In a thrilling encounter at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, the Delhi Capitals (DC) emerged victorious against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 19 runs in Match 64 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. This important win propelled DC to the fifth spot on the points table, though they still have to rely on other match results to secure a place in the Playoffs.
The day began with Lucknow Super Giants winning the toss and opting to field first. The decision appeared prudent as it bore fruit right from the outset. In the opening over itself, Arshad Khan dismissed the dangerous Jake Fraser-McGurk, who attempted to hit a big shot but was caught at long-on. This early blow placed DC in a vulnerable position, but Abishek Porel soon steadied the ship with a splendid counterattack.
Porel’s masterclass began in the second over, where he executed an eye-catching upper-cut for six off Mohsin Khan. Building on this momentum, he plundered 21 runs off Arshad Khan’s next over, which included a six and three boundaries, the highlight being a magnificent cover drive. The momentum only seemed to grow, with Yudhvir Singh becoming the next victim as Shai Hope joined the party with 16 runs off the fourth over. By the end of the powerplay, DC had put on an impressive 61 runs, closing with a 17-run over from Naveen-ul-Haq where Porel smashed a flat-six over fine-leg.
Post powerplay, the scoring rate saw a slight dip. Shai Hope played responsibly for his 38 off 27 balls, including a six off Ravi Bishnoi. However, Hope’s attempt to go over cover led to his dismissal as KL Rahul held on to a catch after initially fumbling it. In the same period, Porel reached his half-century off just 21 balls. LSG fought back valiantly as Porel was removed for 58 in the 12th over, thanks to a disciplined spell from the bowlers.
Tristan Stubbs then emerged as the cornerstone of DC’s innings, scoring a resilient 57 not out off 25 balls. His partnership with Rishabh Pant was pivotal, as they sought to rebuild the innings post Porel’s dismissal. Pant, true to his aggressive style, hit five boundaries, including an impressive four through third-man off Naveen-ul-Haq. Eventually, Pant was dismissed for 33 off 23 balls in the 17th over.
Stubbs demonstrated his T20 prowess by taking DC past the 200-run mark. DC had racked up 136 for three in 15 overs, and Stubbs accelerated with a flurry of boundaries, especially devouring Arshad Khan for a six and two fours. The last three overs proved crucial as DC amassed 45 runs.
. The penultimate over saw 21 runs added, with Stubbs reaching his fifty off merely 22 balls, concluding the innings at a robust 208 for four.
LSG’s chase began under tremendous pressure, courtesy of a stellar powerplay spell by veteran Ishant Sharma. He dismissed KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock in quick succession, both caught at cover and mid-on respectively. Axar Patel was introduced in the fourth over and immediately made an impact by stumping Marcus Stoinis off his very first ball. At 24 for three, LSG was in dire straits, but Nicholas Pooran walked in determined to turn the tide.
Pooran’s aggressive intent was clear, as he hammered two fours and two sixes off Axar’s first over, yielding 20 runs. Ishant Sharma continued his excellent form by trapping Deepak Hooda leg-before wicket at the start of the next over. LSG ended the powerplay having scored 59 runs but losing four key wickets, with Pooran blazing to 32 off just 11 balls.
Despite regular wickets, Pooran kept LSG’s hopes alive with consistent boundaries. Even as Ayush Badoni was dismissed, Pooran raced to a 20-ball fifty, keeping the dream chase alive. However, LSG’s aspirations took a significant hit when Pooran played a lofted shot to cover off Mukesh Kumar in the 12th over, only to see Axar Patel pulling off a brilliant low catch. At 101 for six, DC seemed well on their way to victory.
Yet, cricket is a game full of surprises, and Arshad Khan reignited hope for LSG. His fearless batting saw him consistently find the boundary, carting sixes with remarkable ease. His remarkable endeavor led him to a quick-fire fifty off 25 balls. He received a brief but valuable support from Yudhvir Singh, who contributed with a rapid 14, including a six and a four.
Needing 29 off the final two overs with just two wickets in hand, LSG’s task seemed daunting. However, DC bowlers Mukesh Kumar and Rasikh Salam held their nerve impeccably, stifling Arshad and ensuring no boundaries were scored in the final stages. The disciplined death bowling secured DC’s 19-run victory, maintaining their Playoff hopes.
With this win, DC’s performance chart saw a promising rise as they now sit in the fifth spot on the points table. The team’s comprehensive performance today, particularly with contributions across the board in batting and bowling, keeps their aspiration for a Playoff berth alive, albeit requiring favorable results from other ongoing matches.