Pooran blitz enables LSG to finish on a high note

Half-centuries by Rohit Sharma and Naman Dhir went in vain as Lucknow Super Giants secured an 18-run win in their last league game. Despite the win, LSG are out of contention for the playoffs. On the other hand, with four wins this season, Mumbai Indians yet again finished at the bottom of the table.

What was the difference?

The Middle overs:

While Nicholas Pooran's blazing innings propelled LSG during the middle phase, Mumbai Indians' chase was severely dented during the same period as they lost five wickets after a strong opening partnership.

Lucknow Super Giants:

Powerplay: MI take early control

49/2 (RR: 8.17; 5x4s, 2x6s)

After a fairly slow start and the early departure of Devdutt Padikkal in the first three overs, Marcus Stonis struck three successive boundaries off Anshul Kamboj to get LSG going in the powerplay. Rahul joined the party in the last over of the phase, by smashing two sixes off Piyush Chawla, but the veteran leggie struck back by dismissing Stoinis off the last ball.

Middle overs: Pooran offensive puts MI on the backfoot

110/1 (RR: 11.11; 5x4s, 9x6s)

KL Rahul may have ended the middle phase by tonking Naman Dhir over long on for a six, but it was a period where the LSG skipper was largely playing the second fiddle, turning over the strike and offering Nicholas Pooran the freedom to go on the offensive. The southpaw was at his destructive best as he took apart Hardik Pandya, Anshul Kamboj and even Dhir, with the last three overs earning the side 66 runs. Pooran smashed eight of the 22 balls he faced in this phase for sixes, bringing up his half-century in 19 deliveries.

Death overs: MI strike back, Badoni provides late flourish

55/3 (RR: 11.00; 5x4s, 4x6s)

Three wickets in three deliveries put a break on LSG's progress in the death overs, with Pooran, Arshad Khan and Rahul falling. However, Ayush Badoni's late flourish in his brief cameo, which included two sixes and a boundary, in the last over off Romario Shepherd allowed LSG to post 214 for 6.

Mumbai Indians

Powerplay: Rohit leads MI's charge

57/0 (RR: 9.50; 4x4s, 3x6s)

Coming in as Impact Substitute yet again, Rohit Sharma's fluent strokeplay set the tone for Mumbai Indians' chase. He got going with a streaky boundary in the opening over but going by hammering Matt Henry for a couple of sixes in the next over His opening partner, Dewald Brevis, however, struggled to find the same fluency. Nonetheless, the duo managed to bring up the half-century stand in the rain-interrupted powerplay.

Middle overs: LSG strike back with quick wickets

68/5 (RR: 7.55; 9x4s, 3x6s)

Just when it seemed that Brevis was finding his groove, after having hit Naveen ul Haq for a boundary and a six he mistimed a ball and was caught at wide long off. That started a slide for Mumbai Indians as batters continued to perish in their attempt to find the big hits. Suryakumar Yadav was caught in the deep, Rohit Sharma at short third. Hardik Pandya and Nehal Wadhera also perished without making significant contributions as LSG bowlers firmly turned the contest in their favour.

Death overs: Dhir's fifty in vain

65/1 (RR: 13.00; 4x4s, 5x6s)

Even as Mumbai Indians were behind the eight-ball towards the end, Naman Dhir's flourish provided some fireworks. He cracked four boundaries and five sixes to add some respectability to MI" 's innings towards the end, but his blazing, unbeaten 62 proved too little to what they were up against. Ishan Kishan and Romario Shepherd could do little to add to his effort.

Brief Scores: Lucknow Super Giants 214/6 in 20 overs (Nicholas Pooran 75, KL Rahul 55; Nuwan Thushara 3-28, Piyush Chawla 3-29) beat Mumbai Indians 196/6 in 20 overs (Rohit Sharma 68, Naman Dhir 62*; Ravi Bishnoi 2-37) by 18 runs