Delhi Capitals captain David Warner showered praise on the Lucknow Super Kings batting unit after losing their opening match of IPL 2023 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow by 50 runs on Saturday.
LSG posted an above-par score of 193 runs on the board after David Warner decided to bowl first. LSG skipper KL Rahul was dismissed cheaply for eight runs but Kyle Mayers gave a fine start to the home team.
The left-handed opener had the rub of the green on his side as he was dropped by Khaleel Ahmed when he was on 14. The West Indian made Delhi Capitals pay for their mistake as he changed gears after the drop catch.
Mayers went on to score a blistering knock of 73 runs from 38 balls and his knock included seven sixes as he timed the ball to perfection. Nicholas Pooran also smashed a little fine cameo of 21-ball 36 whereas Ayush Badoni scored 18 runs from seven balls.
David Warner said in the post-match presentation, “It was a bit of a challenge. We had some early momentum with the fast bowlers, they bowled very well in the powerplay. A few dropped catches and the momentum shifted there but you can’t take anything away from Lucknow. They batted very very well. I thought 170 was par but they did an exceptional job. Momentum is a big thing in this game. Don’t take it away from Wood, he’s an exceptional bowler and he showed his true talent tonight. I feel on this wicket you’re playing on two different surfaces from either end.”
He added, “We started very well. Our bowlers bowled exceptionally well. (On the knock of Mayers) When one guy goes big, he is a big strong boy. He was hard to stop. We go back to Delhi in front of our home crowd. We have to assess the wicket there. Last time I was in Delhi back in 2010-11 it was low and slow. It looks like there’s a bit of green grass there now with some dew coming in late in the night. (On being asked about the pitch in the Delhi Test last month) That was a bit of a different wicket with the red ball and we will forget about that (chuckles while saying that).”
On the other hand, Delhi Capitals could only manage 143-9 in their 20 overs in the run chase as they failed to have any kind of impetus in their batting innings. David Warner scored 56 runs from 48 balls and even he failed to change the momentum.
Delhi Capitals will next face Gujarat Titans on Tuesday at their home ground of Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi.
