MS Dhoni-led CSK Bags Their First Points in IPL 2023 After Gaikwad & Moeen's Magic
CSK won against Lucknow by 12 runs (AP Photo)
Another day and another IPL-esque contest. On Monday, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) bagged their maiden victory of this season in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2023). Backed by Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway's spellbinding opening stand, MS Dhoni's memorable cameo and Moeen Ali's fighting four-fer, the four-time champions have put their first two points on the table.
Gaikwad-Conway surged for CSK with the bat
For Chennai, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway flabbergasted the Lucknow bowlers from the word go. Skipper KL Rahul missed a trick on a flat Chepauk track, giving pace to two backfoot batters.
The CSK openers just blasted in the first six overs, putting 79 runs on the board and bagging the second-highest powerplay score in this IPL. They took the opening partnership to 110 runs, as the duo smacked almost every bowler in every possible region of the park until Ravi Bishnoi led the comeback for his side, picking three vital wickets.
Although after Gaikwad and Conway, MS Dhoni and Shivam Dube played memorable cameos to take Chennai's total 217 runs, which later turned out to be a safe score for the four-time champs.
Mayers led Lucknow's chase
If LSG had a dream of chasing the mammoth total of 218, they had to have an inch more than an exceptional start, and Kyle Mayers gave them the same. The West Indies batter continued from where he left at Ekana Stadium, smacking a 21-ball half-century.
But what was so special about the explosive southpaw's knock was that he not only went behind every CSK bowler but completed the feat inside the powerplay. After Mayers was dismissed off Moeen Ali's bowling, LSG lost the plot in the middle phase.
Moeen guided CSK fightback with a four-fer
The off-spinner not just sent Mayer back to the hut; he dismantled the top order and the middle order. After making Mayers miscue a shot at deep mid-wicket, Moeen got KL Rahul the same way.
Assisted by the left-arm spin of Mitch Sanrner, he then outclassed Krunal Pandya and Marcus Stoinis. Meanwhile, his partner in crime got Deepak Hooda's wicket in his spell of four overs.
Unlike all other CSK bowlers, Moeen and Santner were misers with the ball, giving just 47 runs in their 8 combined overs and taking five wickets between them.
Pooran, Badoni & Gowtham's efforts went in vain
With the depth in Lucknow's batting, the game had to go down to the wire. Thus, the volatile Nicholas Pooran, Impact Player Ayush Badoni and hard-hitting all-rounder KS Gowtham gave everything they had. Still, their prowess couldn't get better off Chennai's inexperienced death bowling.
Tushar Deshpande eventually did Pooran after the southpaw smacked an 18-ball 32. Meanwhile, Badoni was dusted by the same bowler in the last over of the bowler. Gowtham stayed unbeaten till the end. But Chennai bagged the game by 12 runs.
Brief Score
Chennai Super Kings - 217/7 (20 overs)
Ruturaj Gaikwad - 57 (31), Devon Conway 47 (29)
Ravi Bishnoi - 3/28 (4), Mark Wood - 3/47 (4)
Lucknow Super Giants - 205/7 (20 overs)
Kyle Mayers - 53 (22), Nicholas Pooran - 32 (18)
Moeen Ali - 4/26 (4), Mitchell Santner - 1/21 (4)
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