Marcus Stoinis leads Lucknow Super Giants to victory, a big blow to Mumbai Indians’ IPL playoff dreams. cricket news

Marcus Stoinis scored a composed half-century to complement a brilliant effort by the bowlers as Lucknow Super Giants strengthened their chances of making the IPL play-offs with a four-wicket win over Mumbai Indians on Tuesday. Due to the contributions of Nehal Wadhera (46), Ishan Kishan (32) and Tim David (35 not out), Mumbai Indians’ top order faltered and reached 144 runs for seven wickets. In reply, Stoinis smashed 62 off 45 balls, which included seven hits over the fence and two maximums, but once he departed LSG survived some anxious moments before reaching home with four balls to spare . With their sixth win in 10 matches, LSG moved up to third in the IPL standings. MI, on the other hand, has its seventh defeat in 10 matches. LSG made a cautious start to the chase when Nuwan Thushara dismissed impact sub Arshin Kulkarni for a duck on his fourth ball in his IPL debut.

Stoinis hit two consecutive fours off Gerald Coetzee, who conceded 15 runs in his first over. KL Rahul (28 off 22) also joined the party, hitting three fours and a six to take 20 off Thushara.

Stoinis then dismissed Bumrah at longoff as LSG reached 52 in the powerplay.

Mohammad Nabi had a skier caught at the boundary line as Hardik Pandya made a breakthrough by removing Rahul.

However, Stoinis remained strong and he and Deepak Hooda (18) added 40 runs off 35 balls to take LSG close to 100.

After this, Hardik dismissed Hooda but Stoinis completed his half-century in 39 balls in the 14th over and then hit a four and a six to Mohammad Nabi. Coetzee bowled Ashton Turner while Ayush Badoni was run out, giving MI hopes before Nicholas Pooran (14 not out) scored the remaining runs.

Earlier, MI dug a big hole for itself by losing four wickets in the powerplay. Despite a 53-run partnership between Vadhera and Kishan for the fifth wicket, the visiting team could not overcome this problem.

Tim David hit some shots in the end, including 17 in the final over, which kept the total looking respectable.

MI’s top order failed and the visitors could score only 28 runs for four wickets in the first six overs, which is the second lowest powerplay score in this IPL.

While Rohit Sharma (4) was sent back by left-arm pacer Mohin Khan, Stoinis bowled a brilliant ball to dismiss Suryakumar Yadav (10) with a slower ball.

Mumbai Indians were in further trouble when in-form Tilak Verma stayed away from the crease on a direct throw from Ravi Bishnoi.

After this, captain Hardik was out on a golden duck after dismissing the ball of Naveen Ul Haq, due to which the score of Mumbai Indians became 27 runs for four wickets in 5.2 overs.

LSG used Stoinis well in the powerplay as he took 1/19 in his three-over spell with the new ball.

Fast bowler Mayank Yadav, who returned from injury, could have got a wicket but Turner dropped the catch of Ishan Kishan (32) at deep square leg.

Kishan and Nehal Wadhera tried to take control of the situation by adding a partnership for the fifth wicket, but LSG bowlers did not do much and MI’s score was 68 runs for four wickets in 12 overs.

With seven overs remaining, Kishan tried to move forward but fell victim to Bishnoi’s googly. However, Vadhera hit two sixes and a four on Mayank, resulting in 16 runs in the 15th over.

Mohammad Nabi then pulled one onto the stumps off Mayank, who immediately walked off the field, raising injury concerns.

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