‘Brilliant Mohsin’

Mohsin Khan is turning out to be a revelation for Lucknow Super Giants The 23yearold Uttar Pradesh lad was once again the star as LSG beat Delhi Capitals by six runs a show that took the IPL newbies to second spot on the points table It was their seventh win in 10 outings and are four points adrift of tabletoppers Gujarat Titans Mohsin whose last two match figures were 40271 v MI and 41243 v PBKS finished with 40164 against LSG on SundayRahul Hooda hit 50sKL Rahul and Deepak Hooda hit halfcenturies to take Lucknow Super Giants to 1953 Skipper Rahul smashed 77 off 51 balls 4x4s 5x6s while Hooda scored 52 off 34 balls 6x4s 1x6 In reply Delhi Capitals managed 1897LSG skipper KL Rahul lavished praise on Mohsin ldquoHe has been brilliant I played him in the nets for the first time a month ago didnrsquot want to face him seriously He was sharp hersquos scary at times in the nets Itrsquos not just the pace he has a good brain has a bit of skill as well has a great slower one and he knows when to use them He is eager to learn and play Even under pressure hersquos bowled some really big overs for us and hersquos performed for usrdquo said Rahul in the postmatch presentationKL Rahul reaches his 50Mohsinrsquos stellar performance could also make the national selectors sit up and take notice and could be on the radar for Team India who are desperately in search of a good leftarm pacer Manofthematch Mohsin seemed to be the only bowler who knew exactly how to exploit the sluggish Wankhede track He varied his pace between 115 to 135kmph and that made things all the more difficult for the DC battersEvery time DC found momentum Mohsin came on and snatched it On Sunday Mohsin maintained his good and short lengths The leftarm pacer first sent back DC opener David Warner 3 thanks to a difficult catch by Ayush Badoni While DC skipper Rishabh Pant 44 and Rovman Powell 35 were threatening to take the game away from LSG Mohsin dismissed both of them and ended their 34run stand for the fifth wicketPant left a big gap between bat and pad with no footwork at all Powell perished after holing out at midwicket The big wicket changed the complexion of the game LSGrsquos hopes faded with Shardul Thakurrsquos 1 dismissal in a similar manner in the same over ldquoMohsin bowled really well He has been performing brilliantly for us in the last few games He looks in good shape and his bowling has been winning us matchesrdquo said his LSG teammate Ravi Bishnoi in the postmatch press conferenceDCrsquos Axar Patel fought a valiant battle but could not chase 21 runs in the final over Pant felt itrsquos high time DC start closing games ldquoItrsquos a hard loss We have to start winning close games As a batting unit we need to start converting the 30s 40s into a big scoresrdquo the DC skipper saidPant Marsh entertainPant and Mitchell Marsh ensured there was no shortage of fireworks as they counterattacked brilliantly after losing openers early First Pant took Krunal Pandya for 19 runs in his first over slamming three fours and a six Jason Holder was welcomed with 17 runs in his first over Dushmantha Chameera too was taken to the cleaners going for 17 runs with Marshrsquos standanddeliver pull that went for a six over square leg was a shot to marvel K Gowtham broke the entertaining 25ball 60run partnership between Marsh and Pant after the Aussie was caught behind However replays showed there was no spike when the ball passed the willow but Marsh refrained from taking the DRS08Number of wickets claimed by Mohsin Khan in 4 IPL15 gamesBrief scoresLSG 1953 KL Rahul 77 D Hooda 52 S Thakur 340 beat DC 1897 R Pant 44 A Patel 42 M Marsh 37 R Powell 35 M Khan 416 by 6 runs