Lucknow Super Giants ran Chennai Super Kings close at the Chepauk on Monday evening but ended 12 runs short of the target.

Chasing 218, Lucknow started off in whirlwind fashion putting on 80 runs in the first six overs. Kyle Mayers blasted 53 off 22 balls, including eight boundaries and two sixes, while KL Rahul made 20. But once Mayers departed, Lucknow lost steam.

Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran too made useful contributions but CSK held their nerve in the end. Moeen Ali was the most successful bowler with four for 26.

More than the contest, the interest was around Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s homecoming. This is expected to be the CSK captain’s final season and Monday’s match was their first at home after almost four years.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni celebrates with Man of the Match Moeen Ali after one of his four wickets on Monday. PTI picture

His arrival at the Chepauk brought the fans to their feet. They wanted to soak in every bit of their Thala, who has always served to be an inspirational leader.

Perhaps the environment brought out the best in their batters who put up a stupendous show on the field. The openers began with a flourish, a 110-run partnership that set up the platform for an intimidating total. They finally finished on 217 for 7.

Ruturaj Gaikwad, after his 92 in the opening game, smashed 57 off 31 balls, including three boundaries and four sixes. Devon Conway, who hit five boundaries and two sixes, gave him good support during his innings of 47.

Kyle Mayers during his 22-ball 53 for Lucknow Super Giants in Chennai. PTI picture

Lucknow pacer Avesh Khan, who bowled the second over of the innings, conceded 16 runs from his first four deliveries, including four wides, as CSK got off to a rapid start. Avesh finished with figures of 1/39 in 3 overs which included the wicket of Ben Stokes (8).

But it was all about Dhoni who smacked an 89-metre six and another during his three-ball stay to send the adoring Chepauk crowd into a frenzy. There were also valuable contributions from Shivam Dube (27 off 16 balls) and Moeen Ali (19).

Lucknow managed to put the brakes on the free-scoring CSK batters, thanks to a splendid spell by leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi (3/28) in the middle overs. He dismissed Dube just when he had started to look dangerous. Dube could only top-edge the slog, with short third man taking a comfortable catch.

Gaikwad made batting look easy as he effortlessly lofted three sixes in K. Gowtham’s opening over and the fifth of the innings. He continued to pile on the runs and a flick for a six off the pacy Mark Wood underlined the supreme form he’s in.

But once Dhoni arrived at the crease with five balls remaining, the Chepauk went wild. A slice over third man, a hook shot over deep square fetched two incredible sixes against Wood, who had troubled batters with raw pace and claimed a five-wicket haul against Delhi Capitals.

The first two came off short-of-length deliveries while he was a little late on the third, which led to his being caught at deep point. Nonetheless, those two sixes will be replayed in every batting reel this season. Dhoni also completed 5000 IPL runs in the process.

Conway couldn’t hide his feelings. “When I got here earlier, the crowd was special. They were pretty loud and it just creates a great atmosphere. Seeing MS Dhoni walk out there and do what he did and hearing the crowd is fabulous, so it’s good to be playing here in front of our fans. He said ‘go out, express yourself, enjoy, have fun and entertain,” said the New Zealand opener.

Despite the victory, Dhoni sounded a warning to his bowlers for bowling too many wides and no balls. “They need to cut them out or else they will be playing under a new captain,” he said.