The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) had their moments and controlled the proceedings in patches. But just when it mattered, they faltered as the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) rallied to win the contest and kept their playoff hopes alive, while LSG became the first team to be officially eliminated from the playoff race. LSG started magnificently but lost the plot in the middle phase and later made a match out of it before stumbling at the final hurdle. Here, we will try to find out what went wrong for LSG last afternoon.
Inability to stop the Urvil Patel storm dented LSG
After posting 203 on the board, LSG were confident in defending this total against a team that had not successfully chased 180+ before since 2019. They were hopeful of early wickets and those in clusters. Openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson gave the team a solid start with Samson getting out of the blocks quickly, and Gaikwad maintained a decent strike rate as well. The duo put on 45 in less than 4 overs before Samson was cleaned up by Digvesh Rathi and LSG believed they could win easily from here.
Then came the ultimate twist in the tale. Urvil Patel came out to bat with about 2 overs to go in the power play, and he massacred the RR bowlers. He smashed Avesh for 4 sixes in an over and got 25 runs, and then Rathi was taken for 25 runs, as well as 50 runs came off the last two overs of power play. CSK reached 97/1 in 6 overs, matching LSG’s 91/1 in the first innings. Urvil continued to put on a show and reached his 50 off 13 balls, the second joint fastest in IPL history.
Urvil continued in the middle phase and after his fifty, slowed down due to the heat and humidity factor and eventually fell for 65 off 23 balls. LSG tried hard and did not bowl too badly. It was just that he was too good on the day, as some loose stuff was given, but not normal. LSG now needs to play for pride as they are out of the tournament and approach the rest of the fixtures with nothing to lose and play with free minds.
Multiple dropped catches by LSG cost them the game
LSG were good in patches with the bat and ball. While batting and bowling can go a little up and down, one thing that is certainly under control is the fielding. The fielding has to be good from LSG if they are to defend the total and make life difficult for CSK. While the ground fielding was decent by the visitors, it was the catching where LSG were found wanting and paid the price for it as a result. Not one, but multiple catches were dropped. CSK were good as there was no dropped catch; the same cannot be said of LSG.
LSG dropped three catches, two of them towards the end, that turned out to be costly in determining the outcome of the match. First, Urvil Patel, who was playing out of the top draw, was dropped on 62 by Digvesh Rathi. But that dropped catch did not prove too costly as Urvil fell 3 runs later for 65. So, this dropped chance one can say did not alter the situation of the match. Then, when we went to the business end of the match, where LSG were back in it, and the match was back in the balance.
Prashant Veer, the Impact Player for CSK, came out to bat and was batting on 9* with the game on the line. Veer tried to lap it away off Avesh Khan towards short fine leg, where Rathi was the culprit again dropping a sitter. The very next ball from Avesh, Veer hit it uppishly towards deep midwicket, where Nicholas Pooran got to the ball and dropped an absolute sitter. Veer made them pay by striking important blows before Dube took CSK over the line.
Catches win matches is an old saying, and LSG had their multiple chances to beat CSK despite Urvil Patel’s brilliance, but they fumbled and choked themselves to lose the game through their catching inefficiency, something that needs working on for the upcoming matches.
Losing their way after a fantastic power play dented LSG’s position
LSG were asked to bat first, and they got off to a blazing start. It was the Josh Inglis show as the batter, making a comeback to the playing XI after an injury, silenced the Chennai crowd. He played some delectable shots and was innovative as well. Mitchell Marsh was a mere spectator in the first wicket stand as Inglis was in full control of the proceedings. LSG lost Marsh in the power play but made 91/1 in 6 overs.
At the end of the power play, CSK were staring down the barrel as a score of 220-230 was on for the visitors. But CSK came back really well through Jamie Overton’s 3-wicket haul and Noor Ahmad’s bowling well alongside Anshul Kamboj as well. LSG lost steam in the middle overs as the much-vaunted middle order failed to create the momentum created by the openers. Nicholas Pooran and Rishabh Pant failed again, while Marsh missed out after a long time.
LSG’s middle order is wobbly, and it came to the fore yesterday. With no Ayush Badoni and Mukul Choudhary, both left out by the management, it has created dependency of the highest order on the top order. While Inglis did his job and Marsh is doing his, the captain and vice-captain Pooran have been disappointing, to say the least. Henceforth, if LSG finds itself in a dominant position, it should try to nail down the opposition. They were short against MI as well in Mumbai, and tonight was no different. The aim will be to improve in these key areas.
What Lies Ahead
So, CSK, with this win, have moved upwards to 5th in the points table while LSG stays at the bottom and is officially out of the tournament. Both these teams will next meet with each other in the reverse fixture on May 15th in Lucknow. LSG has nothing to lose now. Coming up tonight in the race to the playoffs, we will have PBKS hosting DC in Dharamsala. Let’s see who comes out on top in this clash.
Also Read: CSK vs LSG: Urvil Patel’s Smashing Innings Helps CSK Climb To 5th In Points Table