IPL 2026: Marsh's 90 off 38 powers LSG to 7-wicket rout of CSK
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Mitchell Marsh blazed an explosive 90 off 38 balls — nine fours, seven sixes, strike rate 236.84 — as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) dismantled Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by seven wickets at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow, on Friday, 15 May. LSG overhauled CSK's 187/5 in just 16.4 overs, with 20 balls to spare, dealing a significant blow to CSK's playoff ambitions.
CSK's First Innings: Kartik Sharma Leads the Charge
Chennai Super Kings posted a seemingly competitive 187/5 in their 20 overs. Kartik Sharma anchored the innings with a career-best T20 score of 71, while Shivam Dube contributed an unbeaten 32 to push CSK past 180. For LSG, Akash Singh was the standout bowler, claiming 3 for 26, with Mohammed Shami adding 1 for 41.
Marsh and Inglis Detonate the Chase
Marsh launched his assault from the very first over, carving three boundaries off Mukesh Choudhary as the opening over yielded 15 runs. Josh Inglis matched the intensity at the other end, finding the rope off Anshul Kamboj and Spencer Johnson. The fifth over proved catastrophic for CSK — Marsh bludgeoned Kamboj for four consecutive sixes and a four, with 28 runs plundered from the over alone.
By the end of the powerplay, LSG were an ominous 86/0. Marsh reached his fifty off just 21 balls, pulling Johnson for four, and continued to punish both Johnson and Noor Ahmad with towering maximums. Inglis contributed a composed 36 off 32 balls before falling to Mukesh. On the very next delivery, Marsh's innings ended in cruel fashion — run out for 90 after a straight drive from Nicholas Pooran deflected off Mukesh Choudhary's hand at the non-striker's end and onto the stumps.
Pooran Applies the Finishing Touch
With the game still in hand, Pooran — who had been measured initially — shifted gears dramatically at the death. After Mukul Choudhary chipped in with handy boundaries, Pooran tore into Kamboj in the 17th over, smashing 32 off 17 balls — one four and four sixes — to seal the chase in style. Kamboj endured a nightmare outing, conceding 63 runs in 2.4 overs as CSK's attack offered no answers once Marsh had broken their spirit.
Impact on the Playoffs Picture
The result hands LSG back-to-back home wins and meaningfully dents CSK's chances of making the IPL 2026 playoffs. What had appeared a defendable total at the halfway stage was dismantled with ruthless efficiency. CSK's bowling unit, led by Johnson (1 for 39) and Mukesh (1 for 24), had no answer to the ferocity of the Marsh-powered powerplay. With the points table tightening, CSK will need to regroup quickly.
Brief Scores: Chennai Super Kings 187/5 in 20 overs (Kartik Sharma 71, Shivam Dube 32*; Akash Singh 3-26, Mohammed Shami 1-41) lost to Lucknow Super Giants 188/3 in 16.4 overs (Mitchell Marsh 90, Josh Inglis 36; Mukesh Choudhary 1-24, Spencer Johnson 1-39) by seven wickets.