Delhi Capitals (DC) clinched a vital 19-run victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in what turned out to be a thrilling contest at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi as part of the 2024 edition of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL). The match showcased a balanced team effort from DC, who posted a formidable total and backed it up with a disciplined bowling performance to grab two essential points.
Upon winning the toss, LSG opted to bowl first, aiming to capitalize on any early moisture in the pitch. Their decision seemed justified immediately as Arshad Khan struck in the very first over, dismissing the dangerous Jake Fraser-McGurk. Fraser-McGurk, known for his aggressive batting, attempted to launch Arshad’s delivery out of the park but only managed to sky it to long-on, where he was comfortably caught.
However, DC was quick to recover from this early setback, thanks largely to Abishek Porel who counterattacked with a blend of finesse and aggression. Porel showcased his intent early by hitting a stunning upper-cut for six off Mohsin Khan in the second over. His onslaught continued as he hammered 21 runs off Arshad Khan’s next over, featuring a magnificent cover drive among a six and three fours. The fourth over saw Shai Hope join the party, taking Yudhvir Singh for 16 runs, thereby pushing DC to a strong position. The powerplay culminated with DC at a robust score, thanks to a 17-run over from Naveen-ul-Haq, highlighted by Porel’s audacious flat-six over fine-leg.
Once the powerplay concluded, the scoring rate tapered off slightly. Shai Hope (38 off 27 balls) managed to hit Ravi Bishnoi for a six down the ground but was soon dismissed while attempting another big shot, caught by KL Rahul who juggled the catch but held on eventually. During this period, Abishek Porel reached his 50 off just 21 balls, a testament to his aggression and timing. LSG made a brief comeback when Porel fell for 58 in the 12th over, denting DC’s momentum significantly.
The middle overs saw a cautious rebuild from DC, spearheaded by Tristan Stubbs (57 not out off 25 balls) and captain Rishabh Pant (33 off 23 balls). Pant played with characteristic flair, delighting the crowd with five boundaries, including a spectacular four off Naveen-ul-Haq that saw the bat fly out of his hands. Pant’s inning ended in the 17th over, but not before adding crucial runs to the total.
Stubbs took over thereafter, powering DC past the 200-mark with a fiery late surge. Notably, he targeted Arshad Khan again, smashing a six and two fours in one over.
. DC rattled up 45 runs in the last three overs, with Stubbs reaching his 50 in just 22 balls, sealing their inning at an imposing 208 for four.
In response, LSG faced early jitters as veteran pacer Ishant Sharma delivered a superb spell during the powerplay. Sharma removed KL Rahul, inducing a catch to cover, and followed it up by dismissing Quinton de Kock and Marcus Stoinis with smart bowling changes. At 24 for three, LSG was in dire straits when Nicholas Pooran stepped in.
Pooran, true to his aggressive style, began counter-attacking by targeting the leg-side boundaries, taking Axar Patel for 20 runs in an over that included two fours and two sixes. Yet, Ishant remained persistent, trapping Deepak Hooda leg-before in the very next over. Although LSG managed 59 runs in the powerplay, the loss of four wickets had them teetering precariously.
Even as Pooran tried to keep LSG afloat with regular boundaries, he lost partners at the other end. His valiant effort saw him reach a rapid fifty off merely 20 balls, but LSG’s hopes took a severe hit when he was caught brilliantly by Axar Patel off Mukesh Kumar’s delivery in the 12th over. With LSG at 101 for six, DC seemed firmly in control.
The excitement in T20 cricket never fades, and Arshad Khan revitalized LSG’s innings with a stunning assault on the DC bowlers. Displaying fearless stroke play, Arshad landed several big hits, achieving his fifty off just 25 balls. He was supported briefly by Yudhvir Singh, who added a crucial 14 runs, including a six and a four.
Despite Arshad’s heroics, LSG needed 29 runs off the final two overs with only two wickets in hand. The pressure proved too much as DC’s Mukesh Kumar and Rasikh Salam held their nerves, effectively containing the LSG batters and preventing any further boundaries. In the end, DC’s bowling unit succeeded in stifling the chase, solidifying their victory by 19 runs.
The win propelled DC to the fifth spot on the points table, keeping their playoff hopes alive. However, they will now be dependent on other results to secure their place in the top four.