Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have been defending low scores very well in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 but it wasn’t just their day when they challenged Delhi Capitals with a target of 168. A scintillating fifty by Jake Fraser-McGurk on debut and his 77-run partnership with skipper Rishabh Pant ensured DC’s return to winning ways. The visitors finished the chase with 6 wickets and 11 balls to spare, securing their second victory this season.
Delhi suffered an early blow in the tricky chase, losing David Warner in the Powerplay and then Prithvi Shaw following him to the dressing room. Boundaries have dried up and the scoreboard read 63/2 in 7 overs when Pant joined Fraser-McGurk in the middle. It took them 29 deliveries to let themselves loose with the DC skipper hitting a six and four to Ravi Bishnoi in the 11th over. Pant hoisted the ball over Bishnoi’s head for a straight six to not only reach the 3,000-run milestone in IPL but also collected Delhi’s first boundary in 29 deliveries in the 11th over.
Fraser-McGurk, who was dropped by Bishnoi for 24 off Marcus Stoinis’ bowling, shifted gears and cruised to his maiden IPL half-century in the next 9 deliveries. He smashed 5 sixes during his 55-run stint, three of which came in Krunal Pandya’s over.
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Pant, on the other hand, smashed 41 off 24 balls as Delhi Capitals overhauled the hosts’ 167/7 in 18.1 overs. The dashing wicketkeeper-batter gave a glimpse of his vintage self, playing some audacious shots, including a reverse scoop off Marcus Stoinis. His power-hitting eased the pressure of Fraser-McGurk who slammed compatriot Stoinis for a hat-trick of sixes to bring the equation to almost a run a ball.
Earlier, Kuldeep Yadav announced his return from a groin niggle with a three-wicket haul before Ayush Badoni smashed a quick-fire unbeaten half-century to help Lucknow Super Giants recover to a respectable 167/7.
Khaleel Ahmed (2/41), who landed the early blow, Ishant Sharma (1/36) and Mukesh Kumar (1/41) also took wickets to leave LSG reeling at 94/7. But then Badoni took the onus upon himself to resurrect the LSG innings. He smashed five boundaries and a six and alongside Arshad Khan (20 off 16 balls) stitched a 73-run unbeaten stand.
Devdutt Padikkal’s wretched run continued as he became Khaleel’s second victim of the day. The pacer pinned Padikkal in front of the middle and leg for his fifth consecutive single-figure score.
(With Agency Inputs)
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