Mitchell Marsh delivered a devastating 90 runs off just 38 deliveries, featuring nine boundaries and seven maximums, as LSG crushed CSK by seven wickets in their IPL 2026 encounter at Lucknow’s Ekana Cricket Stadium on Friday. His explosive innings guided LSG to victory in the 188-run target with remarkable ease. Earlier, fast bowler Akash Singh claimed 3 wickets for 26 runs before Kartik Sharma’s stellar batting performance helped Chennai reach a fighting total of 187 for 5. Akash Singh removed Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson and Urvil Patel to damage CSK’s foundation. Kartik Sharma then built a crucial 70-run partnership with Dewald Brevis to rescue CSK from trouble. Kartik contributed 71 runs from 42 balls with six boundaries and five sixes. Shivam Dube added late momentum with an unbeaten 32 from 16 deliveries. Chennai Super Kings’ Playoff Prospects Damaged by Marsh & Akash.
TOSS-
Lucknow Super Giants won the toss and elected to bowl.
PLAYING XI –
Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI):
Sanju Samson(w), Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Urvil Patel, Kartik Sharma, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Prashant Veer, Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Spencer Johnson, Mukesh Choudhary
Lucknow Super Giants (Playing XI):
Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Mukul Choudhary, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mohammed Shami, Mayank Yadav, Akash Maharaj Singh, Prince Yadav
CHENNAI SUPER KINGS-
Sanju Samson opened with three crisp boundaries in the first over, but left-arm pacer Akash consistently found the right length, maintaining pressure. The ball moved and swung effectively during the Powerplay as Akash trapped Ruturaj Gaikwad, who mistimed one to mid-on. Samson found his rhythm disrupted after the initial over before guiding a leg-stump delivery to deep square leg. On each occasion, Akash produced a note from his pocket, indicating his strategic preparation for claiming wickets. After restricting CSK to 37/2 in the Powerplay, he validated his approach by dismissing Urvil, who struck a short delivery straight to deep mid-wicket as Akash completed his four-over spell continuously.
Entering at number 5, Dewald Brevis launched his opening delivery for six over point. Mayank Yadav’s express pace – regularly exceeding 145 kph – challenged the batsmen, but their strategy remained evident – attack the fifth bowling option. When Shahbaz Ahmed bowled, Kartik swept him over mid-wicket initially, before Brevis executed his signature no-look six next over. A strong partnership flourished as the pitch improved, with Kartik demonstrating his versatility against pace bowling too, capitalizing on anything within reach. He dispatched Prince Yadav’s bouncers for consecutive sixes, the first bringing CSK’s century in the 13th over, before lofting Mohammed Shami over wide long-off to complete his second fifty this season.
Brevis fell to Shami’s bouncer, top-edging a hook to Akash at short fine leg, ending their 70-run association. However, Kartik maintained his aggressive approach, attacking Shahbaz’s final over with one six and two boundaries before attempting an ambitious shot and finding long-on. With four overs remaining, Shivam Dube and Prashant Veer combined forces but struggled against Prince and Mayank’s pace assault. LSG regained control despite Shami conceding two boundaries in the 19th over. Prince erred with his length variations in the final over while LSG brought a fielder inside the circle due to over-rate penalties. Dube finished 6-4-4-6 to propel CSK to 187 before being substituted for the bowling innings.
LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS-
Returning to the ground where he scored a century against RCB recently, Marsh faced challenging conditions with early movement. However, Mukesh Choudhary provided too many scoring opportunities on leg stump during a costly 15-run opening over. Spencer Johnson, making his comeback after 13 months away, consistently bowled at 140+ speeds but lacked fortune despite creating several chances. Josh Inglis appeared uncomfortable initially, yet both openers attacked the first delivery of overs 3, 4, 5 and 6, each producing boundaries or sixes.
Anshul Kamboj suffered the most from Marsh’s onslaught, persistently bowling short in the fifth over and conceding 28 runs, including four consecutive sixes off the opening four deliveries. Johnson also leaked 19 runs in the Powerplay’s final over as Marsh executed his trademark swivel-pull to reach fifty. Beyond the pull shot, Marsh created room earlier to drive through the off-side, displaying his complete stroke repertoire. For the second consecutive match, CSK appeared helpless against LSG’s Powerplay assault. This time, however, no Jamie Overton was available for rescue.
Marsh continued accumulating runs while Inglis remained uncomfortable. The Powerplay damage enabled LSG to surpass 100 in the 8th over. Gurjapneet Singh made little impact, with only Noor Ahmad providing meaningful control, whom LSG sensibly negotiated carefully. Choudhary finally ended the 135-run opening partnership in the 12th over when Inglis cut a slower bouncer to sweeper cover. The following delivery saw Marsh suffer unfortunate dismissal as Pooran’s straight drive deflected off Choudhary’s fingertips onto the stumps. Many would agree this was possibly the only method to dismiss him given his dominant form. Noor maintained pressure to offer CSK faint comeback hopes, though this proved optimistic.
LSG’s scoring rate decreased when Abdul Samad was bowled by Johnson. An inside edge provided Mukul Choudhary a fortunate boundary, but the required rate remained manageable. Neither Aiden Markram nor Rishabh Pant needed to bat, with Pooran requiring just four balls to complete victory after the strategic timeout. The equation showed 24 needed from 24 deliveries when Kamboj returned, and for the second time tonight, he missed his execution, bowling too full. Four consecutive sixes sealed the chase emphatically.
Brief Scores:
Chennai Super Kings 187/5 in 20 overs [Kartik Sharma 71 (42), Shivam Dube 32* (16), Dewald Brevis 25 (16); Akash Singh 3-26] lost to Lucknow Super Giants 188/3 in 16.4 overs [Mitchell Marsh 90 (38), Nicholas Pooran 32* (17); Mukesh Choudhary 1-24] by 7 wickets
About the Author
