Lucknow Marcus Stoinis once again proved his mettle as he powered his team to a crucial victory against Mumbai in the 48th match of the IPL 2024 T20 cricket series. Stoinis, who was recently dubbed “Hulk” by the fans, lived up to his nickname with a stunning performance both with the bat and the ball.
In a post-match interview, Stoinis expressed his delight at the team’s win and his own performance. “I have had this name for a long time,” he said, referring to his newly acquired nickname. “Tim David has big legs with a little too much hair,” he added, light-heartedly explaining why fans had chosen him over his Australian teammate.
Stoinis impactful performance was the highlight of the match as he scored a crucial 62 runs off just 45 balls and also picked up a wicket, earning him the well-deserved Man of the Match award. Reflecting on his performance, Stoinis said, “Didn’t expect to bowl 3 overs in the powerplay with the new ball. But the bowling was good.”
Lucknow chase of Mumbai target of 145 runs wasn’t without its challenges. Stoinis acknowledged this, saying, “We knew it was going to be slow though. So maybe we were chasing a bit too fast.” He highlighted the importance of building partnerships, suggesting that a small partnership of 8-10 balls amidst the late wickets could have made their victory even smoother.
Despite his excellent performance, Stoinis expressed disappointment at getting out towards the end of the innings. “Similarly, I worked hard in batting and it was disappointing to get out in the end and give the job to someone else,” he said, emphasizing his commitment to the team’s cause.
Stoinis, who has been with the Lucknow team for three years now, expressed his gratitude towards the team and his teammates. “This is my third year on this team. I should have been lucky to stay here from day one. I have developed close friendships with some people here,” he said, highlighting the strong bond he shares with his teammates.
With this win, Lucknow moved up to the 5th position in the points table, while Mumbai slipped to the ninth position after registering their 7th defeat. Stoinis all-round performance once again proved to be invaluable for Lucknow as they continue their campaign in the IPL 2024.