Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) wrapped up their TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 campaign in grand fashion, securing an 18-run victory over the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. This match, much like many others in this highly competitive season, kept the cricket fans on the edge of their seats with electric performances from both sides.
The Mumbai Indians, upon winning the toss, elected to field first and made several strategic changes to their lineup, the most notable being the inclusion of Arjun Tendulkar in place of the star bowler Jasprit Bumrah. As the innings commenced, LSG faced a challenging start with their batting line-up initially struggling to gain momentum. The MI bowlers performed exceptionally well in the first 10 overs, consistently taking wickets and applying pressure on the LSG batters.
In a decisive move, LSG promoted Devdutt Padikkal to open the innings; however, his role was short-lived as Nuwan Thushara trapped him leg-before in the very first over. While LSG aimed to build a solid foundation during the powerplay, Marcus Stoinis appeared promising, scoring 28 off 22 balls with five boundaries. His efforts were curtailed by Piyush Chawla, who trapped him leg-before off the final ball of the powerplay. At this juncture, Chawla’s focused bowling, along with tidy field placements, had MI in control of the game.
With the scoreboard reading 69 for three at the halfway mark, Nicholas Pooran took to the crease. His initial three deliveries were dot balls, which presented a preview of the whirlwind innings that followed. Pooran reached his fifty in an astonishing 19 balls, leveraging his signature horizontal bat shots to hit boundaries effortlessly. The 13th over saw Pooran plundering 22 runs, including two massive sixes.
As the innings progressed, Arjun Tendulkar, fighting through cramps, bowled the 15th over and became another casualty to Pooran’s aggressive batting. The highlight of the over was Pooran hitting two consecutive sixes, propelling himself past fifty. The over ultimately saw 29 runs being scored, with Naman Dhir finishing it after Tendulkar left the field.
At the other end, KL Rahul provided strong support, completing his fifty off 37 balls. Thushara, brought back into the attack, fulfilled his captain’s expectations by dismissing Pooran for a dazzling 75 off just 29 balls. The next significant moment came when Arshad Khan, promoted up the order due to his previous match performance, was dismissed for a first-ball duck.
. Subsequently, KL Rahul also fell, bowled by the ever-reliable Chawla. At 178 for six, LSG seemed to be in a fix but determined to reach a competitive total.
Towards the innings’ end, Krunal Pandya and Ayush Badoni combined forces effectively, scripting crucial boundaries and propelling LSG to a formidable 214 for six.
In pursuit of 215, MI began their innings positively with openers Rohit Sharma and Dewald Brevis. Brevis, taking the spot of Ishan Kishan, supported Rohit, who dazzled with an array of splendid shots. The partnership amassed 88 runs in just over eight overs, with Rohit bringing up his fifty off a brisk 28 balls. Though Brevis’ contribution was moderate, Rohit’s proactive batting in the Powerplay was crucial in setting an aggressive tone for the chase.
Brevis’s departure, however, allowed LSG to tighten their grip on the game. Suryakumar Yadav, following next, holed out to Krunal Pandya in the 10th over, providing LSG with another breakthrough. The real setback for MI occurred when Rohit, having scored an impressive 68, was dismissed by Ravi Bishnoi in the subsequent over, caught at short third-man.
As the required run rate started to climb steeply, MI’s batting line-up struggled under the mounting pressure. Amidst this, young Naman Dhir showcased resilience, achieving his fifty with a six off Naveen in the last over. Dhir’s unbeaten innings of 62 off 28 balls demonstrated his potential, but MI’s herculean task of scoring 34 runs off the final over proved insurmountable.
LSG’s bowlers performed collectively with Krunal Pandya leading the pack. His figures of one for 29 in four overs were pivotal during the middle overs. Bishnoi’s contribution of two for 37 further constrained MI’s batting efforts. This cohesive bowling effort, particularly from the spinners, was instrumental in helping LSG secure this victory.
Ultimately, this thrilling match at Wankhede saw LSG finishing their IPL 2024 journey on a high note, adding an 18-run win against MI to their campaign.
