STOINIS SIZZLES IN A THRILLER
Marcus Stoinis and bowlers help Lucknow Super Giants edge Mumbai Indians by five runs to climb to third spot; Mumbai down to fourth place
Marcus Stoinis hammered 89 off 47 balls and the bowlers backed the efforts as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) eked out a thrilling five-run win over Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Tuesday night.
Chasing 178 to win, Mumbai Indians needed 11 from the final over with Tim David and Cameron Green in the middle.
Left-arm pacer Mohsin Khan, though, denied Mumbai’s big-hitters. Bowling a mix of hard lengths, slower ones and wide yorkers, he conceded only five to take LSG closer to the playoffs.
With the win, LSG climbed to third and Mumbai slid to fourth, with 15 and 14 points respectively. One last match to go for each of them; LSG will play against KKR and Mumbai against SRH as they chase spots in the playoffs.
Earlier, Marcus Stoinis scored an unbeaten 89 off 47 balls - his highest IPL score - to lift LSG to a competitive total of 177/3 on what looked like a difficult pitch to bat on.
After being sent in, they lost three early wickets, but Stoinis and skipper Krunal Pandya revived the innings before Stoinis went berserk at the death. He smashed 44 off his last 12 deliveries.
Mumbai openers - Ishan Kishan and captain Rohit Sharma - started the chase at rapid pace, adding 90 in 9.4 overs, but Ravi Bishnoi dismissed both to give LSG an opening.
With Suryakumar Yadav getting out cheaply - scooping on to his stumps - and Nehal Wadhera struggling, the home team were suddenly favourites.
Mumbai needed 30 from the last two overs. David hit Naveen-ul-Haq for two sixes to reduce it to 11 from six balls, but Mohsin’s excellent over sealed a crucial win for LSG.
Earlier, Stonis’ knock was supported well by skipper Krunal Pandya, who retired hurt for 49.
Mumbai started the game on a strong note as Jason Behrendorff provided the visitors with an ideal start by picking up two wickets in two balls in the third over.
He dismissed the out-of-form batter Deepak Hooda and Prerak Mankad.
LSG ended the powerplay without losing any further wickets at 35/2.
Piyush Chawla dismissed lefthanded batter Quinton de Kock on 16 but Stoinis and Krunal built an 82-run partnership before the latter retired hurt.
Stoinis took up the role of a finisher to accelerate the pace of the innings and smashed Chris Jordan in the 18th over for 24 and then struck two consecutive sixes to get 15 runs in the 19th over before ending LSG’s innings with a six.
Speaking after the match, LSG skipper Krunal said: “I was having cramps and I felt like I pulled a muscle. I will do anything for the team, I have been a team player.
“I am really happy about the result. Mohsin [Khan] has a really big heart. When you have a big heart you go a long way.
“He was injured for the last year. He went through a big surgery. But he did well. He has a big heart and the sky is the limit.”
Krunal added: “It has not been easy for us. Though we have played some good cricket, the results haven’t been in our favour. Fans have supported us and good to give them a win.”
Brief scores: Lucknow Super Giants 177/3 (Marcus Stoinis 89 n.o., Krunal Pandya 49; Jason Behrendorff 2/30) beat Mumbai Indians 172/5 (Ishan Kishan 59, Rohit Sharma 37, Tim David 32 n.o.; Yash Thakur 2/40, Ravi Bishnoi).