Mitch Marsh has been cruelly denied another IPL century but still managed to see the lighter side after his new all-Australian partnership with Josh Inglis helped power Lucknow Super Giants to victory over Chennai.
Australia’s T20 skipper was rampaging his way towards his second century of the campaign, on 90 and in unstoppably majestic form in Lucknow, when out of nowhere he got run out at the non-striker’s end, stranded as Nicholas Pooran’s drive got deflected by bowler Mukul Choudhary’s little finger on to the stumps.
“Cricket is a funny game, isn’t it?” sighed player of the match Marsh, happily still able to raise a smile as he pondered how he and Inglis had at least paved the way for another comfortable consolation seven-wicket win for Lucknow.
Coach Justin Langer was doubtless left wondering about what might have been had he been able to combine his compatriots as his one-and-two all season because, in their past two games as openers, they have put on blistering stands of 77 and 135, laying the foundations for two-straight wins.
Not that Inglis was taking much credit. Unlike his previous match when he had been the dominant partner, he joked that this time he was playing as if holding a stump rather than a bat as he made 36 of that 135 partnership before being dismissed.
Meanwhile, at the other end, Marsh simply dazzled in pursuit of Chennai’s 5-187, crashing nine fours and seven sixes off his 38 deliveries, but he reckoned he really did enjoy batting with his fellow west Australian.
“It feels like he takes the pressure off me. We have grown up together playing for Western Australia, we know each other well. and it was a good partnership tonight,” said Marsh.
Marsh (left) and Inglis (right) have formed a dynamic opening partnership at the top of the order for Lucknow. (AP)
For one tantalising moment, it even appeared the 34-year-old might hit six sixes in an over off Anshul Kamboj after he smashed the first ball of the fifth over cover, the second over mid-wicket and the next two over square leg.
But after four in a row, Kamboj was probably grateful the fifth ball was smashed straight back at him, even if it did hit him painfully on the foot. Embarrassment averted, his final delivery went for four more for 28 off the over.
If that wasn’t bad enough, the same bowler was later again clouted for four-straight sixes, this time by Pooran, who finished the match with the spectacular quartet of blows.
Kamboj finished with painful figures of 0-63 off 2.4 overs — that’s an economy rate of 23.62.
It wasn’t a particularly happy return to IPL action for Chennai’s Australian left-arm quick Spencer Johnson, either, as he went for 1-39 off his four overs in his first game for his new franchise, who missed a chance to move into a playoff position.
AAP
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