Super Kings hold off Super Giants in a high score affair

Chennai Super Kings posted the season’s highest IPL total at 217-7 and then held their own for a 12-run home win over Lucknow Super Giants.

Off-spinner Moeen Ali reined in Kyle Mayer’s electrifying 53 on Monday with an impressive 4-26 while Lucknow was limited to 7-205 in a game where fast bowlers wanted big and spinners had the bigger impact.

“A great game,” said Chennai captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. “Fast bowling needs to improve slightly and bowl according to the conditions.”

Mayers hit eight limits and two sixes in a swashbuckling 22-ball knock, feeding against sailors like Deepak Chahar, Stokes and striker Tushar Deshpande.

England captain Ben Stokes was a surprise choice to open bowling for Chennai as the all-rounder suffered a problem with his left knee over the winter and received a cortisone injection before leaving the UK.

In the end, Stokes threw just an over and was hit for 18.

But Mayers fell while sweeping Moeen and was caught head high by Devon Conway in the deep midwicket, and Moeen followed him with the wickets of opposition captain KL Rahul and danger man Krunal Pandya.

They, along with Mitchell Santner, who went 1-21 in four overs, put the brakes on Lucknow’s chase.

Moeen capped his own brilliant four-over spell as he knocked back Marcus Stoinis’ leg stump for 21 of 18 balls.

Nicholas Pooran, with 32 balls from 18, threatened briefly but was caught long out by Stokes in the 16th over and Lucknow missed a big goal.

Earlier, Ruturaj Gaikwad followed up a 92 against Gujarat with another whirlwind start of 57 from 31.

Gaikwad featured in the IPL’s fifth-fastest century opening standings as he and Conway (47 of 29) came together for a wild 110 55-ball runs.

The batsmen didn’t spare fast bowler Mark Wood, who hit back to take two late wickets to finish 3-49.

Both openers went in consecutive overs but Ambati Rayudu, who went unbeaten 27 from 14 balls, and Dhoni, who smashed two key sixes from the three balls he faced, propelled Chennai past 200.

“Conway and Ritu played some brilliant shots so we have to learn that and get better,” said Lucknow captain KL Rahul. “Six overs for 70 or more probably ended up costing us the game.”

Aussies in IPL 2023

Capitals of Delhi: Mitch Marsh ($1.2 million), David Warner ($1.16 million)

Gujarat Titans: Matthew Wade ($446,000)

Lucknow Super Giants: Marcus Stoinis ($1.7 million), Daniel Sams ($135,000)

Mumbai Indians: Tim David ($1.53 million), Cameron Green ($3.15 million), Jason Behrendorff ($135,000)

Punjab Kings: Nathan Ellis ($135,000), Matt Short ($36,000)

Rajasthan Royals: Adam Zampa ($270,000)

Royal challengers Bangalore: Josh Hazlewood ($1.4 million), Glenn Maxwell ($2 million)

The numbers represent the auction price in Australian dollars at the time of sale