Delhi Capitals recovered from a top-order collapse as Sameer Rizvi hit an unbeaten half-century to help secure a six-wicket win over the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL on Wednesday.
South Africa seamer Lungi Ngidi took three wickets as Delhi bowled out hosts Lucknow for 141, a total the Capitals overhauled with 17 balls to spare.
Delhi slipped to 26-4 before impact substitute Rizvi, who struck 70 not out, and Tristan Stubbs, who made 39, put on an unbeaten stand of 119 to steer the team home.
“I think the way Sameer plays naturally just against the spin, takes it on, so it made my job a bit easier,” Stubbs said.
“Just knock it around, get him on strike. And we always knew it was one over, and then it was down to run a ball, and then take the game away, the shots you need, and fortunately we got it there.”
Mohammed Shami, in his debut season for Lucknow, dismissed KL Rahul for a duck with the first ball of the chase.
Fellow quick Prince Yadav struck twice in one over to send back Pathum Nissanka (1) and Axar Patel (0) to leave Delhi in trouble 4.3 overs into their chase.
But Rizvi, who hit five fours and four sixes in his 47-ball knock, and Stubbs steadied the ship before unleashing as the target came into view.
The 22-year-old Rizvi, who was named player of the match, raised his fifty with a four off part-time spinner Aiden Markram and later hit the winning six.
“You know, one positive (is) that boys fought hard,” said Lucknow skipper Rishabh Pant. “The way we bowled, especially the way we started, definitely some good signs going ahead in the season.”
Pant opened the Lucknow innings with Mitchell Marsh but was run out for seven after a hit from his fellow batter grazed the bowler’s arm to hit the stumps at the non-striker’s end.
Delhi skipper Patel bowled Markram for 11 and wickets fell at regular intervals.
Ngidi sent back Nicholas Pooran for eight with a well-disguised slower delivery that rattled the stumps.
Marsh attempted to pull things back with his 35 but fell in his attempt to attack left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav and the batting then collapsed.
Abdul Samad’s 25-ball 36 boosted the total but the Lucknow innings lasted for just 18.4 overs after Ngidi struck with successful balls.
Left-arm quick T Natarajan also took three wickets.
Source: Khaleej Times