Lucknow Super Giants found themselves struggling to gain momentum in their pursuit of 211 runs against Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk on Tuesday. With three of their top four batters managing only 29 runs off 36 deliveries in the initial 11 overs, the visitors faced an uphill battle.
However, Marcus Stoinis emerged as their lone beacon of hope, overcoming his season-long struggles to notch a brisk half-century off just 26 balls, single-handedly keeping his team in contention. His innings was peppered with boundaries, including one standout shot in the ninth over that left his teammates in awe and the opposition stunned.
Facing Moeen Ali’s bowling in the second over, Stoinis disdainfully dispatched a delivery for a boundary. In response, Ali floated a full-pitched ball slightly wide of the stumps from around the wicket.
Stoinis, displaying remarkable patience, waited for the ball’s arrival before unleashing a powerful swing of the bat, sending the Kookaburra soaring over long-on. The ball soared an impressive 96 meters into the night sky, landing in the top tier of the stadium.
— Debi Jag (@DebiJag608) April 23, 2024
The sheer spectacle prompted Stoinis’s Caribbean teammate, Nicholas Pooran, to watch in amazement before exclaiming ‘wow’ in the dugout, his eyes reflecting pure admiration. Social media quickly echoed Pooran’s sentiments, showering praise on Stoinis for his remarkable effort.