NEW DELHI:
Marcus Stoinis
emulated the legendary MS Dhoni's flair as he powered Lucknow Super Giants to a breathtaking six-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings with a scintillating century in a riveting IPL clash on Tuesday.
Stoinis's explosive innings of 124 off just 63 balls, adorned with 13 boundaries and six colossal sixes, echoed Dhoni's iconic finishes, culminating in a historic chase of CSK's imposing target of 211 at the Chepauk.
This incredible feat etched its name in IPL annals as the highest successful run chase ever witnessed at the Chepauk.
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Stoinis' blitzkrieg stood in stark contrast to
Ruturaj Gaikwad
's graceful century for Chennai earlier in the match. While Gaikwad's elegance mesmerized, Stoinis's brute force and aggressive approach mirrored the indomitable spirit of Dhoni's match-winning heroics.
Post-match, the celebrations reverberated with echoes of the famous line on Dhoni - "MS finishes off in style in Chennai!" Super Giants' witty homage cleverly intertwined Stoinis' initials with Dhoni's legacy, symbolizing the passing of the baton from one master finisher to another.
The Australian all-rounder's dominance was palpable as he dispatched deliveries to all corners, effortlessly clearing the ropes with Dhoni-esque finesse. Stoinis's heroics peaked when he smashed CSK's premier pacer Mustafizur Rahman for a boundary, sealing victory for LSG.
Requiring 17 off the final over, Stoinis unleashed a colossal six, followed by two consecutive boundaries. A no-ball during the second boundary further tilted the scales in LSG's favor, reducing the equation to a mere 2 runs off four deliveries.
With nerves of steel, Stoinis targeted the leg-side vacuum, lofting his pull shot towards deep midwicket, ensuring a second successive win for the Super Giants against CSK. Post-triumph, LSG couldn't resist a playful nod on their social media, encapsulating the essence of Dhoni's legacy.
Stoinis' unbeaten 124 also etched his name as the highest individual scorer in the ongoing edition, eclipsing
Virat Kohli
's 113 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru earlier this month.
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