Delhi Capitals (DC) finished the group stage of the IPL 2024 with a 19-run win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday, albeit mathematically, keeping them in contention for a top-four finish. LSG, who have one more game against the Mumbai Indians (MI), are not yet eliminated, but both teams will need other match results to go their way to finish in the top four. Meanwhile, the match result between DC and LSG confirmed Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) spot in the top four.

From 44 for 4 in a chase of 209, LSG managed to take the contest to the last over, thanks to Nicholas Pooran’s fiery knock of 27-ball 61 and Arshad Khan’s unbeaten 58 at No.8 position. On the other hand, DC’s young pacer Rasikh Salam defended 20 runs in the final over to give DC their seventh victory of the 2024 season. Earlier, seasoned campaigner Ishan Sharma ripped through LSG’s top order, taking three wickets inside four overs. Despite Pooran and Arshad’s valiant efforts, the visiting team continued to lose wickets at the other end, ultimately falling short.

On a high-scoring surface, DC needed to post a 200 or higher to have a chance at scoring two points. After being called to bat, Arshad gave LSG a dream start by dismissing dangerous Jake Fraser-McGurk for a duck. But Abishek Porel and Shai Hope took the attack to LSG bowlers, adding 92 runs for the second wicket. Hope departed for 38 while Porel played a brilliant knock of 58. DC skipper Rishabh Pant chipped in with 33 but it was Tristan Stubbs’ heroic cameo, 25-ball 57, that propelled DC to 208 for 4.