In a match when Lucknow Super Giants amassed a total of more than 160, Jake Fraser-McGurk marked his IPL debut with a 55 off 35, which included three fours and five sixes. The Delhi Caps also handed the latter team their first IPL loss. The top-order of LSG was early removed by the DC bowlers, captained by Kuldeep Yadav, before Ayush Badoni mounted a strong counterattack. After losing their first seven wickets for less than 100 runs, LSG’s 167/7 was the highest total ever achieved by a side in IPL history. However, in the end, this enormous effort was in vain.
Joy of a left-arm match-up for DC
Despite the Delhi Capitals’ poor performance in the standings, Khaleel Ahmed is ranked third among bowlers for the season. He played a key role in the team’s only other victory of the season, which came against CSK, and he was there when LSG’s top order was rocked once more. After Quinton de Kock missed a full ball on the leg stump, Khaleel was lucky when the umpire decided in his favour on an LBW appeal. The umpire’s call ended the left-hander’s stay. He also got Devdutt Padikkal out leg before in his subsequent over.
This was de Kock’s fourth wicket loss to a left-arm pacer and Padikkal’s third, thus the matchup seemed ideal for DC.
Kuldeep’s sorcery following PowerPlay
In his opening over, the left-arm wrist spinner tricked Marcus Stoinis into a large, dangerous heave. Ishant Sharma was given a lead edge at the backward point as a result. The very next delivery, he threw a magnificent googly to an unwary Nicholas Pooran, knocking back his stumps, leaving LSG astonished. In the tenth over, KL Rahul—who had earlier displayed some intent—became Kuldeep’s third wicket. Rishabh Pant was persuaded of an advantage and was rewarded for it, even though DC was required to assess it.
After falling from 80 for 5 in 10 overs to 94 for 7 in 13 overs, LSG continued to decline.
Badoni to the fore!
The 24-year-old, who is unbeaten at 55 off 35, revived LSG’s essay. In an eighth-wicket partnership worth 73 off the final seven overs, he had Arshad Khan to himself. Badoni faced DC’s death-overs pacers, Ishant Sharma, Khaleel, and Mukesh Kumar, as the last three overs yielded 39 runs. Kuldeep, on the other hand, concluded with 3 for 20, which included 10 dot balls.
Meet Jake Fraser-McGurk, the IPL!
DC’s run chase was unabated despite David Warner’s removal in the fourth over, as their 22-year-old Jake Fraser-McGurk had an outstanding IPL debut. After going on a boundary-hitting rampage, he and Prithvi Shaw helped DC reach 62/1 in just six overs. They collected 15 from Arshad Khan and 17 from Krunal Pandya.
With a one-run seventh over that saw Shaw caught at deep midwicket, Ravi Bishnoi forced DC to retreat. This resulted in a lull, as DC scored no boundaries and only managed 13 runs in 4 overs till the midway point. Then, in the eleventh over, Rishabh Pant reversed the situation by going after Bishnoi and giving him the run for a straight six and a four. Before Fraser-McGurk massively outran the equation by smashing three consecutive sixes from Krunal – over deep midwicket, deep extra cover, and long off – the DC skipper also went after Stoinis.
Faded hopes for LSG, too late?
Not exactly.
Naveen Ul-Haq and Bishnoi bowled both batsmen in the span of five deliveries, ending the crucial 77-run stand in the chase. However, Shai Hope and Tristan Stubbs easily saw past DC’s 20 off 27 balls requirement at this point in 18.1 overs.
Brief Scores: Delhi Capitals 170/4 in 18.1 overs (Jake Fraser-McGurk 55, Rishabh Pant 41, Ravi Bishnoi 2-25) defeated Lucknow Super Giants 167/7 in 20 overs (Ayush Badoni 55*, KL Rahul 39; Kuldeep Yadav 3-20, Khaleel Ahmed 2-41) by 6 wickets.
What comes next?
LSG will fly to Kolkata in just one day to play KKR in the afternoon on Sunday, April 14. On Friday, April 17, DC will travel to Ahmedabad to face Shubman Gill’s team.
