Fizz, Pathirana help CSK evade 10-wicket loss against Lucknow

Mustafizur Rahman and Matheesha Pathirana picked up a wicket each to help Chennai Super Kings evade a 10-wicket loss against Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League in Lucknow on Friday.

 

Having a 176-run total to defend, Chennai were upstaged by Lucknow openers KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock who put on a 134-run stand to help their side to a comfortable chase with eight wickets in hand.

Mustafizur picked up the wicket of de Kock in the 15th over after the left-handed batter had scored 43-ball 54, while Pathirana sent back skipper Rahul in the 18th over after the right-handed batter smashed a 53-ball 82 laced with three sixes and nine fours.  

The Fizz was the most expensive amongst the Chennai bowlers as he conceded 43 runs in his four overs, going at an economy rate of 10.75. He will, however, favour the wicket at the Chidambaram Stadium next week when Chennai take on the same opposition at home. 

Earlier, Chennai got off to a slightly jittery start after being invited to bat first, losing Rachin Ravindra (zero) and skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad (17) in the first five overs. Ajinkya Rahane looked to steady the side, with the help of Ravindra Jadeja, but fell in the ninth over after racking up a respectable 36 runs off 24 balls.

Lucknow's clinical bowling restricted Chennai in the middle overs, with Shivam Dube (three) not being able to pop off.

But Jadeja soldiered on for the rest of the game, getting his half-century in the seventeenth over.

Reliable warhorse M.S. Dhoni, who smacked 28 runs off 9 balls, helped Chennai turn up the heat in the last three overs and pushed the team to 176-6.

Lucknow openers Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul set up the chase with a superb 134-run partnership, before de Kock, who hit five fours in his 43-ball 54, fell in the fifteenth over.

Rahul went onto smash an incredible 82 runs off 53 balls before being dismissed in the eighteenth over. A final push by Nicholas Pooran (23) helped seal the victory for Lucknow.

"We lost wickets regularly and were 10-15 short," said Gaikwad.

"Good to play them again soon, will come back with homework done."