IPL 2023, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) v Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Top Performances: Ruturaj Gaikwad-Devon Conway's 110-run opening stand, Ravi Bishnoi's 3-28 and Moeen Ali's 4-26 are top performances. CSK beat LSG by 12 runs and move to 6th place in table.
Brief Scores: CSK 217/7 (Ruturaj 57, Conway 47, Bishnoi 3/28) beat LSG (Mayers 53, Pooran 32, Moeen 4/26) by 12 runs
The men in yellow returned to their fortress in what was an emotional homecoming for the four-times IPL champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as they hosted Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in either team’s second league game of the season at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Monday.
While CSK lost their first game comprehensively against defending champions Gujarat Titans, LSG emerged victorious over Delhi Capitals. The teams have earlier faced each other once in the edition of IPL with Lucknow coming on top.
No support spin options for Bishnoi hurt LSG
LSG were hard hit by the lack of quality spinners in their side. We saw how the spin duo of Moeen Ali and Mitchell Santner did wonders for CSK taking 5 wickets for 47 runs between them. However, for LSG, apart from Ravi Bishnoi who took 3/28, the other two spinners Krunal Pandya and Krishnappa Gowtham gave away 0/41 in 3 overs between them.
Also, LSG’s top-order is a cause of worry. KL Rahul looked out of touch as did Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis and Krunal Pandya, making it too hard for the lower middle-order batters to get past the target.
Read More: IPL 2023, GT v CSK: Hosts register 5-wicket victory in season opener; Gujarat-3, Chennai-0
Chennai got off to a rollicking start & contained Lucknow later on
Lucknow skipper KL Rahul won the toss and opted to field first citing the dew factor. MS Dhoni-led CSK unsurprisingly chose to go with the same side that lost the first game and Super Giants made a single change bringing Yash Thakur in place of left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat.
After being put into bat, Chennai Super Kings were off to a roaring start with openers, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway, putting on quite a show. Ruturaj continued to impress with yet another display of authentic batting. He was well supported by the Kiwi opener as the pair reached 50-run stand in the 5th over while finishing the powerplay at a score of 79/0. Gaikwad (57) reached his second successive half-century in just 25 deliveries before succumbing to the leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, who broke the 110-run opening stand.
Conway threatened to take the game away from LSG, but fell to Mark Wood after compiling a well-made 29-ball 47. Shivam Dube continued to play attacking cricket along with Moeen Ali; Bishnoi’s googly accounted for the former not before getting hit for 2 consecutive sixes.
LSG bowlers, especially Bishnoi and Wood (3 wickets each), chipped in with breakthroughs at regular intervals even though the middle-order of CSK comprising of Dhoni (12 from 3) and Rayudu (14-ball 27) blistering cameos took the team to a mammoth 217/7 on what was not a usual Chepauk wicket.
Chasing a daunting target of 218 on what was looking like a batting paradise, LSG opener Kyle Mayers started from where he left off a couple of days ago. He once again gave the team a blazing start and courtesy some ordinary CSK bowling, LSG reached 50 in only the 4th over, with Mayers reaching his half-century in only 21 balls. But Moeen Ali struck in the last over of the powerplay sending back the dangerous Mayers for 53, with LSG on a healthy score of 80/1. The next 2 overs from the spin duo of Santner-Moeen saw twin wickets of Hooda and KL Rahul as LSG were reduced to 84/3.
The spin twins, Santner and Moeen Ali, curbed the flow of runs even though Nicholas Pooran tried to inject some impetus with his power-hitting. Between the foreigners, they gave away 47 runs from 8 overs taking 5 wickets.
And Pooran’s wicket proved to be curtains for the visitors. Despite the best efforts by Krishnappa Gowtham at the end, the target of 218 was a bit too much for LSG. CSK eventually won by 12 runs.
Read More: IPL 2023, LSG v DC: Super Giants decimate Capitals, courtesy Wood's magnificent 5-wicket haul
Let’s scan the top three performances from the game between CSK and LSG in IPL 2023.
Ravi Bishnoi’s 3/28 meant CSK didn’t run away with the game
CSK openers Gaikwad and Conway were going all guns blazing after being inserted into bat. The pair made 79 in the first 6 overs and at the end of 9 overs, the score grew to 110/0. LSG bowlers were looking all at sea and possibility of chasing a huge total loomed large. However, the introduction of leg spinner Ravi Bishnoi saw the visitors getting back into the contest. He struck on the very first ball of his spell and his first 2 over went for just 9 runs when the overall run rate was more than 10.
Despite getting hit for 2 consecutive sixes courtesy Shivam Dube, he persisted with the wrong’un to account for the left-hander in the same over. Bishnoi was once again among wickets in his final over, this time getting rid of dangerous Moeen Ali.
Read More: IPL 2023: Lucknow Super Giants Squad Analysis: Opening combination & bowling attack big pluses
Moeen Ali spins a web around LSG batters
Just like Ravi Bishnoi brought back the LSG back into the contest following an onslaught from the CSK openers in the first innings, Moeen Ali reciprocated the same during CSK defence. When the off spinner was introduced into the attack, the LSG were cruising at 73/0 after 5 overs and CSK were badly in need of a wicket. And the experienced all-rounder provided just that.
Ali dismissed the dangerous looking Kyle Mayers (53) in his 1st over and then in the very next, he out foxed KL Rahul into playing a rash stroke before dismissing Krunal Pandya in his 3rd over. Returning to bowl his final over, Moeen repaid Dhoni’s faith by removing Stoinis to finish with a spell of 4/26, his best in IPL.
Read More: IPL 2023: CSK Squad Analysis: Despite inexperienced bowling attack, Yellow Brigade still formidable
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway share yet another 100-run stand
On what was a non-traditional Chepauk wicket, the CSK openers made merry scoring 79 runs in the powerplays. The duo reached their record third 100-run stand in only 49 deliveries with Ruturaj getting to his half-century in 25 balls while Conway making a quick fire 47 after missing out in the last game. Their 110-run stand laid a foundation for CSK to make 217 runs in their 1st innings.
Points Table Scenario and What’s Next
With this win, CSK move to the 6th spot in the points table, and they next take on Mumbai Indians at Wankhede on April 8. Lucknow, siting on 3rd place will host SRH in their next clash on April 7.
IPL 2023 Standings
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