QdK's exhibition gives LSG 3rd consecutive win

The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) defeated the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the fourteenth game of the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL). The match was played in the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Quinton de Kock was adjudged to be the Man of the Match.

Shaw amazes all

Many were eager for yesterday evening’s match as it was David Warner’s first match of this year’s IPL. Prithvi Shaw, though, reminded everyone that he, too, could be a joy to watch.

In fact, Shaw was the only batter that was a joy to watch from DC, with the other’s getting bogged down and finding it difficult to bat. After a watchful start in the first over, Shaw slashed at everything that was thrown at him. He first flayed a couple of boundaries off Krishnappa Gowtham, before cleaning out Jason Holder for the first six of the match. Avesh Khan was then carved for three consecutive boundaries in the 4th over. No sooner had the team total reached 50 that Shaw too reached his own half century off thirty balls.

On a night where the other Delhi batters struck at less than 130, Shaw went at 179.41, an achievement of its own.

Bishnoi pulls things back

Once Gowtham had gotten rid of the carnage in the form of Shaw, it was the Super Giants’ 21-year-old leggie that really halted the flow in the innings.

Ravi Bishnoi was smart with his variations, leaving both Warner and Rovman Powell looking foolish at times. He eventually picked up the wickets of both the men, leaving DC asphyxiated in the middle overs. Bishnoi bowled superbly well to Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz Khan as well and finished with 2 wickets for 22 runs for the match.

In fact, Bishnoi’s impact translated to the other bowlers’ performance as well, and DC were only able to muster up 149 in their 20 overs despite the bright start Shaw had given them and losing just 3 wickets.

de Kock shows that batting is easy

As the DC batters huffed and puffed their way to a middling total, it left many assuming that conditions for the bowlers were better suited on the night. However, Quinton de Kock showed that, if one took their time and got settled, then batting was no problem.

The South African had made a cautious start to his innings, being 16 off 14 after the first 4 overs. The chase really motored for LSG when de Kock cracked 19 runs off his fellow South African Anrich Nortje in the 5th over. From there, de Kock put up a batting exhibition, playing quite a few lovely and jaw-dropping shots.

He had also found stability in the form of Kananur Lokesh Rahul at the other end, who ensured de Kock could play his natural game. de Kock eventually got to his 50 off 36 balls, but the job was only half done.

The wicketkeeper-batter continued to carve up the bowling attack, and eventually fell for 80 off 52 balls, setting his team well on course for victory.

Kuldeep’s purple patch continues

Despite no DC bowler being particularly threatening last night, Kuldeep Yadav still continued his good form with the ball. He first provided the opening wicket of Rahul, who miscues a hoick to long-on.

It was a shame he wasn’t able to bowl his full quota of 4 overs as he had to complete an over after Nortje bowled his second above-the-waist no-ball. DEspite having just 4 balls to bowl, Kuldeep picked up the wicket of de Kock at the very last, bringing some hope back into the game for the Capitals.

However, despite a slightly nervous finish, thanks to some good death bowling by Mustafizur Rahman and Shardul Thakur, Ayush Badoni ensured the game did not slip out of LSG’s hands, and finished the game off with a four and a six in the final over.