Defending 10 points against heavy hitters Tim David (32*) and Cameron Green (4*), Mohsin threw a superb last to give up just 5 points as hosts LSG recorded a narrow five-point win. Mohsin has made a fine comeback after a long absence through injury.
As It Happened: Lucknow vs. Mumbai
The victory moved LSG to third place in the Indian Premier League table with 15 points, below second-placed Chennai Super Kings, who have a better net run rate with identical points. Mumbai dropped to fourth place after suffering their sixth defeat.
Marcus Stoinis displayed their raw power on the way to an unbeaten 89 from 47 balls as LSG recovered from a poor start to post 177 for three after Mumbai opted to go bowling.
Mumbai was on course for a comfortable win but missed the chase in the second half of the innings to finish with 172 for five from 20 overs.
Mohsin, who missed the entire domestic season with a shoulder injury, helped LSG take an important step towards the top four by keeping his composure in the final.
Mumbai remains in contention for a play-off spot despite the defeat.
Chasing 178 was not going to be easy on this ground but Rohit Sharma (37 of 25) and Ichan Kishan (59 of 39) raised the possibility of a comfortable chase with an opening wicket of 90 runs on 58 balls.
Kishan watched menacingly as Rohit hit two sublime sixes to give a strong indication that he was back to his best.
However, the two fell to Leggie Ravi Bishnoi in successive overs as the hosts were back in the game.
Going for first-ball shots wasn’t the best option on this surface and even the usually unstoppable Suryakumar Yadav experienced it in the middle. A master at extracting runs from behind the wicket, he opted for his trademark scoop shot on pacer Yash Thakur but ended up sending it back to the stumps.
Mumbai needed 53 from the last 30 balls and with Nehal Wadhera and Tim David in the middle and Cameron Green still to come, there was still arsenal in the tank.
However, David was unable to complete the match as he did against Rajasthan Royals earlier in the competition.
Earlier, Stoinis broke eight sixes in his belligerent jab and shared an 82-point partnership with the substitute skipper Krunal Pandya (49 retirees injured) after LSG found themselves in shock at 35 for three in the seventh.
As has been the case throughout the season, batters struggled on a two-pitch surface.
LSG made a dubious call to drop their best run-getter of the season, Kyle Myers, and the move didn’t work out. Substitute at the top, Deepak Hooda (5) was undone by a slower ball from Jason Behrendorff
The next ball from the left arm pacer was angled and Prerak Mankad had a light touch in the way of the wicketkeeper while trying to run towards the third man.
The situation worsened for LSG when Quinton de Kock (16 from 15) fell in seventh to leave the home side reeling in seventh.
De Kock went for a googly from the crafty Piyush Chawla but ended up getting caught behind.
It fell to heavy hitters Stoinis and Krunal to resurrect innings and they did so with a firm stance before the latter was injured on retirement after being seen looking a little uncomfortable in the 16th.
After that it was all Stoinis, who started his innings with huge sixes from spinners Hrithik Shokeen and Chawla in successive overs.
Making shots was tough in the prevailing conditions, but Stoinis used his brute strength to get the limits and the much-needed six.
The 18th most played by Jordan gave 24 points with the English stimulator who sprayed him everywhere. He failed to nail his yorker and Stoinis was quick to send his two balls for a huge six on the floor in addition to collecting three fours on the short balls.
He finished the innings with a one-handed six against Akash Madhwal.
Mumbai have dropped 54 runs in the last three overs.
(With PTI entries)
