IPL 2023: "My father was in ICU for10 days...did this for him", says LSG pacer Mohsin after match-winning spell against MI
Lucknow: Following the win over Mumbai Indians (MI) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) pacer Mohsin Khan, who made his return to IPL in the second half of the tournament after an injury, dedicated his match-winning performance to his father, who he said was discharged from ICU after being hospitalized for 10 days.
Marcus Stoinis's unbeaten knock of 89(47) and collective economical spells from LSG bowlers sealed a 5-run victory against MI at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Tuesday. "The plan was to execute what I did in practice and I executed. Even Krunal (Pandya) was talking to me and I told him the same. The run-up is the same, did not change it in the last over. I was trying to calm myself down, not look at the scoreboard and bowl the six balls well. Since the wicket was gripping, I tried the slower ball, but I bowled two of those and then changed to the yorker and it was reversing as well," said Mohsin in a post-match presentation.
"It has been a tough time as I was injured, playing after a year. My father got discharged from the ICU yesterday and he was in the hospital for the last 10 days I did it for him, he would have been watching. I am grateful to the team and the support staff, Gautam [Gambhir] sir, Vijay [Dahiya] sir for playing me in this game even though I did not do well last game," added the bowler.
Mohsin has played three IPL 2023 games so far and has taken two wickets.
Coming to the match, LSG was put to bat first by MI and they posted 177/3 in their 20 overs. Pacer Jason Behrendorff and Piyush Chawla took three quick wickets for MI, dismissing Deepak Hooda (5), Prerak Mankad (0) and Quinton de Kock (16), reducing LSG to 35/3.
Then skipper Krunal Pandya (49 off 42 balls) built a partnership with Marcus Stoinis but retired hurt before he could complete his half-century. Nicholas Pooran (8*) came to the crease to join Stoinis, who went on a rampage in the death overs. Stoinis scored 89* off just 47 balls, consisting of four boundaries and eight sixes.
Behrendorff picked up 2/30 in his four overs. Chawla also took 1/26 in his three overs.
In the chase of 178, MI started well with a 90-run opening stand between Ishan Kishan (59 in 39 balls, eight fours and a six) and skipper Rohit Sharma (37 in 25 balls). Following the dismissal of two openers, MI tried to keep up with the run rate but could not do so as wickets kept falling. Tim David (32* in 19 balls, one four and three sixes) took his side close to a win, but they fell just five runs short. MI finished at 172/5 in their 20 overs.
Ravi Bishnoi (2/26) and Yash Thakur (2/40) were the pick of the bowlers for LSG. Mohsin got 1/26 in his three overs and managed to defend 11 runs in the final over, giving away only five runs.
Stoinis was given the 'Player of the Match' award for his knock.
With this win, LSG has climbed to the third spot with seven wins, five losses in 13 matches. One match ended in no result. They have a total of 15 points. MI has slipped to fourth spot, having seven wins, six losses and 14 points after 13 matches. Both teams are still alive in the race to playoffs. (ANI)
