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Delhi Capitals (DC) could not keep their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoff hopes alive (practically) but managed to beat Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 19 runs in their final league stage game. Their net run rate (NRR) will not be enough to take them to the last four. Similarly, LSG are practically out of the playoff contention with one game to go and 12 points in the bag. After explosive knocks from Abhishek Porel and Tristan Stubbs, Ishant Sharma caused a collapse in the powerplay overs. Nicholas Pooran and Arshad Khan’s half-centuries got LSG close to the target but not enough to take them over the line and lost by 19 runs.
Porel goes berserk
Earlier, KL Rahul won the toss and opted to field first. Arshad dismissed the in-form Jake Fraser-McGurk for a two-ball duck. Porel in the second over hit the first six of the innings. In Arshad's second over, Porel hit a six and three fours. Shai Hope joined the party and hit Yudhvir Singh Charak for a six and two fours. Naveen-ul-Haq as introduced in the sixth over. Porel smashed him for two sixes and a four. After powerplay overs, DC were 73/1.Porel reached his half-century from 21 balls. In Ravi Bishnoi's second over, Hope hit a six. The Caribbean batter was caught by Rahul at covers on the third ball of the over. He scored 38 runs from 27 balls. At the halfway stage, DC were 106/2.
Stubbs’ fine finish
Naveen came back into the attack and got the better of Porel with a slower back of the length delivery. The opener scored 58 runs from 33 balls. Skipper Pant with a few boundaries in the middle overs. Stubbs targetted Arshad and hit him for a six and two fours. Naveen in his third over dismissed Pant. He scored 33 runs from 23 balls. Stubbs continued to take the aerial route. He hit two sixes and a four to reach his fifty from 22 balls. In the final over, Bishnoi dropped two catches. DC posted 208/4. Stubbs remained unbeaten for 25-ball 57. Axar Patel scored 14 runs from 10 balls.
Pooran show after Ishant’s fiery spell
In the run chase, skipper Rahul fell early to Ishant. In his next over, the veteran pacer was hit for two fours by Quinton de Kock. The South African wicketkeeper-batter failed to pick the slower ball and departed on the fifth ball of the over. Marcus Stoinis could not make an impact either. He got stumped off Patel's bowling for a single-digit score. Pooran provided the much-needed acceleration and hit Patel for two sixes and as many fours in the over. Ishant struck again in the powerplay overs and trapped Deepak Hooda in front of the stumps for a two-ball duck. Pooran hit a six and a four off Mukesh Kumar. LSG were 59/4 after powerplay overs. Stubbs was introduced in the bowling attack. He dismissed Ayush Badoni for a single-digit score in the eighth over.
Arshad’s spirited effort not enough
Pooran reached his half-century from 20 balls. At the halfway stage, LSG were 97/5. Mukesh got the prized wicket of Pooran. He scored 61 runs from 27 balls including six fours and four sixes. Arshad hit a few boundaries to keep the require run rate in check but Krunal Pandya struggled. Kuldeep in his fourth over got Krunal stumped for a run-a-ball 18. Yudhvir came out all guns blazing as well and hit Rasikh Salam for a four and a six. Khaleel's second over turned out to be expensive. Arshad hit him for two sixes and a four. But Yudhvir was caught in the deep by Hope. Arshad reached his fifty from 25 balls in the 18th over. Mukesh bowled a brilliant penultimate over conceding just six runs. Bishnoi got run out as well. In the final, 23 overs needed. Arshad could not take LSG over the line as they lost by 19 runs.
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