Lucknow, Apr 22 (UNI) Mukesh Kumar delivered a sensational final spell, claiming four key wickets including two in the last over, to restrict Lucknow Super Giants to 159 for 6 against Delhi Capitals in Match 40 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium here on Tuesday.
Having won the toss and opted to bowl, Delhi made early inroads into the LSG lineup after a brisk start by Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh. Markram played a fluent knock of 52 off 33 balls (2x4, 3x6), before he holed out to deep cover off Dushmantha Chameera at the end of the 10th over.
Nicholas Pooran looked dangerous but perished early, bowled by Mitchell Starc for 9 after two crisp boundaries. Abdul Samad struggled for timing and was caught and bowled by Mukesh Kumar, who then delivered a searing yorker to knock over Marsh for 45 (36 balls, 3x4, 1x6), swinging the momentum firmly in Delhi’s favour.
The fireworks, however, came from young Ayush Badoni, who unleashed a flurry of boundaries in the death overs. Badoni struck a 21-ball 36 with six boundaries, including three consecutive fours in the 20th over and a daring reverse hit off Starc. But his cameo was cut short when he was cleaned up by Mukesh, who bowled full and straight to rattle the off stump.
Rishabh Pant, surprisingly batting down the order, attempted a cheeky reverse hit on his second ball but ended up chopping it onto his stumps — giving Mukesh his fourth wicket and capping off a superb final over that yielded just one run and two wickets.
David Miller remained unbeaten on 14 (15 balls), while the rest of the LSG lower order did not get a chance to face a delivery.
Mukesh finished with match-turning figures of 4 for 33 in his 4 overs, earning high praise for his accurate and composed death bowling. Starc and Chameera claimed one wicket each, while skipper Axar Patel bowled economically, conceding just 29 runs in his four overs.
With 159 on the board, Lucknow will look to their bowlers to defend the total on a surface showing signs of variable pace and bounce.
Delhi, bolstered by their bowling unit, will hope their batsmen can capitalise and chase down the target under lights.
UNI BDN SS