Lucknow were able to select Josh Inglis for the first time this campaign, and enjoyed the belated return to form of Nicolas Pooran, who had a blistering partnership of 94 runs in 34 balls with Mitch Marsh.
But LSG's Australian coach still saw his side well-beaten by hosts Mumbai Indians at the Wankede on Monday (local time).
It was their sixth successive loss, and seventh in nine matches leaving them rooted to the bottom of the table led by Ricky Ponting's Punjab Kings. While technically LSG can still reach the play-offs, effectively they are out of contention.
Inglis's arrival in the IPL had been delayed by his wedding last month. Even with his reduced availability he was drafted for $A1.25m.
Pre-match he was presented with his LSG cap by Mitch Marsh. This maintained a tradition as his Western Australia teammate had also presented Inglis with his Australia ODI cap while Marsh's father Geoff, the former Test opener, presented him with his baggy green on Inglis's Test debut.
Soon afterwards the two Aussies marched to the crease to open the LSG innings. Marsh took 11 off the opening over including a six. Inglis then turned his first ball since playing Sheffield Shield two months ago, from Jasprit Bumrah, off his legs for four.
Mumbai turned to spin and Inglis sent the first two balls from AM Ghazanfar to the boundary. But, seeking a repeat was then caught at mid-on, ending a 13-run five-ball cameo.
Marsh was undeterred, smacking Bumrah for 6,4,4 in his next over. Bumrah has had a poor tournament, picking up three wickets in ten matches and went for 45 in four overs this time.
West Indian powerhitter Pooran had also struggled with five single figures scores and a best of 22 from eight innings.
That changed at the Wankhede as he justified the decision to move him to No.3 by battering a 16-ball half-century. He and Marsh had LSG 2-123 after eight overs before Pooran nicked Corbin Bosch to be dismissed 63 in 21 balls with eight sixes.
Marsh went in the same over, caught at mid-wicket for 44 off 25. He has had a solid campaign but is yet to produce a defining innings being out when set for 35, 40, 40, 44 and 55 besides three scores in the teens and a two.
Mumbai kept swinging reaching 4-160 after 12 but were then pegged back closing on 5-228.
It was their season-high total but not enough as the returning Rohit Sharma and in-form Ryan Rickelton soon proved.
The pair produced an explosive opening stand of 143 off 65 balls with Sharma thumping 84 off 44 balls and Rickelton 83 off 32.
While they missed out on centuries the job was done as Mumbai cruised to 4-229 with eight balls to spare.
"The way we started, we should have definitely got more runs," bemoaned LSG skipper Rishabh Pant. "We need some good luck."
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