Jake Fraser-McGurk scored a half-century on his IPL debut as Delhi Capitals defeated Lucknow Super Giants by six wickets on Friday.
The 22-year-old Australian scored 55 runs off 35 balls and shared a 77-run partnership for the third wicket with captain Rishabh Pant (41 off 24). Delhi chased down Lucknow's 167-7 with 11 balls to spare.
Delhi moved to ninth place in the 10-team contest after securing only their second victory from six outings.
Lucknow, who had won three out of four matches, are now placed fourth:
“Spent five-six games on the sidelines itching to get out there,” said 22-year-old Fraser-McGurk. “I’m so happy to be here, different world in terms of cricket. Never seen anything like it, to be able to savour eight weeks, hopefully more, is amazing.”
Delhi lost their opener David Warner early in the innings. He dragged a ball from Yash Thakur onto his stumps soon after being attended to by the physio for a blow he took on his knuckles.
Prithvi Shaw was caught brilliantly by Nicholas Pooran at deep midwicket off Ravi Bishnoi. Pant and Fraser-McGurk steadied the innings with their partnership.
Fraser-McGurk, who was not selected in the IPL auction but replaced Lungi Ngidi, demonstrated his power-hitting ability by hitting Krunal Pandya for three consecutive sixes in one over.
The Australian's innings, which included five sixes and two fours, ended when Arshad Khan caught him. However, by then, Delhi required only 28 runs from 32 balls.
Pant scored 41 runs off 24 balls, including two sixes and four boundaries, before being stumped by Bishnoi. He also surpassed 3,000 IPL runs.
Lucknow made a good start after choosing to bat, but stumbled after the powerplay, losing two wickets in two balls to left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav (3-20).
Yadav had missed Delhi's last two matches due to injury.
The slow bowler dismissed Rahul (39 off 22 balls) as he attempted to slash a ball turning away.
A Delhi review confirmed a nick.
Lucknow were struggling at 94-7 in the 13th over. However, Ayush Badoni's unbeaten 35-ball 55 and his partnership of 73 runs with Arshad Khan (20*) for the eighth wicket helped them achieve a competitive total.
Badoni's half-century was his first this IPL season, during which he hit one six and five fours.