DC vs LSG Highlights, IPL 2024: Delhi earn narrow win to remain alive in Playoffs race

Definitely Pooran was giving us a hard time. We had certain plans. The total was good enough. We kept on bowling good balls. I would say the start of the season was with a lot of hopes. Some injuries. We are still in contention even after the last game. We had a better chance of qualifying if I would have had a chance to play in the last game. Personally, it was fantastic to come back. Was heartening to see the support from entire India. Was a long time to wait after one and a half years.

It was a good wicket to bowl on, especially for spinners, 2nd innings I was getting a little bit of rip, was trying to spin the ball as much as I could. The length is key, the wicket was slow, so trying to be fuller. The revs is very important, if it's a quick track, it's easy to adjust the length but if it's slow you have to be perfect. I try to push a few balls and revs are very important for any wristspinner. That's how cricket is, we just came here to win the game and we won and that's more important to us Let's see in a couple of days' time which team goes through.

It’s a result that effectively knocks out both LSG and DC. DC’s win wasn’t big enough to improve their negative run rate and their season is all but over as things stand (unless SRH collapse massively in their last two matches). LSG’s realistic hope was winning their last two matches but with a match to go and a horrific NRR, their playoff hopes are all but done too. The biggest winner from DC vs LSG is, therefore, Rajasthan Royals who have officially qualified for the playoffs.- Vinayakk Mohanarangan

KL Rahul: I feel the wicket remained the same throughout the 40 overs. When we got JFM out in the first over we should have capitalized, but they - Hope and Porel - showed a lot of intent. We did well at the back end and 200 was a par total, we should have chased it down. This has been a problem right through the season - we keep losing a lot of wickets in the powerplay, we never get a solid start to get the likes of Stoinis and Pooran in, that is the big reason why we are in this position.

It was an interesting night for Jake Fraser-McGurk, the big breakthrough Aussie start of IPL 2024. In what could very well be Delhi's last match of the season, plenty more fireworks were expected from him. But he fell in the first over for a duck, finding the fielder at long on to be at the receiving end of a well-set field. And on the field, he put down an absolute sitter at deep square leg. The man has a reputation of being a good fielder but that was a jaw-dropping moment on the other side of the spectrum to what we have been used from him. But a couple of overs later, he'd redeem himself and how. It wasn't quite Virat Kohli's prowling, pacy runout. But from deep midwicket, he nailed an absolute bullet of a throw to hit the base of the stumps. Ravi Bishnoi is quick, but wasn't quick enough there.

LSG need 23 to win and Rasikh is up with the ball.

Arshad slams the first ball straight to long-off and does not take the run. He flicks another through mid-wicket and a small fumble helps Arshad complete a second run. Rasikh lands the ball in the blockhole and Arshad digs it out down the ground and completes a meek single. A couple of dots to follow and DC have finally secured the win. DC win by 19 runs and remain alive in the Playoffs race by a slender margin. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals have secured their Playoffs spot by virtue of DC's win.

29 needed off 12 balls. Mukesh to bowl the penultimate over.

Arshad and Bishnoi only find two runs off the first two deliveries.

Low full-toss from Mukesh and Arshad clips it to deep mid-wicket in an attempt for two. There's a direct hit at the non-striker's during the second run and Bishnoi is short of the crease, OUT! Naveen-ul-Haq is the last man in. Mukesh darts one in to the blockhole and Arshad fails to get it past the strip. A single follows. Naveen slices a fuller ball down to third and completes a two despite a mix-up. 

Ravi Bishnoi run out (Fraser-McGurk) 2 (2b)

A couple of singles to start Rasikh's over. Low full-toss and Arshad pumps it down the ground for a flat SIX and backs it up with successive twos. Fifty up for Arshad in 25 balls! He retains strike with a single and LSG are still in within a faint chance thanks to this knock.

Khaleel returns with a yorker to Arshad. He digs it out neatly and belts the next ball over square-leg for SIX. Khaleel overpitches and Arshad smites another one down the ground for SIX! Slower-ball on length and Arshad bisects short-third and backward point for FOUR. A single to follow. Khaleel to Yudhvir, OUT! Miscued hit and it falls straight in the hands of the long-off fielder. 

Yudhvir Singh c Hope b Ahmed 14 (7b 1x4 1x6)

Rasikh Salam is into the attack

Length ball first-up and Yudhvir drags it through mid-wicket for FOUR. Short ball from Rasikh and Yudhvir pulls it over square-leg for SIX! He turns one behind square and reels in two runs. In the air and dropped! Yudhvir slaps another length ball to square-leg and Jake Fraser-McGurk spills a regulation catch. 

Low full-toss from Kuldeep and Krunal directs it to deep mid-wicket for a single. Kuldeep comes around the stumps and slides one to the pads and Arshad slices it fine for FOUR. A single to follow. Kuldeep to Krunal, OUT! A ripper from Kuldeep. Flight, drift and prodigious turn for Kuldeep leaves Krunal in a daze as he steps out. Pant flicks the bails in a flash 

Krunal Pandya st Pant b Kuldeep Yadav 18 (18b 2x4)

Ishant is back.

Fraction short from Ishant and Arshad nails another straight drive for FOUR. Ishant almost instantly corrects his lengths and weaves in three dot balls. He overpitches this time and Arshad clobbers it over long-on for SIX!

Short from Kuldeep and Arshad swipes it down the ground past long-on for FOUR. Fuller delivery and Arshad drills it down the ground for a SIX this time.

Mukesh to Pooran, OUT! Straight to extra cover. Pooran  belts the short ball but sends it straight to Axar. He stands in disbelief as he trudges back after serving up a terrific counter-attack. Arshad Khan is the new batter. A string of dots and Arshad gets off the mark.

Nicholas Pooran c Patel b Mukesh Kumar 61 (27b 6x4 4x6)

Kuldeep skims through a quiet over as he keeps the left-handed pair wounded to the crease. Match-ups, anyone? Four from the over.

With LSG on 83/5 in 8.3 overs, there was no doubt they were in all sorts of trouble. But in that, Nicholas Pooran had smashed 52 off 20 balls. If ever there was a case to be made for the cliche that that one batter is playing on a different pitch compared to everyone else in his team, this would be it. Pooran walked in and teed off from the word go. And in a breathtaking innings, one shot stood out. While most of his strokes are what we expect typically from Pooran, covering a wide range on the leg side. But against Kuldeep Yadav – who had produced a peach when these two met in Lucknow – Pooran brought out the switch hit. The grips changed, and the ball was sent soaring over what would have been deep midwicket for a right-hander. A shot of ridiculously high skill against a top bowler. -  Vinayakk Mohanarangan

Mukesh is back. Pant continues to fiddle through his bowlers. Pooran and Krunal needle a couple of singles to sweeper cover. A wide to follow. Mukesh offers a full-toss and Krunal pumps it down the ground for FOUR.

Gulbadin Naib replaces Kuldeep

Gulbadin drops a couple of looseners and Pooran whacks them from his presence for consecutive FOURS and brings up his half-century in 20 balls.

Tristan Stubbs into the attack

Stubbs to Badoni, OUT! Straight to long-off. In for the left-hander but Stubbs picks up the right-hander. Pant is delighted that his ploy has come to fruition and in walks Krunal Pandya at 7.

Kuldeep Yadav replaces Ishant

Kuldeep lands on the full and Pooran sweeps it to square-leg for a single. Badoni follows up with another run. Wow! Pooran unleashes a switch-hit for SIX over deep cover, waiting and pre-empting the perfect length for the shot.

Mukesh Kumar into the attack

He hits length and Pooran clubs it over mid-wicket for SIX. Mukesh comes around the stumps and slants the ball in but Pooran slices it fine for FOUR. A single to follow.

Ishant to Hooda, OUT! Rapped on the pad and given. Ishant keeps it straight and rushes it past Hooda's sliding blade. Looked plumb but LSG are reviewing it. Three reds and Hooda is on his way! Ayush Badoni is the new batter. He's off the blocks with a single. Ishant sends a bumper to Pooran and he fails to connect with the hook. A couple of runs to follow. 

Deepak Hooda lbw b Sharma 0 (2b)

Axar Patel into the attack

Axar to Stoinis, OUT! Stoinis attempts a quick charge first ball but Axar's flat trajectory cannot be befuddled easily. He rushes one through the gates and Pant has an easy stumping at his disposal. LSG frittering away rather quickly. Nicholas Pooran is in at 5. He swats the first ball for FOUR through mid-wicket. Another drag-down from Axar and Pooran scythes the ball over square-leg for SIX! Close! Pooran attempts another slog-sweep but Axar was closer to the off-stump than the ball was to his bat. Fuller ball from over the stumps this time but Pooran gets an inside-edge to rush past square-leg for FOUR. In the slot from Axar and Pooran clobbers it over deep mid-wicket for SIX - 20 from the over with the wicket!

Marcus Stoinis st Pant b Patel 5 (7b 1x4)

Ishant starts with a wide down leg to de Kock. He comes around the stumps this time and slides another one down leg for a wide. He attempts to tail another one in but de Kock charges down and slaps the ball over mid-wicket for FOUR. Ishant to de Kock, in the air and dropped! Ishant slants the ball in again and de Kock attempts to slide it down leg but sends it towards short-fine. Khaleel gets a hand on it but the ball burts through for FOUR. A couple of singles to follow. Ishant to de Kock, OUT! Gone this time! Ishant surprises with a slower ball on the full and de Kock mistimes the chip straight to mid-on. Deepak Hooda is in at 4.

Quinton de Kock c Mukesh Kumar b Sharma 12 (8b 2x4)

Khaleel Ahmed into the attack

A string of dots to start but Khaleel sprays the ball across the length and Stoinis slaps the ball over mid-off for FOUR.

Impact Sub Ishant Sharma takes the new ball.

de Kock opens the mark with a single. Ishant slides one in and Rahul nimbly tickles the ball fine for FOUR. Straighter delivery and Rahul gets an inside-edge towards mid-on for one run. de Kock responds with another single. Ishant to Rahul, OUT! In the air and taken! The gentle outswinger bites the toe-edge of Rahul's leading blade and it scoops up towards cover. Mukesh runs backwards and holds onto the ball despite a fumble. Marcus Stoinis is in at 3.

KL Rahul c Mukesh Kumar b Sharma 5 (3b 1x4)

Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul walk out for the chase.

252 - Tristan Stubbs (SR: 262.5)
226 - Dinesh Karthik (SR: 226)
211 - Nicholas Pooran (SR: 177.31)
205 - Tim David (SR: 181.42)

Tristan Stubbs: It was quite tough when I walked in. I could not get myself on some intensity, but once I got going it started to flow. I always feel like I can give myself a bit of time and then catch up. You never know on this ground, but it is stopping a bit and hopefully it is enough. Just playing in front of so many people is incredible

Tristan Stubbs employed his muscle to good effect during his whirlwind half-century. But in between, he would display his traditional bearings as well as the hang for pyrotechnics. There was a gorgeous reverse-sweep early on, then came the six over extra cover to wink in his half-century of 21 balls. He shifted back, so that he could line up another lusty blow. Then he realised that the ball from Naveen-ul-Haq was too full and a bit wide, so he just thrust his front foot, dragged the back-foot away a trifle to go inside out over extra cover,  and then swung those lovely hands.  The timing was pristine, and the ball soared over the extra-cover fence. He held the pose for a while. The shot was indeed pose-worthy. - Sandip G

Yudhvir to Stubbs, dropped! Stubbs miscues the slog and sends it straight up. Bishnoi has a tough ask running backwards from cover and spills the ball. The batters run three. Yudhvir skims a slower-bouncer past Axar. DC review for a wide but it is not given. Bishnoi spills another catch as Axar pulls a slower ball towards deep mid-wicket. He lies on the ground as the batters reel in two more runs. Fuller ball outside off-stump and Axar drills it past mid-off for FOUR. A single to follow and Stubbs will be on for the last ball. Stubbs gets an inside-edge past short-third and finishes with two runs. DC post 208 on the board in their final outing at Kotla.

Stubbs taps Naveen down the ground and reels in two runs. Short from Naveen and Stubbs smashes it through wide long-on with a charismatic swivel for FOUR. Naveen wafts one in to the slot and Stubbs crunches it over long-on for SIX - 101 metres! Stubbs smears one through cover but a neat dive in the deep denies a boundary. Length ball again from Naveen and Stubbs lifts it nonchalantly over deep extra cover for SIX - it's his FIFTY in 22 balls! A single to end the over. 

Axar attempts to pull but Mohsin but the inside-edge nearly pops back towards the stumps before his bat makes a timely intervention. A single follows. Fuller ball outside the off-stump and Stubbs clobbers it over long-off for SIX. A single to follow. Mohsin sends in a yorker and Axar digs it out neatly. Width again from Mohsin and Axar slaps the ball through cover for FOUR!

Naveen to Pant, OUT! Slower-ball on length and Pant miscues his one-handed swat down to long-off. Another ugly swipe ends with his dismissal and DC may be in danger of falling short of what has been the norm at this venue this season. Axar Patel is in at 6. A string of singles to follow as Naveen varies his pace and lengths adeptly.

Rishabh Pant c Hooda b Naveen-ul-Haq 33 (23b 5x4)

Arshad Khan into the attack.

He lands one in the slot and Stubbs smokes it over long-on for SIX! Stubbs is on the charge now. Arshad feeds him room and Stubbs pumps it through wide long-off for FOUR. Fuller from Arshad and Stubbs reverse-scoops him for FOUR over short-third!

Mohsin is back

Mohsin hits the hard lengths, forcing Stubbs and Pant to squirt the balls out from length for a couple of singles. Pant attempts another slice but ends up losing his shape and bat together.

Krunal returns to the attack

He lines one towards the pads and Stubbs clips it to the on-side for a single. Short from Krunal and Pant hammers it across the line for FOUR, beating deep mid-wicket. Short and wide outside off, Pant taps it past point for another FOUR. A single to follow.

For a fleeting second, it seemed as though Nicholas Pooran had misjudged the flight of Abhishek Porel’s mistimed pull off Naveen-ul-Haq. He seemed to have advanced more than he should have. It didn’t matter. He stealthily back-pedalled, cushioned the ball in his palms, then shifted back to gather his balance, realised he could be stepping on the boundary cushion, so just flung the ball coolly over his head, regained his balance, and pocketed the ball, without any evident fuss. His footwork was balletic, each step carrying the perfect weight. This was the embodiment of the fabled Caribbean cool, that gift to make hard feats look easy, almost insouciant. Then as if he had pulled off the most routine of feats, he accepted the hugs of his more excited colleagues. - Sandip G

Bishnoi to bowl out. A couple of singles to start the over. Bishnoi has aced his lines with no room whatsoever tonight. Pant attempts to manufacture some by clearing his front leg to cut but finds the point fielder. Short ball and Pant pulls the ball down past wide long-off for FOUR.

Naveen to Porel, OUT! Caught at the fence! Slower bouncer from Naveen straight up on his return and Porel miscues the pull to the deep. Pooran keeps his calm at the boundary line and takes a clean catch as the pressure from the last few overs have paid off. Tristan Stubbs is in at 5. He is off the blocks with a single. Short from Naveen and Pant drags the ball to deep square-leg for one run. Slower-bouncer from Naveen and Pant swivels and lands on his knees as he pulls the ball to fine-leg for a single, partially losing his balance.

Abishek Porel c Pooran b Naveen-ul-Haq 58 (33b 5x4 4x6)

Shai Hope had hit the ball so brutally that the ball popped out of KL Rahul’s hands. Rather it reached his cupped palms even before he could realise. He was standing in covers, making his way for Quinton de Kock behind the stumps. But Rahul had the presence of mind, and the reflexes, to grab the ball in the second attempt, which he did by shifting to his right and flinging full stretch to pouch the ball with his right palm in the wink of an eye. Often in such cases, the ball would tumble out of his hands when the elbow heavy-lands on the turf. But his swift descend was as smooth as his back-cut. Rather than making the catch look spectacular, he made it look simple. The LSG captain quickly scrambled back on his feet and heaved a sigh of relief. A drop his team could ill-afford in this must-win game.

Bishnoi is into his third over. He continues to skid through length, offering minimal room. Pant and Porel nudge through the gaps for a slew of singles. Excellent over from the leggie, only five from it.

Deepak Hooda is up with the ball

A couple of singles and Pant smears a short ball through square-leg for FOUR, 100 up for DC in 10 overs. 

Bishnoi wafts one in and Hope smites it down the ground for SIX! He goes shorter and Hope misses out on a pull. Bishnoi to Hope, OUT! In the air and KL pouches it on the second attempt! Hope slaps the ball straight to cover and Rahul fumbles briefly without the gloves but turns back quickly to hold onto the bobbed ball. Rishabh Pant is in at 4. He's off the mark with a single straightaway. Porel cuts one behind point for two runs. 

Shai Hope c Rahul b Ravi Bishnoi 38 (27b 3x4 2x6)

Krunal Pandya into the attack

A hint of room from length and Porel cuts it fiercely behind point for FOUR. A single to follow and that's 50 for Porel in only 21 balls! Krunal follows up with a wide down leg. Krunal goes flat, angling in, and Hope flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Ravi Bishnoi replaces Mohsin

Bishnoi keeps it quick and flat first up and the batters tread on ones and twos.He tosses one up slightly and Hope pumps it to long-off for another single. Only six runs from the over.

Naveen-ul-Haq into the attack

Naveen strays to the pads and Porel swivels to parry the ball over long-leg for SIX with a one-handed swat! Excellent riposte from Naveen as he sends in a fiery bouncer past the grille. A slower bouncer to follow and Porel cops one high on his wrist. He is in some pain. Another short ball but Porel connects well this time as he hooks it high over fine-leg for SIX, with a bit of help coming from the top-edge. Naveen sends in a low full-toss onto the pads and Porel clips it fine for FOUR.

Room outside from Mohsin and Hope gets a thick outside-edge to balloon over short-third for FOUR. A couple of dots to follow and Mohsin sends in a slower-bumper that cuts over Hope's attempted hook. The LSG fielders are deliberating an edge but decide against a review.

Yudhvir Singh replaces Mohsin

Back-of-a-length outside off and Hope picks it up and smashes it over mid-off for FOUR. Fraction shorter this time and Hope stands tall and lobs it over cover for another FOUR. Freebie on length and Hope biffs it over wide long-on for SIX! He clips one fine for two runs as 16 runs come off the over.

Arshad slides one in and Porel nimbly flicks it over mid-wicket for FOUR. Short and wide, Porel charges and flays the ball through cover for another FOUR. Arshad hits length and Porel whacks it over deep mid-wicket for a SIX this time! Arshad serves up a firm bouncer and it's deemed a wide. A couple of singles to follow. Porel is seeing it like a football now. Arshad overpitches and Porel smashes it through extra cover for FOUR more! 21 from the over.

Mohsin Khan into the attack

A firm bumper from Mohsin and Porel slashes it over backward point for a SIX. He uses the pace and parries it effortlessly to get off the blocks. A single to follow. Mohsin goes full and Hope blocks it out from the line of the stumps.

Quinton de Kock is up with the gloves. Jake Fraser-McGurk takes strike as Arshad Khan takes the new ball.

A hint of swing down leg from Arshad for a wide first-up. Decent carry there as Jake attempts a swipe. Action replay as Arshad strays down leg again with another wide. Beaten! Arshad straightens one from length with a leg-cutter and the ball whizzes past the off-stump as Jake attempts to slog across the line. Arshad to Jake Fraser-McGurk, OUT! What a start for LSG! The shape on the ball perturbs Jake as he makes room to smash over long-on but miscues the hit to the fielder. Shai Hope is in at 3. He flicks one down to fine-leg for two runs. Arshad needles one down leg again, almost brushing with the pad. The wide is not given and DC review to earn the extra. A single to follow.

Fraser-McGurk c Naveen-ul-Haq b Arshad Khan 0(2)

Abishek Porel and Jake Fraser-McGurk walk out for Delhi as Lucknow Super Giants take the field. 

Lucknow Super Giants Impact Subs: Manimaran Siddharth, Devdutt Padikkal, Ayush Badoni, Prerak Mankad, Krishnappa Gowtham

Delhi Capitals Impact Subs: Ishant Sharma, Kumar Kushagra, Pravin Dubey, Lalit Yadav, Swastik Chhikara

Our correspondent Pratyush Raj from the Kotla: KL Rahul is doing a fielding drill with Jonty Rodes. It seems like the LSG captain will not be donning the gloves for this match.

Lucknow Super Giants XI: KL Rahul(wk/c), Quinton de Kock, Marcus Stoinis, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran, Krunal Pandya, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Arshad Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mohsin Khan.

Delhi Capitals XI: Abishek Porel, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Shai Hope, Rishabh Pant(wk/c), Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, Gulbadin Naib, Rasikh Dar Salam, Mukesh Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed

TOSS: Lucknow Super Giants win toss, opt to bowl

KL Rahul: We will bowl first. It is because of how our team is placed and what will help our team. We are a young bowling attack and get them into the game early, we have experienced batters and they can take the pressure. We still feel good and want to focus on our strengths despite the mistakes and being blasted out in the last two games. We just need to be brave with bat and ball and see how we can win. We've brought in Arshad Khan and Yudhvir Singh.

Rishabh Pant: We would have batted first. There are a lot of things going on but you can only focus on winning the game. If you had not lost too many wickets we would have won that game, but easier to say that from sitting out. That is a concern throughout the season but as a captain you can ask the players to give their best and they are doing that. We have two changes - myself and Naib come in, Warner misses out.

KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant out in the middle.

Under the pump, Rahul will have a point to prove here tonight. He couldn't have asked for a better surface to unfurl his range of shotmaking fearlessly. Rahul's perennial strike-rate struggles up front have naturally translated in the woeful run of Lucknow in the phase.

Murali Kartik analyses: "It is a small and high-scoring ground. To the one side 60 meters and slightly bigger 66 meters on the other. There is a bit of breeze as well blowing across the ground. This is pitch no. 6 and it is a high-scoring pitch. The length ball flies out of the ground. The average score is over 250 runs. But we have to see since it is reused will it be the same," questions Graeme Swann. There's a bit of sheen and it is more of the same. Batting first has helped over here."