KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) kicked off their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 campaign with a convincing 50-run win over Delhi Capitals (DC) at their home ground, Ekana Cricket Stadium. Debutant Kyle Mayers' quickfire 73 followed by a fiery spell from England speedster Mark Wood helped LSG outclass DC.
Wood spoils DC’s start
In the run chase of 194, DC got off to an ideal start. Prithvi Shaw and David Warner found boundaries at ease in the powerplay overs. In the sixth over, Wood was introduced into the attack.He struck twice off consecutive deliveries to push DC on the back foot. Shaw was the first to fall as he got bamboozled by a fuller length delivery. In-form Mitchell Marsh went for a drive but got bowled for a golden duck. After powerplay overs, DC had 42 runs on the board.
Rossouw fails to take off
In his next over, Wood struck again. Sarfaraz Khan went for an upper cut but lost control and got caught at fine leg. He scored just four runs from nine balls. Boundaries dried up for few overs which led to required run rate getting out of grasp. In the 10th over, Rilee Rossouw accelerated and hit Ravi Bishnoi for two fours and a six. But Bishnoi had the last laugh as he got rid of Rossouw in his next over. The South Africa batter scored 30 runs from 20 balls including three fours and one six.
One-sided affair
In his last over Bishnoi struck again to trap Rovman Powell in front of the stumps. In the 15th over, Warner got to his half-century from 45 deliveries. Impact player Aman Hakim Khan failed to make an impact and lost his wicket to Avesh Khan. In the same over, Avesh got the wicket of Warner as well. The skipper scored 56 runs from 48 deliveries including seven fours. With match way out of grasp, Axar Patel took on Avesh in the 18th over. Wood bowled the 20th over and got Patel’s wicket. The all-rounder scored 16 runs from 11 balls. Wood completed his fifer with the wicket of Chetan Sakariya. He conceded just 14 runs and picked up five wickets as DC managed to post 143/9 and lost the game by 50 runs.
Lacklustre start
Earlier, Warner won the toss and opted to field first. LSG got off to a poor start as Rahul struggled. In the fourth over, Rahul broke the shackles with a six over long-on but got out off the next ball to Chetan Sakariya. He could score just eight runs from 12 balls. After powerplay overs, LSG had 30 runs on the board.
Mayers on attack
Mayers took on Mukesh Kumar and hit him for two sixes in the seventh over. He reached his maiden half-century with a six off Kuldeep in the ninth over. He took 28 balls to reach his half-century. The Caribbean batter took on Patel as well and hit him for consecutive sixes. Deepak Hooda who came to bat at no.3 got out in the 11th over trying to hit Kuldeep for a big shot. He scored just 17 runs from 18 balls. In the next over, Mayers lost his wicket as well. Patel bowled around the wicket and beat Mayers' bat with a ripper. The southpaw scored 73 runs from 38 deliveries including two fours and seven sixes. This is the fourth-highest score by a batter on IPL debut.
Pooran attacks
Ahmed came back into the attack and dismissed Marcus Stoinis (12). Nicholas Pooran let his intentions knock straight away with a four and a six. In the 17th over, Pooran took on Sakariya as well as 19 runs came off it. In the penultimate over, Ahmed managed to get Pooran's wicket. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 36 runs from 21 balls including two fours and three sixes.
Late onslaught
In the final over, Ayush Badoni hit Sakariya for consecutive sixes. Badoni contributed with a seven-ball 18 before getting out off the penultimate delivery. LSG opted for the impact player on the last ball of the innings. The move paid off as Gowtham ended the innings with a massive six to help LSG post 193/6.
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