Match 3: Toss - Delhi chose to bowl. LSG: 193/6 (20/20). DC: 143/9 (20/20). LSG won by 50 runs.
Overview
As the IPL returned to the home-away format, the Lucknow Super Giants debuted at their home - the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. And what an electrifying debut it was! The David Warner-led Delhi Capitals won the toss and elected to bowl first. Kyle Mayers opened with skipper KL Rahul. Mayers led the Lucknow onslaught with a 38-ball 73. With contributions throughout the order, the Super Giants rushed to 193 at the end of 20 overs on a tricky two-paced Ekana wicket. The Mark Wood-led Lucknow bowling lineup dismantled the Capitals for 143. Barring Warner and Rossouw, Delhi batsman could only score up to 20. The two-paced pitch assisted Mark Wood’s fiery spells which knocked the Capitals out of the game. Where did Delhi lose the match? And where did Lucknow win the match? Let’s find out.
Mayers Mania
The unique top-order, opening bowler all-rounder from the Caribbean made his IPL debut in front of a jam-packed Ekana. No one exemplifies the essence of modern cricket more than Kyle Mayers. He is a fierce top-order batsman who can give the team 4 overs with the ball. This is a ridiculous skill to have and that makes him an unbelievable asset for any team in this format. With Quinton de Cock yet to join the Super Giants, Lucknow would’ve wanted Mayers to fill in for the proteas wicket-keeper for a few games. But he outperformed their expectations.
A lethal knock filled with 7 sixes and 2 fours. He attacked the leg side scoring 70% of his runs through square leg and long on. He took on Mukesh Kumar and Axar Patel. He smacked anything David Warner and Delhi threw at him. With KL Rahul and Deepak Hooda getting out cheaply, I expected him to slow down a little, but he just kept going. Axar Patel got through his defense finally but he put on a show for the home crowd. Ekana was beaming with joy as the colosseum stood up to appreciate one of the most electrifying opening knocks of all time.
Khaleel Ahmed surprised most with his incredible spell, conceding 30 runs and taking 2 key wickets of Marcus Stoinis and the dangerous Nicholas Pooran. Impressively, he bowled to the field and banged the ball into the deck. He always had a natural pace and he converted that into good deliveries on a wicket that assisted pacers. When you keep bowling good lengths 140+ deliveries not giving the batsmen any width, you get wickets. And that’s exactly what happened.
Two quick partnerships between Krunal Pandya - Pooran and Pooran - Ayush Badoni added 76 runs in the last 6 overs. Gowtham with a last-ball six took the Super Giants to a mammoth 193. Delhi lacked a sixth bowler, Mitchell Marsh wasn’t fit enough to bowl. Rovmann Powell isn’t effective with the ball. This left Warner with 5 bowlers to handle the explosive Lucknow batting. As discussed, Khaleel bowled really well, but Sakariya was expensive. He took 2 wickets but conceded 53 runs. To chase this down, Delhi needed an enormous effort from one of its players.
Wood's Terrific Fifer
Capitals’ openers Prithvi Shaw and David Warner started well. They built a brisk 41-run partnership when Mark Wood castled Shaw. The most talked about player in Delhi’s team - Mitchell Marsh was bowled on the first ball. A brilliant full-length 146 km/h ball knocked Marsh out. That Mark Wood over was brilliant. It was perfection personified.
Wood knocked over Sarfaraz soon after, and the Capitals suddenly had lost 3 batsmen to one bowler. David Warner and Rilee Rossouw did a brief repair job building a 30-ball 38-run partnership. Just when they were getting comfortable, Ravi Bishnoi struck and got Rossouw. Skipper David Warner desperately tried to hold down one end and not get out. That cost him his strike rate. Warner stood on one side trying to hold the Delhi innings together whilst the Super Giants kept striking wickets at the other end.
Avesh Khan finally got the better of Warner in the 16th over. By then, Lucknow had already won the match. The chase was impossible and despite Axar’s efforts, Wood got him to get his 4th wicket.
Delhi’s batting lineup had depth, but they failed to capitalize on the depth. No one except Warner and Rossouw scored above 30. Wickets falling around Warner didn’t allow him to convert his start into a big score. He was trying to hold down the fort and that slowed the run rate down. Rossouw came in and looked to settle things but Lucknow struck and got him too. The Super Giants bowled to their field. And the sixth bowling option in Mayers allowed them to be aggressive upfront and hunt for wickets. Mark Wood was the star, he dismissed three of Delhi’s top-order batsmen. He made good use of the conditions bowling 145+ deliveries targeting the long boundary. KL Rahul had a good day as captain and he got his team to a winning start in front of the home crowd.
Lucknow Super Giants - Takeaways
Positives:
Kyle Mayers was the find of the match, and if Lucknow can find a way to keep him in the team with Quinton de Cock back, he gives them phenomenal all-around strength. He can be an explosive top-order batsman who also gives Lucknow a sixth bowling option.
Nicholas Pooran seems to have found his rhythm again after an off-season last year. If he gets going, he strengthens the middle order incredibly and allows the top order to go aggressive upfront and target bowlers.
If Avesh Khan can continue to exploit the Lucknow conditions throughout the season bowling economical and wicket-taking spells, he is an indispensable asset for the Giants. He can bowl in the powerplay, in the middle overs, and at the death.
Ravi Bishnoi is as brilliant as ever. Lucknow struck a gold mine by signing him last season. As I said, Lucknow is a two-paced wicket that assists spin. Bishnoi can be a huge positive for the team going forward, he can control the run rate in the middle overs and strike wickets to weaken the opposition.
If Mark Wood can stay fit, he makes Lucknow an intimidating side. Very few batsmen have the ability to smash Mark Wood. He bowls at good lengths and bowls at 145+ km/h. This makes him unplayable. Especially in Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, his pace would be terrifying.
Negatives:
Marcus Stoinis has been underperforming for some time now, if he cannot pick his performance up in the next few games, Lucknow might want to look at dropping him and going with the “Quinton + Mayers + Pooran + Wood” overseas combination.
Jaydev Unadkat was very expensive. When other pace bowlers could exploit the conditions well and be economical while taking wickets, Unadkat couldn’t. This is just one match but Unadkat has to make sure he comes well in the next few matches. He can’t go for 39 runs in 3 overs and not pick any wickets.
Delhi Capitals - Takeaways
Positives:
David Warner seems to have found his IPL form again. He captained the side well and handled the bowling effectively. Delhi doesn’t have bowling options and that hurt their chances. If Shaw can go explosive at the top, then Warner can play the anchor role for the Capitals and bat till the end and take Delhi to good scores consistently.
Rilee Rossouw has started his 2023 IPL stint decently. He scored a well-made 30 off 20 when the team needed him. He’s an outstanding T20 batsman and if he can find runs in the middle order consistently, he strengthens the Capitals batting massively.
Axar Patel is continuing his remarkable international success. He bowled decently getting a wicket. He was a little expensive but he can do better. He’s also evolved into a wonderful batsman and he will score runs consistently.
Khaleel Ahmed is a sensational find. He’s continuing his domestic success and bowling well. His spell in this match was remarkable. He takes wickets, concedes fewer runs, and is disciplined with his line and length. Probably the biggest positive for the Capitals.
Negatives:
If Prithvi Shaw keeps failing and not capitalizing on the chances he’s given, Ponting might soon run out of patience and drop him. Prithvi Shaw to has had a remarkable domestic season. But he’s never converted it into a successful IPL season. He has to find a way to score runs consistently because the team needs his contributions at the top.
Rovman Powell wasn’t too impressive last season. Delhi has stuck with him and he has to give the Capitals that muscle power they need. He needs to play the role Kieron Pollard did for Mumbai. When needed, he needs to build a partnership to get Delhi to a good score, but also go aggressive and score at a high strike rate. Delhi won’t drop him, but he needs to bring his international success to the IPL.
Chetan Sakariya had a horrendous night with the ball. He bowled at an economy of 13.25. He’ll have to do better because he is part of Delhi’s Indian pace bowling core.
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