Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) wrapped up their TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 campaign in splendid fashion, securing an 18-run victory against the Mumbai Indians (MI) at Wankhede Stadium. The clash saw a multitude of twists and turns, making it a highly memorable encounter for the fans.
The day began with MI captain Rohit Sharma winning the toss and opting to bowl first. Home team MI made a few strategic changes to their line-up, with Arjun Tendulkar stepping in for the seasoned Jasprit Bumrah, a decision that sparked much anticipation. As the match commenced, LSG faced a shaky start, unable to create significant momentum during the first 10 overs. MI’s bowlers executed a well-knit strategy, clinching wickets at regular intervals and stifling LSG’s run rate, leaving the visitors at 69 for three by the halfway mark.
The initial breakthrough came when MI bowler Nuwan Thushara delivered a successful leg-before wicket against Devdutt Padikkal in the very first over, followed by Marcus Stoinis who managed a brisk 28 off 22 balls with five boundaries. However, MI’s Piyush Chawla arrested LSG’s progression by trapping Stoinis leg-before in the final ball of the powerplay. Continuing his fine spell, Chawla later induced a thick edge from Deepak Hooda, caught deftly by Nehal Wadhera at point.
As the scoreboard read 69 for three, the onus shifted to Nicholas Pooran to rejuvenate the LSG innings. Initially, Pooran seemed cautious, playing out three dot balls. But then, he unleashed a whirlwind of shots, blazing to his fifty in just 19 balls, effectively taking only 16 balls to reach the milestone after those initial dots. Pooran decimated MI’s bowling attack, prominently featuring his horizontal bat shots which sent the ball flying square on both sides of the wicket.
The 13th over turned out to be a carnival of runs for Pooran, who plundered two sixes and added 22 runs to the scoreboard. The onslaught continued in the 15th over, where an evidently cramping Arjun Tendulkar was dispatched for two massive sixes. Tendulkar’s discomfort saw Naman Dhir stepping in to complete the over, but Pooran showed no mercy, scorching him for a six and a four, rounding off the over with an astounding total of 29 runs.
Simultaneously, KL Rahul pieced together a composed fifty off 37 balls. The calculated aggression and accumulation from Rahul and Pooran formed the crux of LSG’s batting revival. Pooran’s spirited 75 off just 29 balls catapulted LSG to a commanding position before Thushara halted his fiery innings.
. This marked the entry of Arshad Khan in the batting order, but he failed to capitalize and was dismissed after ballooning a catch off the very first ball he faced.
KL Rahul’s dismissal followed shortly after at the hands of Piyush Chawla, falling for 55. At 178 for six, LSG were still eyeing the coveted 200-run mark. Fortunately for them, Krunal Pandya and Ayush Badoni struck vital blows in the closing overs, guiding LSG to a formidable total of 214 for eight.
The MI innings began with great promise as Rohit Sharma and Dewald Brevis opened the batting. Brevis, replacing Ishan Kishan, partnered with Rohit to forge an impressive 88-run stand within just over eight overs. Rohit Sharma led the charge, dazzling the crowd with an array of spectacular shots while Brevis played a supporting role, contributing 23 runs. With the required run rate climbing, Rohit raced to a quickfire fifty off merely 28 balls, using the powerplay conditions to loft the ball expertly over the infield. Although Brevis’s departure was a setback, the senior MI batsman soldiered on.
The critical wicket of Suryakumar Yadav marked the turning point, shifting the momentum in favor of LSG. Yadav was caught by Krunal Pandya in the 10th over, and the immediate aftermath saw the well-set Rohit dismissed by Ravi Bishnoi for 68, caught at short third-man. With these breakthroughs, LSG tightened their grip on the match.
Despite the rising run-rate pressure, Naman Dhir provided a valiant fightback by reaching his half-century in the final over of the match, executing a six off Naveen-ul-Haq. Dhir’s 62 off 28 balls was a noteworthy effort, though MI was left needing an insurmountable 34 runs off the last over.
LSG’s team effort in bowling, ably led by skipper Krunal Pandya and reinforced by Bishnoi’s impactful spells, was instrumental in restricting MI’s chase. Krunal’s economical four-over spell of one for 29 and Bishnoi’s two for 37 were pivotal in choking MI’s progress during the middle overs.
In essence, LSG’s balanced team performance outshone MI’s star-studded lineup, ensuring an emphatic end to their IPL 2024 campaign with an 18-run victory. The gripping encounter at Wankhede Stadium will undoubtedly be remembered for LSG’s resilience and strategic execution on the field.