Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) beat Delhi Capitals (DC) in the final over to reach the second place in the IPL 2022 points table with three wins from four matches. After a tight bowling performance by the Lucknow spinners, Quinton de Kock played a key innings during the chase to ensure Delhi Capitals remained in the seventh position with just two points.
Delhi Capitals 149/3 in 20 overs
K.L. Rahul won the toss and decided to bowl on a slowish pitch. Lucknow brought in Krishnappa Gowtham for Manish Pandey, while Delhi included David Warner, Anrich Nortje, and Sarfaraz Khan for Tim Seifert, Mandeep Singh, and Khaleel Ahmed.
Prithvi Shaw got off to a blazing start, reducing Warner to a mere spectator of the carnage. Delhi scored 52/0 in the Powerplay, of which Shaw got 47 and Warner 3. Shaw reached his fifty off just 30 balls, and started the next over from Gowtham with a six and a four. But Gowtham had the last laugh, having Shaw caught behind for 61 next ball.
Ravi Bishnoi picked up Warner in the next over, for a 12-ball four, and Rovman Powell in his next over. After 11 overs, Delhi were 80/3, and Sarfaraz Khan joined captain Rishabh Pant. The pair struggled to time the ball, adding 75 unbroken runs in 57 balls. They could score only 19 runs in their last three overs as Delhi finished on 149/3. Pant remained unbeaten on 39 and Sarfaraz on 36 in his first IPL match of the season.
Lucknow Super Giants 155/4 in 19.4 overs
The Lucknow openers Rahul and de Kock took their time to build the innings. Delhi’s hopes were pinned on Anrich Nortje, who was returning from injury. However, Nortje's compatriot de Kock welcomed him with three consecutive fours. Like Delhi, Lucknow also did not lose a wicket in the Powerplay. Then, in the 10th over, Rahul mistimed a lofted drive off Kuldeep Yadav and was caught by Shaw.
Evin Lewis never looked comfortable and could score only 5 off 13 balls before falling to Lalit Yadav. At this stage, Delhi could have clawed back into the game, but de Kock kept Lucknow in control. Meanwhile, Nortje sent down two full-tosses above waist and was suspended from bowling. Kuldeep also dismissed de Kock for 80 to give hope to the Delhi players and fans.
Lucknow needed 28 in 24 balls, and the onus fell on Deepak Hooda and Krunal Pandya. Delhi fought back, reducing the equation to 19 from 12 balls. Mustafizur Rahman, until then the best bowler for the Capitals, bowled the 19th over. Krunal hit a huge six and ran three consecutive twos. Lucknow needed just from the last over.
Shardul Thakur had Hooda caught brilliantly by Axar Patel at deep extra cover, but the impressive Ayush Badoni kept his calm. After a dot ball, he hit a four and a six to take Lucknow home with two balls to spare.
Brief scores
Delhi Capitals 149/3 in 20 overs (Prithvi Shaw 61*; Ravi Bishnoi 2-22) lost to Lucknow Super Giants 155/4 in 19.4 overs (Quinton de Kock 80; Kuldeep Yadav 2-31) by 6 wickets with 2 balls to spare. Player of the Match: Quinton de Kock.