IPL 2024
Ordinary Mustafiz as CSK thrashed by KL's LSG
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KL Rahul's solid 82 runs off 53 balls helped Lucknow Super Giants comfortably beat Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets in the IPL on Friday.
Rahul's time at the crease, which saw him smash nine fours and three sixes, played a key role in pushing Lucknow past Chennai's 176-6 with six balls to spare.
"I felt that if we bat well, we could chase it down... when your partnership goes on, you can take a few more chances. Glad that it happened," said Rahul.
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.
Mustafizur Rahman picked up the wicket of de Kock in the 15th over after the left-handed batter had scored 43-ball 54, while Matheesha 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.
A final push by Nicholas Pooran (23) helped seal the victory for Lucknow.
Mustafiz 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.