Delhi Capitals (DC) lost their IPL 2023 opening encounter to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 1 in Lucknow by 50 runs in a pretty much one-sided game and coach Ricky Ponting had a brutal assessment after the defeat.
Delhi Capitals bowlers gave away 16 sixes and spilled the catch of LSG opener Kyle Mayers, who slammed 73 in 38 balls with 7 sixes and 2 fours to his name and with Nicholas Pooran’s 36 in 21 balls, helped LSG post 193/6 in 20 overs.
In reply, DC could only manage 143/9 with captain David Warner top-scoring with 56 and only Rilee Russouw (30) going past the 20-run mark. Mark Wood’s brutal pace was too hot for DC batters to handle as he finished with 5/14 in only his second IPL match.
Ponting, the former Australian skipper, added LSG scored more runs than he expected, chiefly because of the profligacy of his bowlers.
"To be totally honest, I think they (LSG) got more runs than we probably expected. Our fielding after the first four overs was really soppy, a couple of chances went down, misfields. One of the chances that went down was (that of) Mayers. He went on a run after that, which put us behind in the game a little bit,” said Ponting in the post-match press conference.
"The thing with giving chances in IPL cricket, giving very good players a second opportunity (can be catastrophic). And he (Mayers) cashed in pretty much from that moment. He hit everything on the middle. He attacked our spin, which he played really well.
So that's just a good lesson for us. We know we have to be really sharp in the field. We can't afford to put chances down and, if you do, you have to expect that they (opposition) are gonna make you pay." The Australian legend said giving away 16 maximums is something that does peg a team back, from where it is difficult to bounce back,” he added.
"I think we conceded 16 sixes in our bowling innings. So, that goes to show they (DC bowlers) were a fair bit off with the execution of their bowling. I think whenever you are giving away 16 sixes and there were only five fours, it is quite remarkable." "So whenever you are giving that many, it's going to be hard to drag yourself back into the game," Ponting said.
DC coach further credited LSG’s Mark Wood’s fast and furious bowling for halting DC’s chase given the dew factor.
"Looking at the wicket, I dont think it was a 190-plus wicket. There was a lot of dew there. If anything, it was probably better for us batting second. There are a few reasons why we lost this game and we will address those and hopefully improve for our next one.
Wood was outstanding. He bowled the way we though he'd bowl. We knew he would run in and bowl fast, attack the stumps and use his bouncers. That's what he did. He used his bouncers really well and he is a world-class fast bowler. I think, as this tournament goes on, and if he stay fit, you'll see him bowl some really fast spells," added Ponting.
DC will now face GT on April 4 in their first home game of the season in Delhi. LSG, on the other hand, will travel to Chennai to face CSK on April 3.
(PTI inputs)
