IPL 2023: LSG, CSK settle for solitary point after persistent rain in Lucknow

A jam-packed crowd at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow were left disappointed after the 45th league meeting of IPL 2023 between hosts Lucknow Super Giants and Chennai Super Kings was called off due to persistent rain at the venue. The points were shared between the two sides after a heavy downpour interrupted the match during the final over of the first innings.

Lucknow Super Giants, who were without regular skipper KL Rahul for the clash, were looking to avenge their loss against the Yellow Army earlier this season. However, they had to wait a while to get onto the field as a light shower delayed the toss in the afternoon. After a brief delay, the game commenced with the visitors winning the toss and deciding to bowl first on a sluggish track in Lucknow.

It was a struggle for the LSG batters in the powerplay as the visiting spinners, especially Moeen Ali, spun a web around the top-order batters. The hosts were struggling to come to terms with the slow nature of the pitch, losing half their side inside the first ten overs of the match. With the hard-hitting pair of Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran back into the hut, the home side were in danger of finishing with a below-par total on the board.

Ayush Badoni's fighting half-century goes in vain 

However, Ayush Badoni outshone his experienced teammates by pacing his innings to perfection, smashing 59 runs in just 33 deliveries on a tricky surface to revive his side's hopes of finishing with a competitive total. Badoni's counterattacking innings ensured that the LSG bowlers had something to defend in the second innings of an intriguing contest.

But it wasn't to be as rain had the final say in the contest, interrupting the match in the final over of the first innings. A horrid forecast coupled with persistent rain forced the match officials to call off the game. Incidentally, this was only the second occasion a match was called off in the IPL outside of Bengaluru.