In a gripping contest at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, the Delhi Capitals (DC) secured a significant 19-run victory over the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Match 64 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The win boosted DC’s hopes in the league standings, now moving them to the fifth spot, though they will need other results to go in their favor to seal a spot in the playoffs.
Electing to bowl first after winning the toss, LSG reaped early dividends. Arshad Khan drew first blood in the very first over, dismissing the dangerous Jake Fraser-McGurk. Fraser-McGurk aimed to make a powerful start but was caught at long-on, attempting a high-risk shot.
Despite the early setback, the dynamic Abishek Porel counter-attacked with flair. His onslaught included an impressive array of shots, starting with a sensational upper-cut for six off Mohsin Khan’s delivery in the second over. Porel continued his aggressive stance in the subsequent overs, amassing 21 runs off Arshad Khan with a mix of six and fours, highlighted by a brilliant cover-drive.
Shai Hope also joined the fray, contributing significantly to the scoreboard pressure. Naveen-ul-Haq’s over proved costly as DC raked up 17 runs, propelling them to close out the powerplay with a commanding total. Porel’s aggressive batting continued as he smashed a flat-six over fine leg after expertly connecting a ball down the leg-side.
Following the powerplay, the run rate slightly dipped. Hope added a steady 38 runs off 27 balls, including an impressive six off Ravi Bishnoi. However, Hope’s attempt to clear the infield ended in his dismissal, caught by KL Rahul after an initial fumble. During this period, Porel reached his half-century in just 21 balls. LSG managed to stage a mini-comeback, particularly with Porel’s dismissal for 58 in the 12th over, which slowed DC’s momentum.
Tristan Stubbs then took charge, scoring a blistering 57 not out off 25 balls. Initially, he consolidated the innings with Rishabh Pant, who chipped in with a quickfire 33 off 23 balls. Pant entertained the crowd with his signature leg-side swats, including a remarkable four through third man off Naveen-ul-Haq’s delivery, even as the bat slipped out of his hands. Pant’s innings ended in the 17th over.
Stubbs’ remarkable batting helped DC breach the 200-run mark. At the end of 15 overs, DC stood at 136 for three, but Stubbs’ aggressive strikes turned the tables.
. He compiled a quick 50 off 22 balls, courtesy of a spectacular six off Naveen. The last three overs saw DC piling up 45 runs, with the penultimate over leaking 21 runs, ultimately setting a formidable target of 208 for four.
LSG’s chase wobbled from the onset, thanks to the veteran Ishant Sharma’s exceptional bowling spell in the powerplay. Sharma dismantled LSG’s top order, starting with Rahul’s dismissal, catching the batter off a sky-high shot at cover. Quinton de Kock followed soon, caught at mid-on, and Marcus Stoinis was stumped off Axar Patel’s first ball in the fourth over. With LSG reeling at 24 for three, Nicholas Pooran walked into a high-pressure situation.
Pooran exhibited his characteristic hard-hitting skills, particularly targeting the leg side, and quickly notched up boundaries. Despite Axar Patel getting an early breakthrough, Pooran peppered the leg side with two fours and two sixes in Axar’s over. Yet again, Sharma came to DC’s rescue, trapping Deepak Hooda leg-before off the first ball of the next over. LSG concluded the powerplay with 59 runs but at the cost of four wickets, with Pooran racing to an explosive 32 off 11 balls.
Pooran, undeterred, continued to anchor the innings with frequent boundaries, advancing to a swift fifty off 20 balls. His heroics kept LSG’s hopes alive despite Ayush Badoni’s departure. However, LSG’s chances dimmed considerably when Pooran holed out to the cover fielder off Mukesh Kumar’s bowling in the 12th over. Axar Patel’s spectacular low catch signaled a turning point, with LSG at 101 for six.
T20 cricket, known for its unpredictability, saw another twist as Arshad Khan reignited LSG’s prospects with a fearless display of power hitting. His aggressive stance, particularly favoring the straight boundaries, yielded quick runs. Arshad’s blistering fifty off 25 balls, supplemented by Yudhvir Singh’s cameo of 14 runs inclusive of a six and a four, brought LSG back into contention.
With LSG requiring 29 runs off the last two overs but with only two wickets in hand, the contest reached a thrilling climax. Mukesh Kumar and Rasikh Salam held their nerve during the death overs, effectively keeping Arshad Khan at bay and ensuring no further boundaries were conceded. Their disciplined bowling sealed the victory for DC, preventing any last-minute heroics.
Ahead in the points table now, DC hopes for favorable outcomes in the remaining matches to secure their playoff berth. They must maintain their winning momentum and rely on other results to achieve their playoff ambitions.