Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals, 26th Match - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Chasing a target at the Ekana Stadium against LSG! Many teams with some of the most skilled and experienced batters have failed this gauntlet as the tracks get sluggish and the bowlers offer them no pace. However, Delhi Capitals today proved that a potent concoction made with the exuberance of youth and the perennially fearless mindset of Rishabh Pant is what is needed to rattle Lucknow on their own turf. A great game for the neutral fan, makes the IPL table a bit more competitive. Let’s see tomorrow if Punjab can pull up any trees and drag down Rajasthan from their perch. Join us then, bye for now!!

Kuldeep Yadav | Player of the Match: Was tough when I wasn't fit. Got injured first game and was difficult to see the team struggling in the middle overs. Credit goes to Patrick (Farhart) to maintain my fitness and get me ready quickly. All three were important wickets, it was crucial to get wickets in the middle overs to control the run rate. I liked the first and second wicket, I have played a lot against Pooran and the execution for that was right. I was clear with my plans, just the length matters for me as a spinner. Very clear and confident with my skills. Whenever I feel the DRS call is 50/50, I try to push for it but when it is more 60/40 then I tend to listen to Rishabh. As a bowler, you obviously want to take the DRS whevever possible. We've got 2 reviews, so obviously one is for me (laughs off).

Rishabh Pant: Little relief, we wanted a win badly. I was talking to the boys saying we need to think like champions, we need to keep fighting hard. (On bowling) We have phases where we are not up to the mark, some individuals have to take responsibility for that. However, we stick together as a group. Some things you can control, some things we can't. (On team combination) I think we are getting closer to the right XI, but we've had so many injuries in this group. However, you can't keep complaining about that. (On Fraser-McGurk) Hopefully, we've found our new number 3, haven't thought too much about it. Hope he can continue.

Stats by Roshan

Highest individual scores on IPL debut (DC)
58* - Gautam Gambhir vs RR, Delhi, 2008
55 - Jake Fraser-McGurk vs LSG, Lucknow, 2024
54 - Sam Billings vs KKR, Delhi, 2016
53 - Paul Collingwood vs KKR, Delhi, 2010
52* - Shikhar Dhawan vs RR, Delhi, 2008

Highest scores while batting at No.3 on debut IPL innings
116* - Michael Hussey (CSK) vs PBKS, Mohali, 2008
55 - Jake Fraser-McGurk (DC) vs LSG, Lucknow, 2024
54 - Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan (CSK) vs DC, Chennai, 2008
54 - Kumar Sangakkara (PBKS) vs CSK, Mohali, 2008
54 - Angkrish Raghuvanshi (KKR) vs DC, Visakhapatnam, 2024

DC in run-chases since 2023
Matches: 13
Lost: 10
Won: 3
Before today, DC had lost each of their previous six matches while chasing in the IPL.

Successful run-chases vs LSG in the IPL
168 - DC - 6 wickets & 11 balls remaining - Lucknow, 2024
160 - PBKS - 2 wickets & 3 balls remaining - Lucknow, 2023
159 - GT - 5 wickets & 2 balls remaining - Mumbai WS, 2022

Highest scores while batting at No.3 on debut IPL innings
116* - Michael Hussey (CSK) vs PBKS, Mohali, 2008
55 - Jake Fraser-McGurk (DC) vs LSG, Lucknow, 2024
54 - Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan (CSK) vs DC, Chennai, 2008
54 - Kumar Sangakkara (PBKS) vs CSK, Mohali, 2008
54 - Angkrish Raghuvanshi (KKR) vs DC, Visakhapatnam, 2024

LSG bowling
Ravi Bishnoi: 2/25 from 4 overs (ER: 6.25)
Others: 2/144 from 14.1 overs (ER: 10.16)

DC’s run-chase
Overs 1-6: 62/1 (RR: 10.33)
Overs 7-10: 13/1 (RR: 3.25)
Overs 11-14: 61/0 (RR: 15.25)
Overs 15-18.1: 34/2 (RR: 8.16)

Jake Fraser-McGurk: I spent the last 5-6 games on the sidelines and was itching to have a go. It was more of trying not to swing too hard, trying to find the middle of the bat and that's what I have been trying to do in the last 12 months. I loved the one over cover, nothing better than hitting over the off-side. It is something that I continue to learn and do, batting outside of the powerplay and I will get better by playing more games. I am so happy to be out there, this is a different world out here, heard about it but to experience it.. it is an amazing time to come to India.

KL Rahul: If I want to be harsh, I think we were 15-20 runs short, we got off to a good start, we could have capitalised and got 180. There was a bit of help for the seamers, the odd ball kept low. Kuldeep made its use (and got those wickets.) The new guys when they come in, it's pretty unknown for us. He (Jake Fraser-McGurk) hit the ball well, credit to him. We always walk in with the same mindset, want to hit the right areas. We got Warner in the powerplay, got a couple of wickets after the powerplay. The set batters - Pant and McGurk took the game away from us after that dropped catch. We travel tomorrow and play an afternoon game (on Sunday). That's how the schedule goes, need to turn up, could be tough during Indian summers. In hindsight you can always wonder you could have done something different. There wasn't much spin after Axar's over, so I thought Pooran could have put some pressure on the opposition, if he was set. He would have been dangerous, but credit to Kuldeep for getting him out. He (Mayank Yadav) is feeling good, he looks good, but we don't want to rush him. We need to protect his body, he's itching to go. Need to make sure that he's hundred percent (fit) before he comes back.

Couple overs later, Fraser-McGurk hit a hat-trick of sixes against Krunal Pandya, and the next over from Yash Thakur also went for plenty of runs. The 22-year-old notched up a fifty on IPL debut, but couldn't stay till the end as he sliced one to deep point off Naveen-ul-Haq. Rishabh Pant played a real captain's knock to take the pressure off the debutant, but he too couldn't stay till the end as he was stumped dancing down the track against Bishnoi. However, DC never lost Hope and they managed to get through the line with almost two overs to spare. Rishabh Pant and co. are back to winning ways, the LSG juggernaut have been stopped. Stick around for the presenations...

23:12 Local Time, 17:42 GMT, 23:12 IST: LSGs home domination is curbed. Their streak of defending totals comes to an end. The hunters have been hunted, and they have been stung by the new, potent venom from South Australia sprinkled with a bit of fearless bite from the leader of the team that features three tigers on their emblem. Chasing 167, Delhi didnt get the best of starts as Warner copped a blow to his wrists and then chopped one back onto his stumps. However, that brought the youngster Jake Fraser-McGurk to the crease and he got off the mark with two sixes in the IPL. Fraser-McGurk was well supported by Prithvi Shaw who scored six fours in the powerplay, but holed out trying to attack Ravi Bishnoi. There came a lull post the powerplay as LSG slipped in four quiet overs, with Bishnoi leading the charge. Fraser-McGurk was struggling for timing, and the skipper Rishabh Pant took the mantle on himself. He attacked Bishnoi for a four and six, and that titled the complextion of the game.

Arshad Khan to Tristan Stubbs, SIX, into the crowds and burried somewhere in those stands is LSG's streak of defending scores in excess of 160. A length ball onto middle and leg, Stubbs with a nonchalant pull over deep backward square leg for a maximum. DC back to winning ways, win by 6 wickets with 11 balls to spare!

Arshad Khan [3.0-0-28-0] is back into the attack

Yash Thakur to Shai Hope, no run, pace off and on a length on off, tucked to mid-wicket

Yash Thakur to Tristan Stubbs, 1 run, full and straight, neatly driven to long-on

One hit away now...