The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai witnessed a pulsating encounter on May 17th, 2024, as the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) edged past the Mumbai Indians (MI) by a narrow margin of 18 runs in the 67th match of the IPL 2024 season.
LSG Post a Formidable Total
Lucknow opted to bat first after winning the toss, and their decision was vindicated by a powerful batting performance. KL Rahul, the LSG skipper, set the tone early with a fluent 42 off 31 deliveries. He found a perfect partner in Nicholas Pooran, who unleashed a whirlwind knock of 75 runs from a mere 29 balls. Pooran’s innings was a masterclass in clean hitting, peppered with six boundaries and five towering sixes. The left-hander capitalized on any loose deliveries from the Mumbai bowlers, showcasing his exceptional power and timing.
Krunal Pandya and Ayush Badoni Add Valuable Contributions
After the departure of Rahul, Krunal Pandya stepped up the scoring rate with a well-paced 38 off 25 balls. The all-rounder displayed his range of strokes, finding gaps in the field and manipulating the bowling with clever shot selection. Youngster Ayush Badoni also chipped in with a crucial 27 off 19 deliveries, providing a late flourish to the Lucknow innings. Deepak Hooda (22) and Marcus Stoinis (18) added valuable cameos towards the end, propelling Lucknow to a daunting total of 214 runs for the loss of 6 wickets.
Early Setbacks for Mumbai
Chasing a mammoth target, Mumbai needed a solid start from their openers. However, Lucknow struck early as Ravi Bishnoi dismissed Ishan Kishan (8) in the very first over. The dismissal put the pressure on Rohit Sharma, the Mumbai captain, who responded with a belligerent display. He smashed boundaries with disdain, reaching his fifty off just 32 deliveries. Rohit’s knock provided a glimmer of hope for Mumbai, but his dismissal in the 10th over for a well-made 62 proved to be a turning point in the match.
Arjun Tendulkar’s Injury Disrupts Mumbai’s Momentum
Just as Mumbai seemed to be building a partnership, a twist in the tale emerged. Young Arjun Tendulkar, who was impressing with his controlled strokeplay, suffered an injury while fielding and was forced to leave the ground. This disruption halted Mumbai’s momentum, and they struggled to find the same fluency in the middle overs.
Spinners Take Center Stage
Lucknow’s spin duo of Piyush Chawla and Ravi Bishnoi tightened the screws on the Mumbai batsmen. Chawla, the veteran leg-spinner, showcased his experience, picking up crucial wickets of Suryakumar Yadav (19) and Tilak Varma (17). Bishnoi, on the other hand, provided tight control and variations, restricting the flow of runs.
Nuwan Thushara Shines with the Ball
Nuwan Thushara, the Sri Lankan pace bowler, was another standout performer for Lucknow. He exploited the Wankhede pitch with his swing bowling, dismissing the dangerous Kieron Pollard (21) and Tim David (15) in quick succession. Thushara finished with impressive figures of 3/32, derailing Mumbai’s chase further.
A Tense Finish
Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, Mumbai never gave up the fight. Both Krunal Pandya (32) and Jaydev Unadkat (28) played enterprising cameos, keeping their team’s hopes alive. However, with the required run rate climbing rapidly, the asking task became increasingly difficult.
Naman Dhir Seals the Win for Lucknow
In a nail-biting finish, Mumbai needed 20 runs off the last over. Jasprit Bumrah, the seasoned Mumbai pacer, displayed his death bowling skills, taking two wickets and conceding only 8 runs in the first five deliveries. However, the drama unfolded on the last ball of the match. Naman Dhir, the LSG tailender, smashed a six-over deep extra cover, sending the Lucknow dugout into a frenzy and sealing a thrilling victory for his team.
Lucknow Bowling Heroics
While Pooran stole the show with his batting heroics, Lucknow’s bowlers deserve a significant amount of credit for their collective effort. Piyush Chawla (3/28) and Nuwan Thushara (3/32) were the pick of the bowlers, effectively utilizing spin and swing to restrict
