Marcus Stoinis’ blazing 124 off 63 deliveries, comprising 13 fours and six sixes, proved to be the decisive factor as Lucknow Super Giants chased down a daunting 211 set by Chennai Super Kings to secure a six-wicket victory in their IPL match on Tuesday. Ruturaj Gaikwad, who scored 108 off 60 balls for CSK, and Shivam Dube, played significant roles in their team’s strong performance. Gaikwad’s elegant knock included 12 fours and three sixes, while Dube chipped in with 66 off 27 deliveries, including three fours and seven sixes. His 104-run partnership with Gaikwad propelled the Chennai Super Kings to a competitive 210 for four. While Gaikwad anchored the CSK innings with his classic timing, hitting boundaries with remarkable consistency, Dube provided power and momentum with his powerful hitting. He smashed three consecutive sixes off Yash Thakur in the 17th over, much to the delight of the CSK faithful. Gaikwad reached his second IPL century with a four off Thakur in the subsequent over, accumulating 16 runs from it. The highlight of his innings was a superbly executed slice-cut off Mohsin Khan that flew past point. CSK’s Power Play was relatively quiet with 49 runs scored for the loss of two wickets, but the middle passage of their innings picked up pace with Gaikwad’s and Dube’s contributions. Gaikwad formed important partnerships with Daryl Mitchell, Ravindra Jadeja, and later with Dube, accumulating 45 and 52 runs, respectively. Dube’s arrival at the crease eased pressure on Gaikwad, allowing him to play more freely. The left-handed Dube showcased his power-hitting skills, dispatching the ball to various parts of the ground, including three successive sixes off Thakur. In response, the Lucknow Super Giants got off to a solid start, reaching 55 runs in the first six overs. However, their progress was briefly halted by the dismissal of Devdutt Padikkal, who was bowled by Pathirana for a paltry 13. Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran then took charge, adding 70 runs for the fourth wicket. Pooran’s aggressive approach in the 16th over, where he clobbered Shardul Thakur for 20 runs, including two sixes and a four, kept LSG in contention. LSG needed 15 runs from the final over, which was bowled by Rahman. Stoinis displayed his power and composure, smashing Rahman for 17 runs, including two fours and two sixes, to seal the thrilling victory for Lucknow Super Giants.
Marcus Stoinis Blasts Century as Lucknow Super Giants Defeat Chennai Super Kings
