It was a special match on Friday, April 28, between the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and the Punjab Kings (PBKS). The visitors rode on the batting of Australian Marcus Stoinis and West Indies' Kyle Mayers and Nicholas Pooran as LSG posted the second-highest total in the history of this cash-rich league. However, one particular few seconds will etch one of their young players in the record books of IPL 2023.
Ayush Badoni was called into action during the second innings after Marcus Stoinis injured himself. While facing Atharva Taide, Stoinis was bowling his second over. On the fifth ball, he was seen to be in some discomfort as the physios were called on. He was seen to be having an issue on his left index finger as Badoni was tossed the ball to bowl the last remaining legal ball of the over rather than burning a full over from a frontline bowler.
It was a Good length ball that slanted across the fourth stump and was sliced to backward point for zero runs. In doing so, he also became the bowler in IPL 2023 with an economy rate of 0.00.
Full list of bowlers with the best economy rate this season (no overs limit)
0.00: Ayush Badoni (LSG)
6.25: Matthew Short (PBKS)
6.33: Pravin Dubey (DC)
6.50: Jayant Yadav (GT)
6.66: Glenn Phillips (SRH)
About the IPL 2023 GT vs CSK Final:
Young and uncapped batter Sai Sudharsan led the charge in the first innings as GT set CSK an imposing target of 215 in the IPL 2023 final. His innings finished at 96 runs off just 47 balls, at a strike rate of 204.25 with 8 fours and 6 sixes to his name. He failed to complete his century after being caught LBW by CSK pacer Matheesha Pathirana.
Sudharsan stepped up to the occasion after the early wicket of the in-form Shubman Gill, who is also the current Orange Cap holder as well. After the bright start that openers Wriddhiman Saha and Gill gave GT, hitting 62 runs in the Powerplay.
Gill managed 39 off 20 balls, but his wicket via a brilliant stumping by MS Dhoni, gave way to Sudharsan.
After a long rain interruption, the match restarted at 12:10 with a revised target of 171 in 15 overs. CSK openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway made the most of the conditions with an opening wicket partnership of 74 runs before Gaikwad was caught by Rashid Khan off Noor Ahmad's bowling, scoring 26 runs in 16 balls.
Conway was the main aggressor and managed 47 off 25 balls before Noor struck again as the New Zealander holed the ball straight to Mohit Sharma. Then coming to the party was Shivam Dube (32* off 21) and Ajinkya Rahane (27 off 13). The duo had a very important partnership of 39 runs from 23 balls which took CSK closer to the target.
After Rahane's wicket, Ambati Rayudu (19 off 8) took over as MS Dhoni was caught out for a Golden Duck. Many thought it was game over for CSK but Sir Ravindra Jadeja (15 off 6) had other plans. He hit a six and a four in the final two balls of the match to seal Chennai Super Kings' fifth IPL trophy.
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