Ashutosh Sharma’s late heroics earned Delhi Capitals a thrilling one-wicket win against Lucknow Super Giants in their Indian Premier League season opener here on Monday.
Chasing 210, Delhi Capitals slipped to 7/3 in the second over and limped to 116 for six after 13 overs, but Ashutosh’s stunning knock — 66 off 31 balls with five sixes and as many fours — delivered his side a sensational win from the jaws of defeat.
Even as wickets fell regularly towards the end, Ashutosh kept his composure and executed stunning bottom-handed strokes to finish the job for his side and give Delhi Capitals a stunning start to their season.
In a contest where fortunes swung from one side to another, DC emerged on top riding on the calm and composed knock from Ashutosh, who hit the winning runs as DC made 211/9 in 19.3 overs.
There was a late twist in the tale — with six runs needed off the final over and one wicket left, LSG skipper Rishabh Pant missed a stumping on the first ball from Shahbaz Ahmed which would have given his side the win but it wasn’t meant to be.
LSG, who put on a below-par total on a placid surface here after scoring 209/8, made early inroads to shock Delhi’s chase.
A recovery looked largely difficult as Delhi Capitals largely appeared more in damage-control mode than to make a real crack at the target.
However, the pair of debutant Vipraj Nigam (39 off 15 balls, 5x4s, 2x6s) and Ashutosh threatened to turn the tables on LSG with their 55-run stand off only 22 balls for the seventh wicket, but the second strategic break ended their resistance right upon resumption.
Nigam fell to Digvesh Rathi (2/30) and Ravi Bishnoi (2/53) dismissed Mitchell Starc for a second wicket in quick succession as LSG tightened the screws on a faltering Delhi Capitals.
But despite losing Starc as the eighth wicket, Ashutosh smacked two sixes and a four off Bishnoi in the 18th over and hit 10 more runs off the final two balls of the penultimate over from Prince Yadav, even as DC lost Kuldeep Yadav.
Earlier, Delhi Capitals staged a strong comeback after Nicholas Pooran (75) and Mitchell Marsh’s (72) blitz to keep Lucknow Super Giants to a sub-par 209 for 8.
LSG were at least 30 runs short on a good batting track losing seven wickets for 61 runs after being 133 for 1 in the 12th over.
With no assistance off the pitch, LSG openers went off the blocks quickly with Marsh bludgeoning half dozen of sixes and an equal number of boundaries, including a 21-ball fifty for his fastest IPL half-century.
Pooran dazzled with his stunning strokeplay to make 75 off only 30 balls with 7 sixes and 6 fours.
LSG appeared set for a total in excess of 240 at one stage, but riding on a splendid spell from Kuldeep (4-0-20-2) and Starc’s 3/42, Delhi Capitals applied brakes on their opponent’s charge with tremendous success.
LSG, who were cruising at 133 for one in the 12th over, staggered through the second half to add only 76 runs in the last eight overs while losing six wickets.
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Marsh took charge early on to 21 runs off the third over from compatriot Starc to make intentions clear. On a placid track, Marsh made merry as he connected with sheer power and timing to leave Delhi scrambling for answers as each of his stroke appeared to have brought desired results.
A pivotal moment in the innings arrived in the seventh over when Sameer Rizvi spilled a regulation catch to give Pooran a reprieve, off Nigam while fielding at backward point.
Pooran was belligerent against spin and pace alike, clearing the ropes at will to set up the platform for a massive total with his 87-run stand off 42 balls with Marsh, but LSG squandered it.
There was disappointment in store for Pant, who fell for a six-ball duck with Kuldeep, who helped Delhi pull things back in control. Kuldeep varied his pace and used flighted deliveries putting the batters in two minds whether to play from the crease or step out.
David Miller fought till the end but found no support as wickets kept tumbling. However, his 19-ball 27 with two sixes and a four at least took LSG past the 200-run mark in the final over.
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