Marsh's purple patch peters out as Lucknow's luck deserts them in crucial IPL clash

With batting titan Mitchell Marsh, Australia’s T20 international captain, back in their ranks, in-form Lucknow Super Giants had every reason to feel optimistic when they took on the ailing Chennai Super Kings at the Ekhana Stadium.

Chennai were on a franchise record five-match Indian Premier League losing streak, while Lucknow were eyeing a fourth success on the bounce.

But on Monday night, the IPL formbook was ripped up and thrown out of the window as Chennai pulled out a five-wicket victory.

That was despite Marsh, 33, who has been in sublime form in the formative days of the new IPL campaign, doing everything in his power to avert an upset in front of the home support in Lucknow.

Marsh had missed Saturday’s six-wicket defeat of Gujarat Titans to be with his 19-week-old daughter Olive, who was unwell.

But quickly back in harness, he overcame the first-over departure of fellow opener Aiden Markram to reach 30 off 25 balls, including two sixes and two fours.

Bouncing back from being dropped by Australia’s Test team after returning six single-figure scores in seven innings against India in the summer, Marsh had blasted IPL scores of 72, 52, 60 and 81 before Monday night’s assignment.