IPL 2024, DC vs LSG Highlights: Delhi Capitals beat Lucknow Super Giants by 19 runs to keep slim playoffs hopes alive

Right then, that is it from this encounter where Delhi are hanging by a thread in this season while it is all but over for Lucknow. However, the action in the Indian T20 League 2024 continues with the race for the playoffs in the final lap now. Rajasthan will take on Punjab on 15th May, Wednesday. That game will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT), but as you know, you can always join us early for all the build-up to the match. Until then, cheers and goodbye!

Ishant Sharma is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his fine bowling spell. He says that from the last few games, his knuckle ball was not coming off and Rishabh Pant and Axar were making fun of him. Adds that he wanted to invent something new and it worked as he got Kohli out in the last game and KL Rahul in this one. Credits the physio for keeping him fit for the nine games. Mentions that in a tournament like this if you win close games you can take that momentum forward.

Rishabh Pant, the victorious skipper of Delhi is up for a quick chat. He says Pooran was definitely giving them a hard time but says they had a particular plan to get rid of him and also that the target was enough. Says they started the season with a lot of hope but a few injuries here and there, with a few ups and downs they struggled a bit in the mid-season. Reckons that as a franchise you can't complain all the time. Adds some things are in control and some are not. Appreciates the support he has got from the whole nation and everyone and says he loved every bit of it.

KL Rahul, the captain of Lucknow says that the wicket remained pretty similar throughout the 40 overs. Says they got out Jake Fraser-McGurk early but didn't capitalise further with the ball. He thinks that 200 was a par score and could have been chased down. Adds that losing wickets in the Powerplay has been a problem for them this season and a big reason they have struggled throughout.

Presentation Time...

Kuldeep Yadav is up for a quick chat. He says it was a good wicket to bowl, especially for the spinners, and adds that the ball was getting a good purchase in the second innings. He says the length matters and the wicket was a bit slow and he tried to bowl a little bit fuller. Says it is hard to adjust the length on a slow track and that revs are pretty important as a wrist spinner to spin the ball. Ends up by saying this is an important win and hopes for the best for his team.

Earlier in the game, despite losing Jake Fraser-McGurk early on, Delhi posted above 200 courtesy of a couple of smashing fifties from Abishek Porel and Tristan Stubbs along with some good contributions from skipper Rishabh Pant and Shai Hope. Naveen-ul-Haq picked up a couple of wickets for Lucknow while Arshad Khan and Ravi Bishnoi chipped in with one each. While chasing, the top order collapsed once again for Lucknow. Nicholas Pooran kept them in the chase while Arshad Khan also played an amazing knock towards the end but it was not meant to be for them. This result now means that Rajasthan becomes the second team to qualify for the playoffs.

Delhi, on the other hand, were brilliant with the new ball especially Ishant Sharma, who picked up three huge wickets in his first three overs to put the away team on the back foot. Axar Patel also got a breakthrough on the very first delivery of his spell but was taken to the cleaners by Nicholas Pooran. After a few expensive overs, the skipper decided to give the ball to Tristan Stubbs who got rid of Ayush Badoni straight away. The turning point came when Mukesh Kumar got the big wicket of Pooran but credit must also be given to Axar for a fine catch. Kuldeep Yadav also chipped in with one as well. However, they lost a bit of control of the game when Arshad Khan was smashing it all around the park and it got quite close towards the end, but the home side held their nerves better here.

Lucknow got off to the worst possible start losing their captain KL Rahul in the very first over. Things didn't improve much when Quinton de Kock went back after a few lusty blows with Marcus Stoinis and Deepak Hooda following suit without much impact. Nicholas Pooran came in with an attacking intent and took on Axar Patel from the start. He continued his aggressive nature while Ayush Badoni tried to provide support but couldn't hang around for much longer. Pooran fought a lone battle with a fantastic fifty, but their hopes were slashed once he was dismissed. Arshad Khan played a few lust blows along with Yudhvir Singh and kept the hopes alive. The former kept losing partners at the other end but smashed a brilliant unbeaten fifty but that was not enough as they fell short by 19 runs.

SO CLOSE, YET SO FAR FOR LUCKNOW! Massive praise to Arshad Khan who was absolutely sensational with the bat but just could not get his team over the line. Delhi had this game in their hands for a long time but then allowed the away side to come back in. However, in the end they managed to get the job done and stay alive in the season. For Lucknow, it is not in their hands anymore.

Rasikh Dar to Naveen-ul-Haq, Done and dusted! Nails a pin-point yorker on the middle, Naveen-ul-Haq digs it out straight to the bowler. Excellent final over by Rasikh Dar with a brilliant execution that helps Delhi to win by 19 runs. With this win, Delhi take those crucial two points and end the league stage with 14 points on the 5th spot. Lucknow lose three on the bounce and things have gotten more complex for Lucknow with this defeat.

Rasikh Dar to Naveen-ul-Haq, Deceives with another slower one, full in length and outside off, Naveen-ul-Haq goes for a wild swing and misses out totally on the connection. 

Rasikh Dar to Naveen-ul-Haq, What a brilliant piece of bowling from Rasikh! Slower one outside off, Naveen-ul-Haq goes for a reverse ramp shot but misses.

Rasikh Dar to Arshad Khan, Yorker on the middle, Arshad Khan digs it out to long off for just a single.

Rasikh Dar to Arshad Khan, Full toss outside off, Arshad Khan hits it to deep mid-wicket and scampers back for the second. A lazy throw from the deep by Gulbadin Naib and Pant is not happy with the effort.

Rasikh Dar to Arshad Khan, Full toss outside the off stump. Arshad steps outside the crease and whacks it on the bounce to long off and denies a single.

Mukesh Kumar to Naveen-ul-Haq, Yorker outside off, Naveen works this one towards deep third and runs for a single. Arshad calls for the double and Naveen has to really hurry back to get home in time. The fielder throws it flat and nicely from the deep to the keeper's end. Naveen puts in a dive that saves him as the replay shows that he is well inside the popping crease when the wickets were broken.

Mukesh Kumar to Arshad Khan, Full and on off, Arshad Khan flicks it with wrists to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Mukesh Kumar to Arshad Khan, A huge confident appeal for LBW but the umpire is unmoved. Just around the leg stump line, on a fuller length, Arshad Khan looks to flick it away across the line but plays it over it and the ball wears on the front pad. The Ball Tracker shows that the ball is pitching outside leg. Delhi burn a review here and the on-field decision stays as it is.

Naveen-ul-Haq is the last man in.

Mukesh Kumar to Arshad Khan, OUT! RUN OUT! Knee-length full toss on the stump, he swivels and works it to deep mid-wicket and quickly calls for the double. Ravi Bishnoi obeys his partner and scampers back to complete the second at the non-striker's end. Jake Fraser-McGurk is quick on the ball and throws the ball at the bowling end and hits the bull's eye. The side-on replay confirms that Bishnoi is out of the crease on his dive.

Mukesh Kumar to Ravi Bishnoi, In the air...lands safe! Slower one outside off, Ravi Bishnoi is early on the shot to swipe it across in the air. The ball slices off his willow and lands behind mid-wicket. Gulbadin Naib runs ahead from deep mid-wicket and collects the ball on a single bounce and keeps it to just a single.

Mukesh Kumar to Arshad Khan, Short in length, outside off, Arshad Khan picks it over the bowler's head with a flat bat and lands it just ahead of the sprinting long on fielder who collects the ball on a single bounce. Just one then.

Rasikh Dar to Arshad Khan, Length delivery wide outside off, Arshad Khan waits for this pace-off delivery and hits it hard to long off and retains his strike with an easy single. This game is pretty much alive with Lucknow needing 29 runs off the last 12 balls remaining.

Rasikh Dar to Arshad Khan, A brilliant piece of work in the deep, but a sensational work with the bat from Arshad Khan here as he gets to his 50 in a crucial game, and more importantly batting against the odds. Full and outside off, Arshad Khan again hits it downtown and gets the double. The long off fielder cuts the ball in time with a dive.

The ball has taken a lot of beating and we will need a replacement. The umpires select one and we are good to continue.

Rasikh Dar to Arshad Khan, Wide yorker outside off, Arshad Khan squeezes it down in front of mid off and hurries back for the double. Pant is furious with the fielder there and rightly so.

Rasikh Dar to Arshad Khan, SIX! OH MY WORD!  Rasikh Dar gets the yorker wrong again and ends up with another poor full toss on off, Arshad Khan picks it up and goes downtown straight over the bowler's head with a strong bottom hand for a biggie. 

Rasikh Dar to Ravi Bishnoi, Low full toss on off, this is pushed to mid off for a quick single.

Rasikh Dar to Arshad Khan, Wide yorker gone wrong, a low full toss outside off, Arshad Khan hits it to widish long off for one.

Ravi Bishnoi walks out to bat now.

Khaleel Ahmed to Yudhvir Singh, OUT! TAKEN! A huge relief for Delhi and Khaleel! Khaleel Ahmed takes the pace off from the ball, slants it on off and keeps the length the same as the previous delivery, Yudhvir Singh is early on the shot, trying to play a huge lofted shot down the ground. Slices it off the willow and the ball flies straight to Shai Hope patrolling the long off boundary. 

Khaleel Ahmed to Arshad Khan, On the pads, on a good length, Arshad Khan doesn't connect and gets a ping on the front thigh pad to backward point for a leg bye.

Khaleel Ahmed to Arshad Khan, FOUR! Into his 40s now Arshad! On off and short in length, Arshad Khan uses the pace of the ball, arches back and pierces the gap between backward point and short third for a boundary.

Khaleel Ahmed to Arshad Khan, SIX! SHOT! Gets the yorker wrong and ends up bowling into the slot, Arshad Khan middles it and deposits it straight and flat down the ground for a maximum.

Khaleel Ahmed to Arshad Khan, WIDE! Down the leg side, full in length, Arshad Khan misses to flick and the Umpire however, calls it Wide. Hang on, Delhi has gone upstairs to challenge the on-field decision for Wide. UltraEdge shows a flat line and Delhi burn a review here.

Khaleel Ahmed to Arshad Khan, SIX! Into the crowd! He's playing a good cameo here! Short in length, on middle, Arshad Khan picks the length early and deposits it behind deep square leg for a biggie.

Khaleel Ahmed to Arshad Khan, Neat toe-crushing yorker on the boots, Arshad Khan hits it to the boots and loses his balance and falls on the ground.

Strategic-Break! Arshad Khan and Yudhvir Singh are trying their best but it is still a tough ask for Lucknow and only something extraordinary can get them over the line. Delhi have a great chance to wrap things up early and improve their NRR to give them the best possible chance of qualification. Also, Khaleel Ahmed to bowl after the break.

Rasikh Dar to Arshad Khan, Knee-length full toss outside off, Arshad Khan lofts it towards long off for a single to end the over. 60 runs needed off the last 24 deliveries.

Rasikh Dar to Arshad Khan, Full in length, outside off, Arshad Khan swings and misses.

Rasikh Dar to Yudhvir Singh, DROPPED! That was an absolute sitter shelled by Stubbs! Nice back-of-the-hand slower one, on a shortish length, Yudhvir Singh swipes it over square leg, and the ball carries flat towards Tristan Stubbs at deep square leg who drops it. One taken. A slice of luck for Yudhvir Singh.

Rasikh Dar to Yudhvir Singh, Hard length, pace off, on middle, Yudhvir Singh flicks it away off the back foot towards deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

Rasikh Dar to Yudhvir Singh, SIX! WHAT A SHOT! Bangs it short in length, on the stumps at the chest level, Yudhvir Singh picks it up and pulls it well over deep backward square leg for a maximum.

Rasikh Dar to Yudhvir Singh, FOUR! Hammered away! Bowls it on a tight length, on the top of off, Yudhvir Singh executes an agricultural heave across the line, and gets it over mid-wicket for a boundary.

Rasikh Dar is introduced for the first time into the attack.

Kuldeep Yadav to Yudhvir Singh, Looped up, full and on middle, Yudhvir Singh chips it towards long on for one.

Kuldeep Yadav to Yudhvir Singh, BEATEN! A googly now, full and on middle, turns away, Yudhvir Singh looks to play but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Yudhvir Singh is in at number 9.

Kuldeep Yadav to Krunal Pandya, OUT! STUMPED! Kuldeep Yadav strikes now! He drags his length back a bit and bowls it a little wide, turns away sharply, Krunal Pandya skips down the track to go over extra covers but misses and Rishabh Pant executes another simple stumping. Lucknow seven down now!