West Indies batsman Nicholas Pooran produced a whirlwind 75 runs that set the foundation for Lucknow Super Giants to secure an 18-run win against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in the Indian Premier League.
In their final preliminary match of the tournament, Pooran smacked five fours and eight sixes from 29 balls and enabled LSG to finish on 214 for six after choosing to bat.
Half-centuries from Rohit Sharma and Naman Dhir failed to inspire MI, but they made a strong reply of 196 for 6 and sunk to their tenth defeat in this year’s tournament. They will finish at the bottom of the table.
Pooran ended the tournament with 499 runs with an average of 62.37 and confirmed that he will hold the key to the batting success of co-hosts West Indies in the ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup, starting on June 1.
Pooran and LSG Captain and India batsman, K.L. Rahul revived their side’s chances against MI after leg-spinner Piyush Chawla and pacer Nuwan Thushara split the top order of the visitors as they stumbled to 69 for three in the tenth over.
Rahul hit 55 off 41 balls and put on 109 with Pooran before they were dismissed in the final five overs off Thushara ending with 3 for 28 from his allotted four overs, and Chawla finishing with 3 for 29 from four overs.
In reply, Rohit Sharma hit 68 from 38 balls and shared 88 for the first wicket with Dewald Brevis getting MI chase off to a flying start, but MI struggled to keep up with the batting half-way through and were 120 for five entering the final phase.
Naman Dhir came to the crease, smashing 62 from 28 balls, and producing a 68-run, sixth wicket stand with Ishan Kishan, but his effort fell short, and LSG ended the tournament with a 7-7 record and 14 points.
