Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) remained in hunt for a IPL 2023 Playoffs berth as they surprised five-time champions Mumbai Indians by 5 runs in match no. 63 on the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Tuesday. All-rounder Marcus Stoinis was the star of the win, smashing a superb 89 not out off 47 balls with 8 huge sixes and 4 fours to assist the house facet get better from 35 for 3 within the seventh over.
Stoinis took his time to get settled however exploded within the 18th over bowled by MI pacer Chris Jordan. The Aussie all-rounder was batting on 35-ball 45 however then turned his ‘Hulk’ mode on as he smashed Jordan for 3 fours and two sixes in a single over.
WATCH Marcus Stoinis smash Chris Jordan for 24 runs in an over…
A huge MAXIMUM to achieve his fifty _
This has been a splendid innings from @MStoinis _
Follow the match __ https://t.co/yxOTeCROIh #TATAIPL | #LSGvMI pic.twitter.com/C4wSiSygTv
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 16, 2023
Stoinis blast helped LSG pile up 177 for 3 in 20 over after batting first. In reply, MI have been off to a flying begin with skipper Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan placing on 90 runs for the opening wicket in lower than 10 overs. But Rohit’s dismissal for 37 off 25 balls triggered a mini collapse as they misplaced 5 wickets for 55 runs.
All-rounder Tim David tried to maintain MI within the hunt with 32 off 19 balls with three sixes however did not get them over the road as LSG bowler Mohsin Khan managed to defend 11 runs within the last over by conceding simply 5 runs.
“It is a great moment for Mohsin. He had been injured since the last IPL. To come into the game and the bowl the final over was great. It was very close. There’s a long little things that go your way. We bowled okay to keep us in the game and a couple of good overs by the spinners and Mohsin in the end,” Stoinis mentioned on the post-match presentation.
The Aussies all-rounder credited totally different folks within the LSG squad stepping up within the absence of injured skipper KL Rahul. “Different people contributing for our wins. We are missing KL through injury but other people are standing up. KP is leading us well. GG and Andy have been superb as well,” Stoinis added.
LSG now have 15 factors from 13 matches and have climbed to 3rd place on the IPL 2023 Points Table, changing MI. A win over Kolkata Knight Riders of their final match on Saturday can guarantee them a Playoffs berth with 17 factors.
