Openers, Moeen give CSK memorable Chepauk homecoming

The Chennai Super King’s return to the lion’s den lived up to the expectations as MS Dhoni’s men beat the Lucknow Super Giants by 12 runs on Monday night at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Contributions from openers Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad catapulted CSK to a first-innings score of 217 for 7 before a four-fer from Moeen Ali ensured that the hosts emerged victorious in their first game in Chennai in over 1450 days.

Fresh from scoring a 92 in the first game of the IPL against Gujarat, Ruturaj Gaiwkad continued his fine form in IPL 2023 and scored another quick-fire half-century. 17 runs came in the second over bowled by Avesh Khan, and Gaikwad teed off against Krishnappa Gowtham in the fifth, smashing the off-spinner for three sixes. Devon Conway also matched Gaikwad blow-for-blow. The pair took on Mark Wood in the sixth, scoring 19 runs to bring up the highest IPL score in the powerplay at Chepauk.

Gaikwad reached his half-century in 25 balls in the eighth, and Devon Conway brought up the century stand later in the over, smacking Krunal Pandya for two sixes over long-on. Ravi Bishnoi finally broke the stand for Lucknow with the wicket of Gaikwad for 57, and Wood accounted for Conway an over later, with Krunal Pandya taking a stunning catch to dismiss the Kiwi opener.

Coming in at number three, Shivam Dube struggled initially but launched three sixes and a four in his 17-ball 27 to continue CSK’s momentum. Moeen Ali and Ambati Rayudu also added cameos to take Chennai past 200 before MS Dhoni sent the home fans into delirium with his two sixes off Mark Wood in the final over of the innings.

Chasing 218, Kyle Mayers powered Lucknow to 73 for 0 in the first five overs as he destroyed the CSK pacers against the new ball. Deepak Chahar, Ben Stokes, and Tushar Deshpande struggled due to the lack of swing and were taken to the cleaners by the West Indian, who scored 53 runs from his first 21 deliveries.

However, Moeen Ali’s introduction changed the game as the off-spinner had the left-hander holing out in the deep to start LSG’s slide. The spinners ran riot for CSK as Santner removed Hooda, and Moeen dismissed KL Rahul and Krunal Pandya in quick succession, reducing Lucknow to 105 for four. Moeen also burst through the defences of Marcus Stoinis in his final over, and despite some lower-order heroics from Nicholas Pooran, LSG fell 12 runs short to give CSK their first win of the season.