Our IPL 2024 campaign ends with a fantastic 18-run away victory over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday. 

The night saw Nicholas Pooran launch massive fireworks and take our scores to 214/6 in 20 overs before a collective bowling performance kept the hosts to 196/6. 

The two points also lifted us to the sixth spot in the IPL 2024 standings. We are tied with Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals on 14 points but due to a net run rate of -0.667, we will miss the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.

Nicky P’s maximum impact 

After we lost Devdutt Padikkal early in the innings, Marcus Stoinis and KL Rahul played the first three overs cautiously but stepped up on the paddle to take our score to 49 at the end of the powerplay.

The run rate took a hit for the next few overs with the departure of Stoinis and a 200+ total looked improbable at the halfway stage.

Our scores were 69/3 in 10 overs. Pooran’s 29-ball 75, however, changed the complexion of the game. His knock, laced with five fours and eight maximums, helped us score 101 runs in the next six overs. 

Pooran departed in the 17th over. Skipper KL Rahul also got out after making a sublime 55 off 41 balls in the 18th over but a late cameo of 22 in 10 by Ayush Badoni took the scores to 214/6.

The 109-run stand in 44 balls between Nicky P and skipper KL Rahul was the highest fourth-wicket partnership for us in the IPL history.

Krunal and Bishnoi turn the tables 

Rohit Sharma (68 off 38) got MI off to a rollicking start and the five-time champions had the run chase in control with 78/0 in eight overs. 

Naveen-ul-Haq gave us a crucial breakthrough in the ninth over by removing Dewald Brevis from the equation before Krunal Pandya (1/29) dismissed Suryakumar Yadav on a duck and Ravi Bishnoi (2/37) sent a dangerous Rohit Sharma back to the pavilion. MI were reduced to 97/3 in the 11th over.

Bishnoi then dismissed Nehal Wadhera in the 15th over to further dent MI’s run chase.

Naman Dhir’s fighting 62 off 28 balls kept MI in the game but the required run rate kept on rising and we clinched the match by a comfortable margin of 18 runs. 

Brief scores: Lucknow Super Giants 214/6 (Nicholas Pooran 75; Thushara 3-28) beat Mumbai Indians 196/6 (Rohit 68; Ravi Bishnoi 2-37) by 18 runs.