Delhi Capitals clinched a crucial victory against Lucknow Super Giants, powered by stellar performances from Abishek Porel and Tristan Stubbs with the bat, and early breakthroughs from the veteran Ishant Sharma. The all-round effort propelled DC to 14 points on the table, keeping their playoff hopes alive with an outside chance to secure a spot in the knockouts.
Against DC’s 208/4, LSG made 189/9 to lose by 19 runs and make their playoff hopes an improbable one.
Porel counter-attacks for DC
DC got off to a dismal start, losing their in-form batter Jake Fraser-McGurk to only the second delivery of the match, courtesy of a delivery by Arshad Khan that surprised him with extra bounce. With pressure mounting, DC needed a rapid recovery to regain control of the game. Porel, who has been delivering impressive performances for his team recently, once again rose to the occasion with a splendid 58 off 33 balls.
Porel’s innings was characterised by his proactive approach, as he took the attack to LSG in an attempt to shift the momentum back in DC’s favour. His innings featured some excellent running between the wickets and a few powerful maximums, showcasing his talent as a batsman. Although Shai Hope provided some support to Porel in the middle, it was primarily the left-hander who inflicted most of the damage. Porel’s innings came to an end in the 11th over, courtesy a stunning catch by Nicholas Pooran in the deep, but by then, he had already made a significant impact on the game.
LSG narrows gap, but Stubbs dominates
After the dismissals of Porel and Hope, LSG briefly seized the opportunity to regain control of the game with some disciplined bowling that restricted the flow of runs. However, they failed to capitalise on this momentum shift and couldn’t quite pull ahead in the game. While they managed to claim the crucial wicket of Rishabh Pant, who was beginning to look dangerous, they were undone by Tristan Stubbs. After initially playing cautiously, Stubbs unleashed his attacking range of shots. His explosive innings of 57 runs off just 25 deliveries provided DC with the strong finish they needed, tilting the balance back in their favour.
LSG suffer early collapse
It was a disastrous start for LSG, as they lost four crucial wickets within the first six overs, leaving them in a precarious position. The troubles began in the very first over when Ishant deceived KL Rahul with a slower delivery, resulting in an early dismissal. The seamer struck again in his next over, removing Quinton de Kock with a well-disguised change of pace. LSG’s woes continued as Marcus Stoinis, a key performer for them this season, fell victim to the crafty bowling of Axar Patel. Just when it seemed things couldn’t get any worse, Ishant returned to claim his third wicket by trapping Deepak Hooda plumb in front, leaving LSG reeling at 44/4.
Pooran and Arshad’s fight not enough
Pooran has been a consistent performer for LSG throughout the season, often stepping up when his team needed him the most. This game was no exception, as he played a scintillating innings of 61 runs off just 27 deliveries, putting the DC bowlers under immense pressure. Despite his heroic efforts, the lack of support at the other end made the chase daunting for his side. Pooran showcased his immense talent with some breathtaking shots, but once he departed it only got more difficult for LSG. Arshad Khan’s unexpected batting abilities came as a pleasant surprise to everyone. His clean striking briefly raised concerns for DC, as it seemed the match might slip away from them. However, the target proved to be too steep for LSG.
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