IPL 2024: Marcus Stoinis powers LSG back to top 3, MI’s playoffs hopes all but over

Marcus Stoinis continued his golden run with the bat as he hit a solid 62 to help LSG successfully chase down a below-par target of 145 against MI at the Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium in Lucknow on Tuesday, April 30.

The 4-wicket win propelled the KL Rahul-led side to the top 3 and hurt MI’s chances so much so that the 5-time champions need a miracle from here to qualify for the playoffs.

Marcus Stoinis was impressive with another fifty, but LSG stumbled toward the end, taking the game until the last over. The experience of Nicholas Pooran came in handy as the home team successfully went past the finish line with 4 balls to spare.

LSG moved to the 3rd spot in the IPL 2024 points table, leapfrogging CSK while MI are rooted to the bottom of the points table with just 3 wins in 10 matches. Even if MI win their remaining 4 matches, they might not be able to reach the playoffs. Historically, 14 points have not been enough for teams to finish in the top 4 in a season with 9 or more teams playing.

Chasing 145, LSG lost their young opener Arshin Kulkarni in the first over bowled by Nuwan Thushara. MI did a lot of things right in terms of their bowling plans as Hardik Pandya gave the new ball to Jasprit Bumrah and gave 3 on the trot to the Sri Lankan slinger.

However, KL Rahul, who took the attack to Nuwan Thushara, made sure LSG overcame a slow start and posted 52 runs in the powerplay.

Rahul and Stoinis added 58 for the second wicket, but Hardik Pandya got the big wicket with the ball, removing the LSG captain, who fell for 28 off 22.

Stoinis and Deepak Hooda, who shone in their record chase in Chennai last week, stepped up and added 40 runs for the 3rd wicket to take LSG closer to the finish line.

However, after Marcus Stoinis holed out in the deep for a 45-ball 62, panic set in. LSG fell from 115 for 3 to 133 for 6 before Pooran steered the team past the finish line.

It was another disappointing performance from Mumbai, hours after their senior players, Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya were named as the captain and the vice-captain of India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad. While Rohit suffered a rare failure with the bat, Hardik got out for a golden duck as his form with the bat continued to be ordinary. Hardik tried to make amends with the ball, picking up 2 wickets but MI did not have enough on the board to defend against a powerful LSG batting line-up.

BIG GUNS ROHIT AND HARDIK FAIL

KL Rahul, who did not show the frustration of the World Cup squad snub, won the toss and had no hesitation to put MI into bat. The pitch at the Ekana Stadium has, refreshingly, not been heavily tilted toward the batters and MI’s star-studded line-up was in for a big test. Rohit Sharma began his innings with a cheeky scoop over the keep’s head, but he managed to stay in the middle for only 5 deliveries. Rohit mistimed a lofted cover drive when in the 2nd over as KL Rahul’s move to attack the former MI captain with left-arm pace worked wonders. Mohsin Khan got the big man when Marcus Stoinis, a short cover, took a fine catch.

MI’s big guns, including Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya, also failed with the bat. While Suryakumar threw it away when on 10, MI lost their captain and Tilak in the final over of the powerplay. In-form Tilak was run-out after a fine effort on the field from Ravi Bishnoi, while Hardik Pandya struggled to keep away an outswinger from Naveen-ul-Haq. It was a good nut for a batter, who has struggled to put bat to ball in IPL 2024.

NEHAL WADHERA SHINES AGAIN

MI were reeling at 27 for 4 in the powerplay when Ishan Kishan was joined by Nehal Wadhera, who once again reminded Mark Boucher and captain Hardik Pandya that the decision to not pick him in the first-half of the season was criminal.

Wadhera and Kishan added 53 runs and it was the former, who kept the charge going, hitting 2 sixes and 4 boundaries. Ishan was hanging in there, struggling to cope with the sluggish nature of the pitch. Ishan was dismissed in the 14th over when Ravi Bishnoi snapped the partnership just when it looked MI would build a platform for a late over assault.

With Wadhera also falling in the 18th over, it was Tim David’s blitz — an 18-ball 35 that helped them post something — 144 – for their bowlers to work with.

Mohsin Khan was the pick of the LSG bowlers as he snapped 2 wickets while the rest chipped in with a wicket each.

However, LSG had an injury scare as their young, express pacer Mayank Yadav, who recovered from a side strain to retun to action on Tuesday, walked off before completing the final over.