Marauding Mitchell Marsh dents CSK's playoff chances

Chennai Super Kings posted 187 after a shaky Powerplay, but Mitchell Marsh's 38-ball 90 powered Lucknow Super Giants to a 7-wicket win, dealing a major blow to CSK's playoff hopes.

Brief Scores: CSK 187/5 (Kartik Sharma 71, Shivam Dube 32*; Akash Singh 3-26) lost to LSG 188/3 (Marsh 90, Nicholas Pooran 32*; Mukesh Choudhary 1-24) by 7 wickets.

Early wickets and paper celebrations

Akash Singh, playing his first game of the season, struck early. He dismissed Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson, pulling a note from his pocket after each wicket, having also removed Urvil Patel later. CSK were restricted to 37/2 in the Powerplay.

Kartik-Brevis lead CSK's recovery

Dewald Brevis smashed a six off his first ball. Kartik Sharma targeted the fifth bowler Shahbaz Ahmed, hitting him for boundaries. Kartik raised his second fifty of the season with a six off Mohammed Shami. The pair added 70 runs before Brevis was bounced out by Shami.

Dube goes big

Kartik fell for 71 off 42. Shivam Dube struggled initially against pace but exploded in the final over, hitting 6-4-4-6 to push CSK to 187.

A Mitch Marsh show at Ekana

Marsh smashed Anshul Kamboj for 28 runs in the fifth over, including four sixes off four balls. He raised a half-century off 21 balls in the Powerplay, as LSG raced to 86/0 — compared to CSK's 37/2. The opening stand of 135 was broken in the 12th over when Josh Inglis was caught. Marsh was run out next ball after a ricochet off the bowler.

Pooran seals it

Noor Ahmad kept things tight in the middle overs, but the asking rate never troubled LSG. Nicholas Pooran finished the chase with four consecutive sixes off Kamboj in the 17th over.

What's next?

CSK face Sunrisers Hyderabad at Chepauk on Monday (May 18). LSG travel to Jaipur to play Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday (May 19).