IPL 2023: Stoinis, Mayers star in LSG’s performance for the ages

(Cricinfo) - Punjab

Kingsfoughthardtogetpast 200 themselves, with Atharva Taide slamming a 36-ball 66, but they were never really in contention to reach an improbable target.

SuperGiantswonby56runs intheend,andtheirnet-runrate boost lifted them from fourth to second on the pointstable.

LSG’s hitting was aweinspiring: their batters combinedtohit27foursand 14 sixes, ensuring the statisticianshadabusynight. Mayers gets the party started The entertainment beganwhenMayersclubbed Arshdeep Singh for four fours in the second over Next over, he deposited a free hit from debutant Gurnoor Brar for six over midwicket When PBKS introduced spin, Mayers went 6, 4, 6 off Sikandar Razainthefifthover Hewas dismissed with one ball left inthepowerplay,butbythen he’d already scored 54 - the most by a batter in the first six overs this season. LSG endedthatphaseat72for2.

UnstoppableStoinis

In seven previous innings this season, Stoinis hadbeendismissedfor21or less five times, including a duckinhislastgameagainst Chennai Super Kings. But when he’s got into his groove, LSG have prospered.He’dslammed65 off 30 in a successful chase of 213 against Royal Challengers Bangalore, and here in Mohali Stoinis was similarlybrutal.

It began with a free-hit off the second legal ball of the eighth over, which Stoinis flicked for six off Gurnoor The next ball was driven for four, and Stoinis was away In the tenth over, he guided Sam Curran for four behind point; and when the bowler tried a slower delivery, he put him away withashort-armpull.

There was a life in the 13th over when Liam Livingstone’s left foot tickled the rope while he caught Stoinis on the longoff boundary, off Rahul Chahar Stoinissoonreached fifty from 31 balls, his innings of 72 eventually featuringfivesixes.

Badoni and Pooran keep thefireworksgoing

The bowlers had no respite when Stoinis was off strike. Badoni put on 89 for the third wicket with Stoinisk and struck three fours and three sixes while rushingalongatastrikerate closeto180.Hisdismissalin the14thoverbroughtPooran to the crease, and he immediately hit Liam Livingstone for three successivefours.

Pooran’s 45 off 19 featured just a solitary six, a swivel-pull that sailed high over fine leg, but there were seven fours, most of them timed beautifully through gaps in the outfield, with a late squeeze behind point of Arshdeepstandingout.

Taide fights, but PBKS fallwellshortSentinatNo.3 after Shikhar Dhawan departed in the first over, Taide kept ticking along as his partners came and went. Taidemade31ofthe47runs PBKSscoredinthefirstfive overs, including five boundaries, including a legsidehoick,adrivepastmidoff, and a slap through point offoneAveshKhanover,and hefollowedupwithabigsix off Amit Mishra soon after thepowerplay

Taide got to his halfcenturyfrom26deliveriesto start the tenth over, but by then PBKS’ required rate was already threatening to touch 16 an over And when Taide departed after miscuing a slog-sweep off

Ravi Bishnoi, PBKS needed a near-impossible 131 from sevenovers,withsixwickets inhand.Livingstone,Curran and Jitesh Sharma kept the boundarycountrising-there were67inall,eventually,the joint second-most in an IPL game - but the contest was doneanddustedbythen.