CHENNAI, APRIL 4
Chennai Super Kings pulled off a 12-run win against Lucknow Super Giants at home after notching this season's highest total of 217-7 in the Indian Premier League on Monday.
Offspinner Moeen Ali reined in Kyle Mayers' electrifying 53 with an impressive 4-26 as Lucknow was restricted to 205-7 in a game where fast bowlers went for plenty and spinners made the bigger impact.
"A terrific game," Chennai captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said. "The fast bowling will need to slightly improve, and bowl according to the conditions."
Mayers clubbed eight boundaries and two sixes in a swashbuckling 22-ball knock against the likes of seamers Deepak Chahar, Ben Stokes and impact player Tushar Deshpande.
Then Mayers' sweep of Ali was caught head high by Devon Conway at deep midwicket. Ali also claimed captain Lokesh Rahul and Krunal Pandya to claim three wickets in his first three overs.
Together with Mitchell Santner, who took 1-21 in four overs, he and Ali put the brakes on Lucknow's chase.
Ali capped his own brilliant four-over spell when he knocked back Marcus Stoinis' leg stump.
Nicholas Pooran, 32 off 18 balls, threatened briefly but was caught at long off by Stokes in the 16th over and Lucknow fell short of a tall target.
Earlier, Ruturaj Gaikwad followed a 92 against Gujarat with another whirlwind start of 57 off 31 balls. Gaikwad featured in the IPL's fifth fastest century opening stand when he and Conway combined for a rollicking 110 runs off 55 balls.
The batters didn't spare fast bowler Mark Wood, who took two late wickets to finish with 3-49.
Conway made 47 off 29. Both openers departed in consecutive overs but Ambati Rayudu, an unbeaten 27 off 14 balls, and Dhoni, who smashed two key sixes off the three balls he faced, propelled Chennai past 200.
"Conway and Ritu played some brilliant shots so it's something for us to learn and get better at," Rahul said. "Six overs going for 70-odd is probably what cost us the game in the end."
