In an absolute run fest at Brabourne Stadium, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) registered their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) on March 31. KL Rahul-led LSG pulled off the second-highest successful run chase ever against defending champions CSK. LSG’s Caribbean pick Evin Lewis got his team out of a tough situation in death overs to help them chase down 211 with three balls to spare. On the other hand, Ravindra Jadeja’s wait for his first IPL win as captain continues.
LSG's run chase of 211 got off to an ideal start with skipper KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock going all guns blazing. In the powerplay overs, the duo scored 55 runs to set the tone for the run chase. In the 11th over, IPL debutant Dwaine Pretorius got the major breakthrough with the wicket of skipper Rahul. He scored 40 runs off 26 deliveries including two fours and three sixes. Coming at no.3 Manish Pandey failed to make a mark again and departed after scoring just five runs from six deliveries. The scoreboard pressure got to De Kock as well and he played a rash shot to lose his wicket in the 15th over.
After the Proteas wicketkeeper-batter's wicket, LSG needed 72 more runs from 32 deliveries. Lewis took charge of the run chase and was well-supported by Deepak Hooda's mini cameo. However, Dwayne Bravo got the wicket of Hooda in the 18th over to make it tough for LSG. Bravo also became the highest wicket-taker in the history of IPL surpassing Lasith Malinga.
On the other end, Lewis kept on firing. He got the perfect partner in young half-centurion of previous game, Ayush Badoni. Jadeja made the mistake of giving the penultimate over to Shivam Dube which turned out to be a fatal one. Dube went for 25 runs in the 19th over which made it easy for them to chase down the total of 211 with three balls to spare. In the last over, debutant Mukesh Chaudhary failed to contain Lewis and Badoni and bowled loose deliveries. While Badoni contributed with nine-ball 19, Lewis remained unbeaten for 55 off 23 deliveries. The Caribbean batter's innings was laced with six fours and three sixes.
Earlier Rahul won the toss and chose to field first. Promoted to open the innings, Robin Uthappa repaid team management’s faith with sensational hitting in the powerplay overs. Meanwhile, Ruturaj Gaikwad got run out in the third over after scoring a single, courtesy Ravi Bishnoi’s direct hit. Replacing Devon Conway in the side, Moeen Ali complimented a rampant Uthappa.
The veteran went on to score 50 runs from just 27 deliveries including eight fours and one six. Once again, Bishnoi got the breakthrough but this time with the ball. DRS worked in LSG's favour as they got rid of a dangerous Uthappa in the ninth over. Despite the wicket of opener, the flow of runs did not take a hit. Shivam Dube got promoted up the order and made use of the opportunity. Ali departed in the 11th over after a cameo of 35 off 22 deliveries. Ambati Rayudu played second fiddle to Dube but could contribute 27 runs off 20 deliveries before Bishnoi uprooted his stump.
Dube missed his maiden missed his maiden fifty in CSK colours by just one run. He scored 49 runs from 30 deliveries including five fours and two sixes.
In the last two overs, Jadeja and MS Dhoni contributed with crucial cameos of 9-ball 17 and 6-ball 16 respectively. The cameos helped CSK post a daunting total of 210/7. Making his IPL comeback, Andrew Tye was on a hat-trick in his final over but could not stem the flow of runs.
