By Marcus Stoinis magnificent unbeaten 124 off 63 balls, along with crucial contributions from Nicholas Pooran and Deepak Hooda, led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to a remarkable away victory against the defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Chepauk. Despite a captain’s knock of 108* by Ruturaj Gaikwad and a brilliant display of power hitting from Shivam Dube, CSK suffered their first home defeat of the season.
Where was the match won?
There was very little to separate the two teams throughout the match, but it ultimately came down to LSG overpowering CSK in the turbo-charged death overs, where Stoinis played a pivotal role.
The difference in the death overs
Parameters: CSK – LSG
Score: 75/1 – 76/1
Run-rate: 15 – 16.89
4s/6s: 4/8 – 8/5
Chennai Super Kings
PowerPlay: Gaikwad shines, but CSK loses early wickets
In the PowerPlay, CSK scored 49/2 [RR: 8.16, 4s/6s: 7/0]. Despite losing wickets early, Gaikwad played some elegant strokes, hitting six of the seven fours in this phase. CSK didn’t hit a single six in the PowerPlay, indicating the challenging nature of the pitch.
Middle Overs: Gaikwad reaches 50; Dube provides fireworks
During the middle overs, CSK scored 86/1 [RR: 9.55, 4s/6s: 8/2]. Gaikwad reached a 28-ball 50 before Mohsin Khan dismissed Jadeja for 16 off 19 balls. Dube then took over, hitting the first six of the innings off Stoinis in the 13th over. Gaikwad and Dube added 104 runs off 47 balls, with Dube smashing six of the eight sixes hit in this phase, finishing with a quickfire 66 off 27 balls.
Death Overs: Dube’s onslaught continues
In the death overs, CSK scored 75/1 [RR: 15.00, 4s/6s: 4/8]. Dube continued his assault, hitting more sixes off three balls from Thakur than CSK had hit in all the overs leading up to the 16th. Gaikwad scored a century off 56 balls, but Dube’s aggressive batting stole the show as he finished with 66 off 27 balls, taking CSK to a formidable total of 210/4.
Lucknow Super Giants
PowerPlay: Early wickets, slow start
LSG scored 45/2 in the PowerPlay [RR: 7.5, 4s/6s: 7/0]. Deepak Chahar struck early, getting de Kock out in the first over. Stoinis and Padikkal steadied the innings, but the run rate remained low.
Middle Overs: Stoinis and Pooran counterattack
In the middle overs, LSG scored 92/1 [RR: 10.2, 4s/6s: 5/4]. Stoinis played aggressively, hitting Jadeja and Moeen Ali for boundaries. Pooran joined him after Padikkal’s dismissal, and the pair attacked the CSK bowlers, scoring 49 runs off the next four overs.
Death Overs: Stoinis finishes off in style
In the death overs, LSG scored 76/1 [RR: 16.89, 4s/6s: 8/5]. Stoinis and Pooran continued their assault, with Stoinis hitting two sixes and a four in the 16th over. Despite Pooran’s dismissal, Stoinis remained unbeaten and guided LSG to victory with an over to spare.
Brief Scores: Chennai Super Kings 210/4 in 20 overs (Ruturaj Gaikwad 108, Shivam Dube 66; Matt Henry 1-28) lost to Lucknow Super Giants 213/4 in 19.3 overs (Marcus Stoinis 124, Nicholas Pooran 34; Matheesha Pathirana 2-35) by 6 wickets
What’s next for the teams?
CSK has a four-day break before hosting Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday (April 28). LSG will host table-toppers Rajasthan Royals on Saturday (April 27).
