Marcus Stoinis leaves cricket legend in awe after IPL rampage

Aussie Marcus Stoinis has received high-praise from cricket legend AB de Villiers having produced one of the best innings in this year's Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Lucknow Super Giants. Stoinis has failed to get going for the Giants this year with a number of low scores before a solid score of 40 in their previous outing.

But the hulking Aussie is never far away from a super innings and it showed as the allrounder blasted 89 not out off just 47 balls in an astonishing display of power hitting. After 17 overs, Stoinis was sitting on 45 runs after 39 balls.

TOUGH: Steve Smith in cheeky dig amid Jofra Archer's brutal Ashes blow

OUTRAGE: Aussie fans left fuming over 'sickening' change to Adelaide Test

This was before Stoinis whacked 6, 0, 4, 4, 6, 4 in the 18th over to put the Giants in control. To bring up his 50, Stoinis launched a technically beautiful straight dive for six to earn the commentators praise.

"He's gone straight again. Boy, another gorgeous hit from Stoinis. And what a way to get to 50," the commentator said. "What an innings on a pitch like this."

With a strike rate of 189.36, Stoinis helped the Giants reach 3-177 after 20 overs. The Mumbai Indians fell five runs short of the Giants' total to hand KL Rahul's men the win.

The 89 marked Stoinis' best innings in the IPL and AB de Villiers was quick to praise Stoinis' achievement. "The value of an 'in batter' being there for the last 3/4 overs - priceless!" he wrote.

"I say it again, difference between winning and losing." AB de Villiers tagged Stoinis in his comment on the match-winning innings from the Australian.

Fans were equally impressed with the 'hulk' blasting the Giants to an insurmountable total.

Cameron Green falls short in run chase

The Mumbai Indians nearly delivered the epic run chase thanks to Aussie Tim David. The big-hitter has been in good T20 form and blasted 32 runs off 19 balls towards the end of the innings.

However, fellow Aussie Cameron Green and David couldn't score quick enough after some brilliant last-over bowling from Moshin Khan. The win for the Giants helped them move ahead of Mumbai on the ladder to third.

“We have shown that we are a real team, there no super stars, there are different people performing for us,” Stoinis said after his huge knock. Mumbai captain Rohit Sharma admitted disappointment at the lost, but thought the team only fell short in a few moments.

Sign up to our newsletter and score the biggest sport stories of the week.