IPL 2023, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) vs Chennai Super Kings (CSK): Match abandoned due to rain, LSG and Chennai share 1 point each.
Brief Scores: Lucknow Super Giants 125-7 (Ayush 59, Nicholas 20, Moeen 2-13, Matheesha 2-22), Chennai Super Kings –No result.
Much to our disappointment, the 45th match of the TATA IPL was hit by a rain interruption as the rain god wreaked havoc at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. LSG were looking forward to breaking the shackles as they were desperate to break their 3-match losing streak at home. CSK also needed a victory to pull them out of their misery after they went down to PBKS at home last Sunday. Because of persistent rain, the match was officially called off at 6:50 PM IST.
The Match With No Results Leaves The Enthusiasts Disappointed
Whilst the game got washed out, there were plenty of interesting events that unfolded on the field of play. After being asked to bat first, LSG got made a circumspect start to their first innings. There was a fair amount of bit on the surface and the CSK bowlers took full advantage of the lateral movement that was on offer. LSG openers were carefully seeing off the new ball well before Kyle Mayers threw caution to the wind and holed out too long off in the 4th over.
And that dismissal triggered an unprecedented collapse when CSK spinners took hold and inflicted the bulk of the damage reducing the hosts to 44-5 inside the first 10 overs. Just when LSG were losing their way, Ayush Badoni played a blinder of innings (59 off 33) to rescue LSG from a very fragile situation taking them to a face-saving total of 125 before the rain took center stage. It was also his maiden IPL fifty which surely would have done his confidence a lot of good. From CSK’s point of view, their bowling was tight and accurate.
Matheesha Pathirana and Moeen Ali shared 4 wickets between them whilst going just at 4.5 RPO. The duo did not offer any freebies and remarkably did not concede a single boundary in their spell. Ali enjoyed bowling on this track and used his guile to topple the in-form Mayers and got later got rid of Sharma who was settling down. Pathirana kept it tight during the death and deployed his slingy yorkers to keep a lid on the LSG scoring rate.
Just when LSG were crawling their way back in the 20th over, the rain descended on the ground and the players had to make their way out of the field. Although the conditions were improving, the persistent rain made it impossible to have any further play. A very interesting takeaway that emerged from this fixture is the quality of the wicket that was used for the game. BCCI needs to look into this matter and work closely with the ground authorities to improve the standard of the pitch at Lucknow Cricket Stadium. The venue has seen multiple low scoring matches there and this certainly can’t be in the best interest of the game.
Read More: IPL 2023, LSG vs RCB: du Plessis, Bowlers help RCB won low scoring thriller; RCB move to 5th place
Points Table Scenario and What’s Next
Following today’s fixture, both teams will walk away with a point each. LSG and CSK inch ahead to number 2 and number 3 positions, respectively. LSG will face GT in their next encounter at Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium on May 7. Whereas, CSK will face off against MI at home on May 6.
IPL 2023 Points Table
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