IPL 2024: KL Rahul helps LSG beat CSK by 8 wickets

LSG snapped their 2-match losing streak after they crushed CSK by 8 wickets in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match on Friday at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. On April 19, Chennai completed 16 years in the IPL, but Lucknow spoiled their party thanks to pieces of brilliance from Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul.

A target of 176 was expected to be challenging for LSG, who went into the game after losing back-to-back matches at the hands of GT and KKR. However, De Kock and Rahul made a mockery of the target as the Super Giants chased it down with 6 balls to spare. Had CSK won, they would have toppled Kolkata to second spot, but that wasn’t the case eventually.

After being asked to bat first, CSK scored 176 for the loss of 6 wickets. Ravindra Jadeja was promoted up the order to No.4, and he did not let his team down. The left-handed batter scored 57 runs off 40 balls with 5 fours and a six. Ajinkya Rahane and Moeen Ali also made useful contributions of 36 and 30 respectively.

But it was MS Dhoni’s cameo that injected momentum into the innings. Dhoni pulled out the big shots to stay not out on 28 off 9, laced with 3 fours and 2 sixes. He also hit a massive



101-metre six off Yash Thakur, who leaked 19 runs in the final over.

Krunal Pandya was the pick of the LSG bowlers after he finished with figures of 3-0-16-2. Rachin Ravindra’s poor run of form continued as he bagged a golden duck after Mohsin Khan dismissed him. Matt Henry, who replaced Shamar Joseph, could not make a breakthrough and gave away 26 runs at 8.67.

In the run-chase, Rahul and De Kock did not let any pressure build. LSG scored 54 runs in the powerplay as the opening duo laid the platform for their team. They brought up their century stand off 65 balls as CSK kept looking for wickets. The pair put on 134 runs in 15 overs and put the Super Giants on the brink of victory.

It was the wily Mustafizur Rahman who separated the duo after getting rid of De Kock, who made 54 runs off 43 balls with 5 fours and a six. De Kock’s wicket would have given CSK some hopes of making a comeback, but Nicholas Pooran made sure that their joy was short-lived.

Rahul scored 82 runs off 53 balls with 9 fours and 3 sixes before a brilliant catch from Ravindra Jadeja in the point region accounted for his wicket. Pooran stayed not out on 23 runs off 12 balls as LSG romped home in 19 overs.