Pooran helps Stoinis set up Super Giants’ record chase

CHENNAI, India (CMC):

NICHOLAS POORAN played a key role in Lucknow Super Giants’ record run chase as they overhauled a massive target of 211 to stun Chennai Super Kings by six wickets in the Indian Premier League (IPL) yesterday.

Faced with a required run rate of nearly 11 an over, Super Giants pulled off the highest successful chase at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, with the left-handed Pooran belting a 15-ball 34 with three fours and two sixes.

However, his knock was overshadowed by Australian Marcus Stoinis, the right-hander clobbering an unbeaten 124 off 63 balls with 13 fours and half-dozen sixes – the highest ever individual score in an IPL run chase.

With his side in trouble at 33 for two in the fifth over after openers Quinton de Kock (0) and captain KL Rahaul (16) perished cheaply, Stoinis put on 55 for the third wicket with Devdutt Padikkal (13) and another 70 for the fourth wicket with Pooran, to successfully rebuild the innings.

When Pooran holed out in the deep off 21-year-old seamer Matheesha Pathirana (2-35) in the 17th over, Super Giants still required 53 off 21 deliveries but Stoinis dominated a 55-run, unbroken fifth-wicket stand with Deepak Hooda (17 not out) to get his side over the line with three balls to spare.

Captain and opener Ruturaj Gaikwad had earlier blasted an unbeaten 108 off 60 deliveries to propel CSK up to 210 for four off their 20 overs, after they were sent in.

The 27-year-old right-hander counted a dozen fours and three sixes and posted 45 for the second wicket with Daryl Mitchell (11), 52 for the third wicket with Ravindra Jadeja (16) before adding a further 104 for the fourth wicket with Shivam Dube, whose 66 came from just 27 deliveries and included three fours and seven sixes.

Super Giants lie fourth in the standings on 10 points with CSK one place below on eight.