Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam's heroics turn tables on Rishabh Pant's Lucknow Super Giants as Delhi Capitals win final-over thriller by 1 wicket

Axar Patel-led Delhi Capitals defeated Rishabh Pant's Lucknow Super Giants by 1 wicket in match 4 of the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Vizag, on March 24 (Monday). Ashutosh Sharma and Vipraj Nigam, the DC's young guns made a remarkable statement with their heroic performances against LSG. They snatched the game out of Lucknow's grip and took their team over the line.

LSG post 209/8 batting first

Following a blitz by Nicholas Pooran (75) and Mitchell Marsh (72) to hold the Lucknow Super Giants to a poor 209 for 8, the Delhi Capitals mounted a remarkable comeback in their Indian Premier League match on Monday. On a strong batting surface, LSG is at least 30 runs short after being 133 for 1 in the 12th over and losing seven wickets for 61 runs.

Marsh hammered a half-dozen sixes and an equal amount of boundaries, in his 21-ball fifty, which is also his fastest half-century. First, the LSG openers got off to a fast start without any help off the field and then Pooran made 75 off just 30 balls with seven sixes and six fours. At one point, it looked like LSG might reach 240 or more, but the Delhi Capitals successfully stopped their opponent's run with a brilliant spell from Kuldeep Yadav (4-0-20-2) and Mitchell Starc's 3/42.

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LSG struggled through the second half, adding just 76 runs in the final eight overs while losing six wickets, after dominating at 133 for one in the 12th over. Rishabh Pant, the new LSG captain, was disappointed when he was dismissed for a six-ball duck by Kuldeep, who helped Delhi regain control. Kuldeep utilized flighted deliveries and changed up his pace to give the hitters conflict over whether to step out or play from the crease. As wickets continued to fall, David Miller battled to the very end without any help. But his 27 off 19 balls, including two sixes and a four, at least helped LSG surpass 200 runs in the last over.

DC win in a thrilling chase

Delhi Capitals did not get the start they wanted as they lost their first two wickets inside the first over itself. Shardul Thakur dismissed both Jake Fraser-McGurk (1) and Abhishek Porel (0). Then in the second over M Siddharth dismissed Sameer Rizvi (4). Faf du Plessis and Axar Patel tried to steady the ship but their 43-run stand also came to an end with DC skipper getting out for 22 off 11 balls. Later, vice-captain Du Plessis also returned to the dugout after scoring 29 off 18.

Now, it appeared as if LSG had sealed the job by sending half the Delhi side back to the pavilion. However, it was not enough as Tristan Stubbs hammered 34 off 22 balls but it was the 55-run partnership between Vipraj Nigam and Ashutosh Sharma that revived their hopes. Vipraj played an astonishing inning of 39 runs off just 15 balls. 

Ashutosh Sharma completed his fifty in 28 balls and just revived the game for Delhi Capitals. He ensured that even after everything went against them, their side would cross the line. He hit a six and finished the game in style.