IPL 2022, LSG vs DC: Lucknow Super Giants call the shots against Delhi Capitals

Quinton de Kock's 52-ball 80 helps Lucknow to tense 6-wicket win over Delhi Capitals on tricky pitchQuinton de Kock made it look easy on a difficult wicket for the batsmen. The South African scored a flamboyant 80 (off 52b; 9x4, 2x6) to lead IPL newbies Lucknow Super Giants to a six-wicket win against Delhi Capitals at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday. AS IT HAPPENED | SCORECARD | POINTS TABLEThe dew surely helped negate some of the problems the batters were facing with regards to their timing, but de Kock made sure he was there at the crease to take advantage. With 150 to chase, he added 73 for the opening wicket with LSG skipper KL Rahul to lay the platform for the win; and by the time he was dismissed Lucknow required 28 runs off four overs. The Super Giants nearly made a hash of the chase, but young gun Ayush Badoni (10 not out off 3b; 1x4, 1x6) did his quickly-growing reputation of being a finisher no harm with a boundary and a six in the 20th over to seal the deal. Earlier, it was a peculiar innings from Delhi Capitals. At the top, Prithvi Shaw batted like he was giving an exhibition of his repertoire on the flattest wicket of the world. But, as soon as he got out, the other DC batters found it excruciatingly difficult to even rotate the strike.

Sample this, Shaw (61 off 34b; 9x4, 2x6) was involved in a 67-run opening wicket partnership with David Warner out of which the Aussie star's contribution was just four. And, Warner scored those four off 12 deliveries. After Warner, big-hitting West Indian Rovman Powell was simply unable to get the ball off the square. Powell managed 3 off 10 balls. Delhi skipper Rishabh Pant also found the going tough initially. At one point, Pant was batting at 6 off 17