Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), India, March 25 (ANI): On Monday, Ashutosh Sharma and Mohit Sharma etched their names in history as they successfully chased down a target of 210 runs for the Delhi Capitals (DC) during their Indian Premier League (IPL) match against the Lucknow Super Giants.
In an impressive display during the IPL, Ashutosh orchestrated one of the most significant heists in recent years, leading his team to chase down a daunting target of 210 runs after being in trouble at 65/5. During DC's remarkable victory in Visakhapatnam, the crucial partnership formed by Ashutosh and Mohit was instrumental in securing their triumph.
After Kuldeep Yadav left for five wickets, DC had reached 192/9. They needed just 18 more runs to secure victory. Following this, Ashutosh dominated Prince Yadav’s bowling, scoring a boundary and then a six off consecutive deliveries, which narrowed the target down to only six runs required in the last over.
During the last over, following a missed stumping and an unsuccessful lbw review, LSG skipper Rishabh Pant faced significant pressure. Displaying great cricket intelligence, Mohit scored just one run to put Ashutosh at the crease, narrowing the target to five runs from four deliveries. Ashutosh then smashed a direct six, securing victory for DC with two wickets and three balls remaining.
This collaboration between partners stands at 19 runs, marking the highest tally for a team throughout the tournament’s history in a one-wicket victory, according to Wisden.
Ashutosh's innings of 66 not out off 31 deliveries, featuring five boundaries and as many sixes, stands as the joint-second highest score for a batsman batting at position seven or lower during a victorious pursuit in the Indian Premier League (IPL). This ties him with Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) ace Andre Russell, who achieved this feat when chasing down 155 runs against Punjab in 2015. The record holder remains Dwayne Bravo, whose explosive 68 came off just 30 balls, leading Chennai Super Kings to a narrow one-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians (MI).
At the start of the game, DC secured the win at the toss and decided to field first. However, when they dismissed Aiden Markram inexpensively (for just 15 runs off 13 deliveries), Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran ensured that DC would rue their choice to make LSG bat initially. They dominated with both powerful sixes and stylish boundaries against the bowling attack. The duo formed an impressive partnership of 87 runs for the second wicket;Marsh was eventually out after scoring 72 from 36 balls, including six fours and six maximums.
Pooran lingered for some time until he succumbed to Mitchell Starc (3/42). Until then, he had caused significant harm by scoring 75 runs off merely 30 deliveries, including six boundaries and seven maximums. The DC bowlers staged a resurgence towards the end of the innings, limiting LSG to 209/8 after their allotted 20 overs, dismissing captain Rishabh Pant (0) in the process.
Poonam, Ayush Badoni (4) and Shardul Thakur (0) were dismissed rapidly. Miller remained not out on 27* off 19 deliveries, hitting one four and two sixes.
Kuldeep Yadav (2/20) secured vital wickets for DC as well, with Vipraj and Mukesh Kumar taking one apiece.
While chasing, DC lost half of their team for just 65 runs. Despite Faf’s contribution of 29 off 18 deliveries, including three boundaries and two maximums, along with Axar Patel, the captain adding 22 from only 11 balls containing three fours and one six; they were trying to recover from an early setback where DC had fallen to 7/3.
Ashutosh subsequently shared a partnership of 48 runs with Tristan Stubbs (who scored 34 from 22 deliveries, including one four and three sixes), followed by Vipraj (contributing 39 from just 15 balls, featuring five boundaries and two maximums). Eventually, he nearly completed the victory virtually solo when only a wicket and three remaining balls were left.
Shardul, Manimaran Siddharth, Digvesh Rathi, and Ravi Bishnoi took two wickets apiece.
The 'Player of the Match' award was presented to Ashutosh. (ANI)
