LSG beat KKR in a close encounter in their den yesterday. LSG managed to defend their total of 238 by 4 runs in the high-scoring thriller. KKR‘s finisher Rinku Singh’s effort in the death overs went in vain. Let’s look at the records that were broken in a run fest thriller
Mr Consistent Mitchell Marsh
During the Mega Auction, LSG was criticized for having the weakest opening pair of the season when they picked Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh. But surprisingly, they became the first opening pair to cross 50 runs in this season, and they were performing consistently.
Especially, Mitchell Marsh, who had only three half-centuries in IPL before this season, has smashed 4 half-centuries in 5 matches so far. Aiden Markram has also started scoring runs in the last 2 matches. Nicholas Pooran at no.3 is also having a dream season so far. Their top order, which was thought of as their weakness, has become their greatest strength now.
Mitchell Marsh scored 81 runs off 48 balls and set the tone for his team to put a huge total on the board. He is reminding of his elder brother Shaun Marsh, who used to score runs consistently for Kings XI Punjab ( Now Punjab Kings ) during the initial seasons of IPL.
Nicholas Pooran Power
Nicholos Pooran continued from where Mitchell Marsh left. He was smashing every KKR bowler ruthlessly. Pooran dominated both of his countrymen, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine. He scored 87 runs off 36 balls and hit 7 fours and 8 towering sixes and was the reason for LSG reaching a huge total.
We all know how dangerous he can be once he gets his flow. He is doing that consistently this season is a great sign for LSG. He is currently holding the orange cap with 288 runs in 5 matches.
Rinku Singh’s luck with LSG
Like PBKS vs RR matches in recent years, LSG and KKR have also had some close encounters, and every time, Rinku Singh took KKR so close to the total but couldn’t cross the line.
The first instance happened in the debut season of LSG in 2022. That was the last league match for both teams, and KKR had a chance to qualify for the playoffs if they won that match. LSG batted first, and both the openers carried their bat till the end. KKR bowlers couldn’t dismiss their wicket.
LSG posted 210 runs for no loss on the board. This is the first instance in IPL that a team finished their innings without losing a wicket. KKR chased the total, and they lost the match by just 2 runs. Rinku Singh was in the strike in the last over with 40* runs off 15 balls. Rinku announced his arrival in that match itself before his 5 sixes against Yash Dayal.
The next match in 2023 was again the same story. LSG batted first and posted 176 runs on the board. KKR needed 20 runs in the last over, and Rinku was in the strike. The equation changed to requiring 18 runs in 3 balls. KKR needed three sixes. Rinku smashed 6,4,6. He just missed one six, and KKR lost the match by just one run. Rinku scored 67 runs off 33 balls in that match.
Yesterday, KKR needed 24 runs in the last over. Rinku was at the non-strike, and Harshit Rana faced the first 3 balls and scored 4,0,1. When Rinku came to the strike, KKR needed 3 sixes to drag the match to a super over. Rinku smashed 4,4,6 to Ravi Bishnoi, and KKR lost the match by 4 runs. They were just one hit away from winning the match. Rinku stayed at the crease with 38* runs of 15 balls.
He put all his efforts in these 3 matches but still couldn’t able to cross the line.
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