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Delhi Capitals bounced back from a shaky start as Sameer Rizvi scored an unbeaten half-century, leading the team to a six-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL on Wednesday.
South African bowler Lungi Ngidi claimed three wickets, helping to restrict Lucknow to just 141 runs, a target that Delhi successfully chased down with 17 balls to spare.
Delhi found themselves in trouble at 26-4, but Rizvi, who finished with 70 not out, partnered with Tristan Stubbs, who scored 39, to form an unbeaten stand of 119 runs that secured the win.
"Sameer plays spin very well, which made it easier for me," Stubbs commented. "I just focused on getting him on strike. We knew it was manageable, and we were able to execute our shots effectively."
Lucknow's Mohammed Shami made an impact in his debut season by dismissing KL Rahul for a duck on the first ball of their chase.
Prince Yadav, another bowler for Lucknow, took two wickets in a single over, sending back Pathum Nissanka (1) and Axar Patel (0) and putting Delhi in a tough position just 4.3 overs into their innings.
However, Rizvi, who struck five fours and four sixes in his 47-ball innings, along with Stubbs, stabilized the innings before aggressively pursuing the target.
The 22-year-old Rizvi, named player of the match, reached his fifty with a four off part-time spinner Aiden Markram and later hit the winning six.
"One positive is that the boys fought hard," said Lucknow captain Rishabh Pant. "The way we bowled, especially at the start, gives us good signs moving forward this season."
Pant opened the innings alongside Mitchell Marsh but was run out for seven after a ball from his partner deflected off the bowler's arm and hit the stumps at the non-striker's end.
Delhi’s captain Patel took the wicket of Markram for 11, with Lucknow losing wickets at regular intervals.
Ngidi dismissed Nicholas Pooran for eight with a cleverly disguised slower delivery that knocked over the stumps.
Marsh attempted to stabilize the innings with his 35 but fell while trying to attack left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, leading to a batting collapse.
Abdul Samad's quickfire 36 off 25 balls added some runs, but Lucknow's innings ended prematurely at just 18.4 overs, with Ngidi taking the lead with his wickets.
Left-arm pacer T Natarajan also contributed with three wickets in the match.
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