Rahul shines as Lucknow Super Giants beat Chennai Super Kings

KL Rahul’s solid 82 runs off 53 balls helped Lucknow Super Giants beat Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets in the IPL.

Rahul’s time at the crease, during which he smashed nine fours and three sixes, was key in pushing Lucknow past Chennai’s 176-6 with six balls to spare.

“I felt that if we bat well, we could chase it down … when your partnership goes on, you can take a few more chances. Glad that it happened,” said Rahul.

Chennai got off to a slightly jittery start after being invited to bat first, losing Rachin Ravindra (zero) and skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad (17) in the first five overs.

Ajinkya Rahane looked to steady the side with Ravindra Jadeja’s help but fell in the ninth over after racking up a respectable 36 runs off 24 balls.

Lucknow’s clinical bowling restricted Chennai in the middle overs, with Shivam Dube (three) unable to pop off.

But Jadeja soldiered on for the rest of the game, getting his half-century in the 17th over.

Reliable warhorse M.S. Dhoni, who smacked 28 runs off 9 balls, helped Chennai turn up the heat in the last three overs and pushed the team to 176-6.

Lucknow openers Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul set up the chase with a superb 134-run partnership before de Kock, who hit five fours in his 43-ball 54, fell in the fifteenth over.

Rahul scored an incredible 82 runs off 53 balls before being dismissed in the eighteenth over. A final push by Nicholas Pooran (23) helped seal Lucknow’s victory.

“We lost wickets regularly and were 10-15 short,” said Gaikwad.

“Good to play them again soon, will come back with homework done.”