Samir Rizvi and Tristan Stubbs (Photo: IPL)

Sameer Rizvi displayed composure and class after coming on as an impact substitute as Delhi Capitals secured a comfortable six-wicket win over Lucknow Supergiants in their IPL clash on Wednesday.Chasing a modest target of 142 runs, Delhi got into big trouble early on and were out at 26 runs for 4 wickets in the first five overs. However, Rizvi (70* off 47 balls) took advantage of the opportunity and shared an unbeaten 119-run partnership with Tristan Stubbs (39* off 32 balls) for the fifth wicket. The duo ensured that Delhi crossed the finish line with ease and won in just 17.1 overs.

Rizvi, Stubbs script surprise recovery

Rizvi’s innings stood out because of his maturity. He faced a challenging spell from Mohammed Shami. mohsin khanAnd Prince Yadav before changing gears. On a surface that provided assistance to the seamers, Rizvi hit five fours and four sixes, making the chase look easier than it initially looked.The turning point came in the 10th over bowled by Shahbaz Ahmed. Rizvi took full advantage and scored 16 runs with a mixture of sweeps, pulls and clever placement. From that moment on, the momentum swung firmly in Delhi’s favour.Later he demonstrated his range by climbing to heights aiden markram Ended LSG’s hopes in succession by dispatching Mohsin Khan at long-on and with authority. Stubbs played the perfect supporting role, rotating the strike and ensuring that the pressure never built again.

Despite early successes, LSG faltered in batting

Lucknow had made a great start with the ball. Mohammed Shami dismissed KL Rahul for zero on the very first ball. Mohsin Khan dismissed Nitish Rana while Pathum Nissanka lost cheaply to Prince Yadav. Delhi captain Axar Patel was also out for zero on the very first ball due to pace and movement.However, LSG could not take advantage of the early momentum as Rizvi and Stubbs took control.Earlier, LSG had a disappointing performance in batting and could only score 141 runs in 18.4 overs. In a surprise strategic move, captain Rishabh Pant opened the innings and disrupted an established combination. Pant scored 7 runs before being run out and never looked comfortable.Aiden Markram showed brief promise but was dismissed by Axar Patel, while Ayush Badoni was out for a duck. Nicholas Pooran was undone by a clever slow delivery from Lungi Ngidi, which dipped late and crashed into the stumps.Ngidi showed excellent variation and took 3 wickets, while T Natarajan also took three wickets. Kuldeep Yadav took two wickets, including the important wicket of Mitchell Marsh with a googly.Overall, it was a great performance from Delhi Capitals. Despite the early collapse, Rizvi’s brilliance and Stubbs’ composure led to a remarkable comeback, giving Delhi a winning start to their campaign.