Right then, that is it from this encounter where Delhi are hanging by a thread in this season while it is all but over for Lucknow. However, the action in the Indian T20 League 2024 continues with the race for the playoffs in the final lap now. Rajasthan will take on Punjab on 15th May, Wednesday. That game will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT), but as you know, you can always join us early for all the build-up to the match. Until then, cheers and goodbye!

Ishant Sharma is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his fine bowling spell. He says that from the last few games, his knuckle ball was not coming off and Rishabh Pant and Axar were making fun of him. Adds that he wanted to invent something new and it worked as he got Kohli out in the last game and KL Rahul in this one. Credits the physio for keeping him fit for the nine games. Mentions that in a tournament like this if you win close games you can take that momentum forward.

Rishabh Pant, the victorious skipper of Delhi is up for a quick chat. He says Pooran was definitely giving them a hard time but says they had a particular plan to get rid of him and also that the target was enough. Says they started the season with a lot of hope but a few injuries here and there, with a few ups and downs they struggled a bit in the mid-season. Reckons that as a franchise you can't complain all the time. Adds some things are in control and some are not. Appreciates the support he has got from the whole nation and everyone and says he loved every bit of it.

KL Rahul, the captain of Lucknow says that the wicket remained pretty similar throughout the 40 overs. Says they got out Jake Fraser-McGurk early but didn't capitalise further with the ball. He thinks that 200 was a par score and could have been chased down. Adds that losing wickets in the Powerplay has been a problem for them this season and a big reason they have struggled throughout.

Presentation Time...

Kuldeep Yadav is up for a quick chat. He says it was a good wicket to bowl, especially for the spinners, and adds that the ball was getting a good purchase in the second innings. He says the length matters and the wicket was a bit slow and he tried to bowl a little bit fuller. Says it is hard to adjust the length on a slow track and that revs are pretty important as a wrist spinner to spin the ball. Ends up by saying this is an important win and hopes for the best for his team.

Earlier in the game, despite losing Jake Fraser-McGurk early on, Delhi posted above 200 courtesy of a couple of smashing fifties from Abishek Porel and Tristan Stubbs along with some good contributions from skipper Rishabh Pant and Shai Hope. Naveen-ul-Haq picked up a couple of wickets for Lucknow while Arshad Khan and Ravi Bishnoi chipped in with one each. While chasing, the top order collapsed once again for Lucknow. Nicholas Pooran kept them in the chase while Arshad Khan also played an amazing knock towards the end but it was not meant to be for them. This result now means that Rajasthan becomes the second team to qualify for the playoffs.

Delhi, on the other hand, were brilliant with the new ball especially Ishant Sharma, who picked up three huge wickets in his first three overs to put the away team on the back foot. Axar Patel also got a breakthrough on the very first delivery of his spell but was taken to the cleaners by Nicholas Pooran. After a few expensive overs, the skipper decided to give the ball to Tristan Stubbs who got rid of Ayush Badoni straight away. The turning point came when Mukesh Kumar got the big wicket of Pooran but credit must also be given to Axar for a fine catch. Kuldeep Yadav also chipped in with one as well. However, they lost a bit of control of the game when Arshad Khan was smashing it all around the park and it got quite close towards the end, but the home side held their nerves better here.

Lucknow got off to the worst possible start losing their captain KL Rahul in the very first over. Things didn't improve much when Quinton de Kock went back after a few lusty blows with Marcus Stoinis and Deepak Hooda following suit without much impact. Nicholas Pooran came in with an attacking intent and took on Axar Patel from the start. He continued his aggressive nature while Ayush Badoni tried to provide support but couldn't hang around for much longer. Pooran fought a lone battle with a fantastic fifty, but their hopes were slashed once he was dismissed. Arshad Khan played a few lust blows along with Yudhvir Singh and kept the hopes alive. The former kept losing partners at the other end but smashed a brilliant unbeaten fifty but that was not enough as they fell short by 19 runs.

SO CLOSE, YET SO FAR FOR LUCKNOW! Massive praise to Arshad Khan who was absolutely sensational with the bat but just could not get his team over the line. Delhi had this game in their hands for a long time but then allowed the away side to come back in. However, in the end they managed to get the job done and stay alive in the season. For Lucknow, it is not in their hands anymore.

Naveen-ul-Haq is the last man in.