Barbadian Kyle Mayers’ explosive 22-ball half century was not enough to prevent his side Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) falling to a 12-run defeat against Chennai Super Kings (CSK)in the Indian Premier League on Monday.
Mayers followed up his eye-catching debut score of 73 on Saturday with a blistering knock of 53 from 22 balls.
By the time he held out to Devon Conway who was stationed in deep wicket, he had deposited eight balls to the boundary and two into the stands.
That LSG were motoring on 73 without loss after five overs was down mostly to the left-handed West Indian whose ball striking led to Indian fans comparing him to Chris Gayle on social media. The selectors will be scratching their heads as to how they will fit South African opener Quinton de Kock into this side when he arrives from international duty for Friday’s game against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Four-time IPL winners, Chennai Super Kings, were put into bat on their home ground, MA Chidambaram Stadium and gave the local support lots to cheer when they smashed 217-7 from 20 overs. In reply LSG produced a valiant effort in getting to 205-7 but could not chase down the mammoth total.
Once Mayers departed in the sixth over, the momentum swung drastically in favour of CSK as their twin spinners Moeen Ali and Mitchell Santner combined to reduce them to 105-4 at the halfway stage. Former West Indian captain Nicholas Pooran came to the party as well, producing a dynamic cameo which included a magnificent reverse sweep to launch Ravindra Jadeja’s left arm orthodox spin 97 metres into the third tier of the stands.
It wouldn’t be enough though as he held out to Ben Stokes at long on 32 to leave the required run rate at 15 an over. English fast bowler Mark Wood smashed the last two balls for ten runs, including a six over extra cover but the game was a foregone conclusion by then.
Earlier in the day, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway combined to produce CSK’s highest ever score in the powerplay:79. Only Mayers 0-16 from two overs and leg spinner Ravi Bishnoi 3-28 from four overs escaped the brutality on display as the flat deck and fast outfield meant scoring was very easy.
Summarised scores: Chennai Super Kings 217-9 (R. Gaikwad 57, D. Conway 47; R. Bishnoi 3-28, Wood 3-49).Lucknow Super Giants 205-7 (K. Mayers 53, N. Pooran 32, Moeen Ali 4-26). Chennai Super Kings won by 12 runs.
