The Chennai Super Kings felt like they still had something to be hopeful about in the game as the Lucknow Super Giants lost 3 wickets for just 9 runs. Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis were running away with the game and they were halted on the way by Mukesh Choudhary. Josh Inglis was dismissed in the 12th over of the game as he mistimed it straight into the hands of Urvil Patel. The dismissal of Mitchell Marsh was probably the only way CSK could have got the better off, with Nicholas Pooran hitting it straight at the stumps and it took a fingertip of the bowler. Later on, Spencer Johnson roared with a brilliant delivery rattling the stumps of Abdul Samad.

Considering the start that the Lucknow Super Giants had in the game, it wasn't much of a headache for LSG as they were well and truly ahead of the required run rate. Mitchell Marsh scored an explosive knock of 90 off just 38 balls and it was good enough in a run chase of 188. LSG still did have plenty of batting to come down the order with the power of Mukul Choudhary and Rishabh Pant waiting to have a go at the bowlers. This loss would significantly affect the playoff charge of the Chennai Super Kings with a massive hit at their Net Run Rate.

Nicholas Pooran’s late quickfire cameo secures victory against Chennai Super Kings

While walking out to chase in the 2nd innings, the Australian duo of Josh Inglis and Mitchell Marsh were weary about the pitch as they had seen the kind of carry their pacers were able to generate. They started off dealing in just boundaries and they hadn’t hit a six off the first couple of overs. The momentum had entirely shifted in the 5th over of the innings from Anshul Kamboj when Mitchell Marsh smashed four sixes and a four in a single over. That push was exactly what the Lucknow Super Giants needed at that point and they just picked off with some exquisite power-hitting. 

With a target of 188 on board, the only chance that Chennai Super Kings had was to get some early wickets and to put them off their formidable batting form. They couldn’t handle the heat of Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis in the powerplay and they couldn’t just contain them. After the 3 quick wickets, Nicholas Pooran decided to do it by himself. He smashed four consecutive sixes against Anshul Kamboj and that was the second time in the match that Kamboj conceded four sixes on the trot. Chennai Super Kings will have to win their next two matches, if they are to make a strong case for themselves to qualify for the playoffs.