IPL 2024: Lucknow Super Giants defeat Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets thanks to fifty-seven runs from Rahul and De Kock

In their IPL encounter on Friday, the Lucknow Super Giants easily defeated the Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets because of the excellent fifties scored by openers KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock on a sluggish field.

When asked to bat first, MS Dhoni (28 off 9) and Mooen Ali (30 off 20) went on a six-hit rampage, taking CSK to a formidable 176 for six. Ravindra Jadeja responded with a strong, undefeated 57.

The match-winning combination of 134 between Rahul (82) and De Kock (54), the greatest partnership for any wicket at the Ekana Stadium, was played with authority by the opposition as LSG scored 180 for 2 in 19 overs to overcome a two-match setback and solidify their place in the standings.

On the other side, CSK, who entered the game with two victories, suffered their third IPL defeat.

Although De Kock survived a shaky start to smash five fours and a six in his 43-ball knock, Rahul, who took responsibility for not making the most of his beginnings, finally lived up to the hype by slamming nine fours and three sixes in 53 balls.

Rahul was the aggressor, as he produced some amazing strokes to give LSG a strong start while chasing 177.

After slamming Deepak Chahar for another maximum over cover, the captain was unforgiving, pulling the pacer for a six. He also made a slower delivery and struck him for a four.

As runs came thick and quick, Rahul also unleashed a punch off the backfoot for a boundary off bowler Mustafizur Rahman.

As the powerplay produced 54 for 0, De Kock also crushed Tushar Deshpande for a maximum over deep midwicket.

The bowler was further demoralized when he failed to hold De Kock’s catch at short third man off Jadeja in the ninth over. Rahul then hit another maximum off a short-pitched ball from pacer Matheesha Pathirana.

LSG were at 89 for no loss after ten overs.

After hitting a four off Jadeja in the eleventh over to get his 35th fifty, Rahul went on to record a 100-run opening partnership with De Kock.

After being quiet for the previous three games, De Kock hit a single in the fifteenth over to reach fifty before being bowled out by Mustafizur with the last delivery.

But Nicholas Pooran fired full tilt, smashing Pathirana for maximum, and then sent Mustafizur hunting for leather.

Rahul’s incredible innings came to an end when Jadeja made a one-handed catch, but it was too little, too late, as Marcus Stoinis (8 not out) and Pooran (23 not out) scored the last few runs.

Before spinner Krunal Pandya tightened the knot in the middle overs, pacers first put the CSK hitters under strain. Rahul was accurate with his bowling variations earlier.

While left-arm bowler Mohsin rattled the stumps of opener Rachin Ravindra (0), Ruturaj Gaikwad (17) succumbed to Yash Thakur, who forced an outside edge from the CSK captain.

Again opening the innings, Rahane (36), produced some masterful strokes that removed LSG debutant Matt Henry for the first six of their innings, with 13 coming off that over.

In the fifth over, the Mumbaikar amassed another 13 runs by hitting two fours against Thakur.

As CSK scored 52 for 2 in the first six overs, Jadeja, who had been promoted to number four, hit a boundary off Henry in the next over.

Due to the track’s slowness, the LSG captain sent in spinners Krunal and Bishnoi right away. The former struck in his second over, removing Rahane from the game.

The in-form Shivam Dube of CSK was also unable to score runs, as Stoinis (1/7) supported Rahul’s choice to give him the ball by striking with the first delivery after the left-handed batsman sliced one up in the air.

After that, Krunal came back to remove impact player Sameer Rizvi. With 90 on board, CSK lost half of their side as a result of Rizvi’s planned dance down the track.

Holding one end aloft and finishing his fifty with a six off Mohsin, Jadeja—who played some incredible sweep shots—brought out his signature sword-wielding celebration.

But Moeen hit three sixes as 19 came off the 18th over before dying, so Rahul’s decision to allow Bishnoi another over backfired.

Dhoni punished LSG for a careless overrate by hitting Mohsin for a four and a six before hitting Thakur for another maximum. With two more fours to close up the innings, he made 19 off the last over. PTI