In a thrilling encounter at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi Capitals (DC) emerged victorious in an intense battle against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), clinching the game by 19 runs in Match 64 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The high-octane clash saw both teams putting in a spirited performance, but it was the DC bowlers who held their nerve to secure crucial points for their team.
After winning the toss, LSG skipper decided to bowl first, a decision that immediately bore fruit. In the very first over, the menacing Jake Fraser-McGurk tried to set the tone with an aggressive shot. However, his attempt to clear the fence was in vain as he only managed to sky the ball to long-on, resulting in an early dismissal by Arshad Khan.
Despite the early setback, Delhi Capitals found a savior in Abishek Porel. The youngster took charge of the innings with an array of counter-attacking shots. In the second over, he launched Mohsin Khan over the ropes with an exquisite upper-cut. His form continued against Arshad Khan, from whom he extracted 21 runs in an over, featuring a magnificent cover drive. Shai Hope joined the fray, punishing Yudhvir Singh for 16 runs in the fourth over, making it clear that DC was not going down without a fight. The powerplay ended on a high for DC as they managed to accumulate 17 runs in the sixth over, with Porel smashing a flat six over fine-leg off Naveen-ul-Haq.
Post the powerplay, the scoring rate slowed slightly. Shai Hope (38 off 27 balls) managed to hit a towering six off Ravi Bishnoi but was soon dismissed trying to replicate the feat, courtesy of a sharp catch by KL Rahul. Porel continued to dazzle, reaching his half-century off just 21 balls before succumbing for 58 in the 12th over. LSG managed to pull back the momentum slightly but DC still looked poised for a big total.
Tristan Stubbs then took center stage. With a composed Rishabh Pant (33 off 23 balls) for support, Stubbs anchored the innings. Pant entertained the crowd with a series of delightful boundaries, including an audacious four through third-man off Naveen-ul-Haq while losing grip of his bat. His entertaining innings ended in the 17th over, but Stubbs ensured the momentum remained with DC.
Stubbs’s aggressive batting saw DC cross the 200-run mark. In the 15th over, with the score at 136 for three, he pummeled Arshad Khan, notching up a six and two boundaries. The last three overs were particularly fruitful for DC, as they racked up 45 runs.
. Naveen-ul-Haq’s penultimate over was particularly expensive, going for 21 runs, and Stubbs reached his fifty off just 22 balls with a six. DC finished their innings at 208 for the loss of four wickets, setting a formidable target for LSG.
LSG’s response was shaky, courtesy of veteran bowler Ishant Sharma, who delivered an exceptional spell in the powerplay. Ishant began by dismissing KL Rahul, who attempted an ambitious shot but ended up being caught at cover. Ishant struck again in the third over, removing Quinton de Kock, who was caught at mid-on. Axar Patel joined the attack in the fourth over, immediately accounting for Marcus Stoinis via a stumping. At 24 for three, LSG was in a precarious position when Nicholas Pooran took to the crease.
Pooran launched a counterattack of his own, targeting the leg-side boundaries. Despite losing Marcus Stoinis off the first ball of Axar’s over, Pooran plundered 20 runs off it, including two sixes and two fours. Ishant, however, struck again, trapping Deepak Hooda leg-before in the subsequent over. LSG managed 59 runs in the powerplay but lost four wickets. Even then, Pooran had stormed to 32 off just 11 deliveries.
Pooran continued to keep LSG’s hopes alive with a barrage of boundaries, racing to his fifty in just 20 balls. However, LSG’s chase hit a major snag when he was brilliantly caught by Axar Patel off Mukesh Kumar in the 12th over, leaving LSG reeling at 101 for six.
The game witnessed another twist when Arshad Khan reignited LSG’s hopes with a stunning display of power-hitting. Taking noticeable risks, Arshad dispatched several deliveries over the boundary, completing his fifty off 25 balls. He was supported briefly by Yudhvir Singh, who added a quickfire 14, including a six and a four.
Facing 29 required runs off the last two overs with just two wickets in hand, LSG’s chances appeared slim. DC’s bowlers, Mukesh and Rasikh Salam, executed their plans to perfection, keeping Arshad quiet and ensuring no boundaries were conceded in the climactic overs. Their disciplined bowling led DC to a deserved victory, propelling them to the fifth spot on the points table. With this win, DC now need other results to go their way to secure a berth in the playoffs. In a game that showcased both skill and resilience, Delhi Capitals’ comprehensive performance underscored their potential to be a force in this season’s IPL.