Moeen Ali claimed figures of 4/24 as Chennai Super Kings defeated Lucknow Super Giants by 12 runs at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Monday.
After being asked to bat first by LSG skipper, openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway got Chennai off to a blazing start. The pair added 110 runs for the opening stand before the former top-edged a heave off Ravi Bishnoi to Mark Wood at short third man for 57.
Conway (47) then fell to spectacular diving catch by Krunal Pandya off Wood. Shivam Dube who was promoted at No 3, scored a 16 ball-27, before perishing to Ravi Bishnoi.
Moeen Ali scored a 13 ball-19 before being stumped by Nicholas Pooran off Bishnoi.
Ambati Rayudu (27*) and skipper MS Dhoni (12) provided the final flourish in the end to take Chennai to a mammoth score of 217/7 in their 20 overs.
Chasing 218, openers Kyle Mayers along with skipper KL Rahul got Lucknow off to a fantastic start. The pair added 79 runs for the opening stand before Moeen Ali broke the stand by dismissing the dangerous Mayers caught at deep midwicket boundary by Conway for a quickfire 53. His knock came off 22 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes.
Deepak Hooda (2) fell soon, trying to slog Mitchell Santner. Lucknow suffered a body blow when skipper KL Rahul (20) miscued a slog sweep off Moeen to Gaikwad.
LSG lost wickets at regular intervals and were restricted to 205/7 in their allotted 20 overs, thereby falling short by 12 runs.