Mitch Marsh has launched his Indian Premier League season with three big sixes, but it was not enough to help the Lucknow Super Giants in a six-wicket loss to Delhi Capitals.
Marsh opened his campaign in promising fashion as he clouted 35 off 28 balls at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium.
Four Super Giants wickets had already fallen before Marsh finally got deceived by a slow googly from Kuldeep Yadav and sliced a delivery high to Tristan Stubbs in the 10th over.
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The Justin Langer-coached Super Giants were eventually dismissed for 141, with Kuldeep (2-31), Thangarasu Natarajan (3-29) and Lungi Ngidi (3-27) impressing with the ball for the Capitals.
“The way we batted, we couldn’t get a partnership for long,” said Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant, who was run out for 7.
“There was enough help with the new ball, but you can’t put pressure on the opposition with 140.”
Briefly, it looked as if the Super Giants’ sub-par total still might be enough as Capitals opener KL Rahul fell first ball of the innings, caught at point off Mohammad Shami.
Shami’s fellow quick Prince Yadav (2-20) followed up with two quick wickets, as the Capitals slumped to 4-26.
But Sameer Rizvi teamed up with South African Stubbs for an unbeaten 119-run stand to reach the victory target on 4-145, with 17 balls remaining.
Rizvi’s unbeaten 70 off 47 balls featured five sixes, while Stubbs was happy to play second fiddle, finishing on 39 not out off 32 balls.
AAP