CSK vs LSG Highlights: Chennai Super Kings win by 12 runs – MS Dhoni had a happy homecoming. While he would be unhappy with how bowlers performed, it was their batting that helped Chennai Super Kings register a 12-run win over Lucknow Super Giants in their 2nd game. Despite a blazing start by Kyle Mayers and KL Rahul, LSG suffered a middle-order collapse. In the end, they fell 13-run short as they posted 205/7. But the man of the match for CSK was Ruturaj Gaikwad. The youngster smashed 31-ball 57. With Devon Conway (29-ball 47), he added 110-run opening stand. Ambati Rayudu & Shivam Dube contributed down the order, while MS Dhoni played a blazing cameo by hitting 2 sixes in 3 balls to post 217/7. Follow IPL 2023 LIVE updates with InsideSport.IN
Chasing a target of 218, LSG started brilliantly. It was Kyle Mayers who kept hammering Deepak Chahar’s poor line to take LSG to 79 in 5.2 overs. But it was Moeen Ali who finally managed a breakthrough with Mayers’ wicket.
Mayers’ wicket was the turning point as LSG lost Deepak Hooda in next over and soon KL Rahul also returned to the pavillion. But it was Nicholas Pooran who kept Lucknow’s hopes alive with a quickfire 18-ball 32-run knock. But with Tushar Deshpande removing him, it was all but game over for LSG.
Marcus Stoinis and Ayush Badoni tried their best but with CSK bowling brilliantly in the back 10, they could only manage 205/7.
Chennai Super Kings Innings Highlights:
Sent to bat, Ruturaj Gaikwad carried from where he left off in Ahmedabad. The young protégé slammed 57 off 37 balls (3x4s, 4x6s) to give CSK a blazing start. With him, Devon Conway continued his super show in yellow. The Kiwi slammed 47 off 29 balls (5x4s, 2x6s).
Gaikwad made batting look so easy as he effortlessly lofted three sixes in Krishnappa Gowtham’s opening over (5th of the innings). He continued to pile on the runs and a flick for a six off Wood underlined the supreme form he is in.
The CSK openers were on a roll and brought up the 100 in the eighth over as LSG bowlers appeared clueless.
However, after the opening show, there was a lull. LSG managed to put the brakes on the free-scoring CSK batters, thanks to a splendid spell by leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi (3/28) in the middle overs.
There were valuable contributions from Shivam Dube (27 off 16 balls, 1×4, 3x6s) and Ali (19). Ambati Rayudu hit two sixes and an equal number of fours in his 14-ball 27 which slipped under the radar due to Dhoni’s pyrotechnics.
Wood, who picked up five wickets in LSG’s demolition of Delhi Capitals on Sunday, was not as effective and finished with 3 for 49 from his 4 overs.
The MS Dhoni Show:
A packed Chepauk came to watch their Thala perform. While it seemed he would not need to bat, he finally came on with just five balls to spare when Ravindra Jadeja departed.
But Dhoni did not disappoint. A delirious crowd had their glimpse of ‘Thala’ (Dhoni) as he carted two big sixes before being dismissed going for a third off Mark Wood’s bowling for 12 off 3 balls. The iconic CSK captain completed 5,000 runs in the IPL during his brief knock.
Chennai Super Kings Playing XI: Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni(w/c), Shivam Dube, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, RS Hangargekar
Lucknow Super Giants Playing XI: KL Rahul(c), Kyle Mayers, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran(w), Ayush Badoni, Mark Wood, Ravi Bishnoi, Yash Thakur, Avesh Khan
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