‘Amazing knock by Marcus Stonis ‘The Hulk’ – Fans react as power hitter helps LSG to 177 at the Ekana Stadium in IPL 2023

The Lucknow Super Giants and the Mumbai Indians squared off against each other at the Ekana Stadium. MI won the toss and chose to bowl. LSG did not get off to the best of starts as Deepak Hooda was dismissed by Jason Behrendorff. Quinton de Kock made 16 off 15 balls and was dismissed by Piyush Chawla. Then, Prerak Mankad, the hero from the last game, was dismissed for a golden duck. It was looking difficult for LSG at 35-3, but Marcus Stonis and Krunal Pandya decided to change the script.

Krunal made a watchful 49 off 42 balls with one four and one six. The left-hander did well until he felt some discomfort while running and went off the field, retiring hurt. Nicholas Pooran came in his place, and Stonis started slow. He found it tough to bat. It was very hot and humid conditions out there. Then, he changed gears when Chris Jordan was given the 18th over.

Chris Jordan went for fifty runs in his four overs for Mumbai Indians

The over read thus, 6,0, 4,4, 6,4. Jordan was given special treatment by Stoinis. The pace on the ball helped the Australian to go big and give much-needed momentum to his side. The Australian had a simple game plan, he hit the ball as hard and straight as he could. It was a wonderful mix of power and timing. He did not spare his Australian teammate Beherendorff either. He tonked him for two sixes in the next over. Stonis ended up with an unbeaten89 off 47 balls with four fours and eight sixes.

To finish the innings, he smashed Akash Madhwal for a six for his last ball to end it in style. The conditions were not easy to bat on. The all-rounder showed great patience and temperament to bat on the Ekana pitch. At one stage, it looked like LSG were going nowhere with the bat, but this innings from Stoinis gave them a new lease on life.

Left-armer Beherendorff was the pick of the bowlers for MI. He picked up 2-30 in his four overs. MI and LSG are currently placed third and fourth on the points table.

Let us take a look at the reactions on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/Dakdar_Strange/status/1658512620062937089?s=20