] just because of little thought process here and there and you can't implement things the way you want. Things can happen,” the wicketkeeper-batter said.
"The only thing that can harm us is having too many thought process."
In the run chase of 188, Marsh scored 90 runs off just 38 balls, including nine fours and seven sixes. Inglis contributed with a 32-ball 36 whereas Nicholas Pooran contributed with a 17-ball 32 cameo.
The top order solution came too late
Marsh has registered big scores but he has lacked consistency. Inglis didn’t join the LSG side until more than half of the season was done. Also, Pooran did not do well as he batted at positions other than no.3. Since Pooran’s return to no.3, he has delivered blazing knocks. Earlier, Aiden Markram struggled at the top as well and moved to middle order.
LSG still at bottom, can spoil RR and PBKS’ party
Despite the win, LSG stay at the bottom of the points table with eight points, same as Mumbai Indians (MI) but an inferior net run rate (NRR). They have two more games left in the season. Their next opponent is Rajasthan Royals (RR) in an away game on May 19. Their last home game of the season is against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on May 23. LSG can disrupt RR and PBKS’ playoffs plans as they have got nothing to lose this season.
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