Chennai Super Kings (CSK) recorded their first victory in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 by defeating Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in a high-scoring match by 12 runs at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. After scoring a huge total of 217/7 in their 20 overs, Chennai Super Kings managed to beat Lucknow Super Giants by restricting them to 205/7 in their 20 overs then what was an entertaining match.
Opening batsmen Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway provided a strong start to Chennai Super Kings after they batted first. The opening pair at 110 runs from just 9.1 overs to put the game in favour of Chennai Super Kings, from which it was incredibly difficult for Lucknow Super Giants to bounce back.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, who scored a brilliant 92 in the first match for Chennai Super Kings against the defending champions Gujarat Titans, continued with his home as he smoked four sixes and three boundaries to make 57 from just 31 balls.
On the other hand, a left-handed New Zealand opening batsman Devon Conway missed out on his half century, scoring 47 from 29 balls with the help of five boundaries and two sixes.
Shivam Dube did well to score 27 from 16 balls with three sixes and a four whereas Moeen Ali, who was the star performer for Chennai Super Kings with the ball later in the match, scored 19 from 30 balls with three fours. While Ben Stokes was dismissed for just 8, Ambati Rayudu scored 27 from 14 balls with two sixes and two fours.
Even though Ravindra Jadeja could not make runs on Monday night calling for just three, Chennai Super Kings legendary captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni smacked two sixes off the first two balls that he faced to be dismissed for a 3-ball 12.
Lucknow Super Giants made a strong start to the chase with West Indies batsman Kyle Mayers going bonkers with the bat. The left-handed aggressive batsman scored his second consecutive half-century in the IPL 2023, making 53 from just 22 balls with eight fours and two sixes while Lucknow Super Giants captain KL Rahul struggled once again with the bat, scoring 20 from 18 balls with two fours.
Lucknow Super Giants could not make the most of the positives start provided by Kyle Mayers as the other batsmen such as Deepak Hooda (2), Krunal Pandya (9), Marcus Stoinis (21) and Nicolas Pooran (32) could not take them past the target which was set by Chennai Super Kings.
But West Indies wicket-keeper batsman Nicholas Pooran looked aggressive as he hit three sixes and two fours to make 32 from 18 balls while Marcus Stoinis also struggled like KL Rahul earlier in the innings, hitting just 16 to make 21 from 18 balls
Towards the end, Ayush Badoni scored 23, Krishnappa Gowtham remained unbeaten on 17 and Mark Wood made 10 from just three balls but their parts were not enough to guide Lucknow Super Giants to a victory.