Ashutosh Sharma''s heroics give Delhi Capitals one-wicket win over LSG in IPL thriller

Ashutosh Sharma's late heroics earned Delhi Capitals a thrilling one-wicket win against Lucknow Super Giants in their Indian Premier League season opener here on Monday.

Chasing 210, Delhi Capitals slipped to 7/3 in the second over and limped to 116 for six after 13 overs, but Ashutosh's stunning knock — 66 off 31 balls with five sixes and as many fours — delivered his side a sensational win from the jaws of defeat.

Even as wickets fell regularly towards the end, Ashutosh kept his composure and executed stunning bottom-handed strokes to finish the job for his side and give Delhi Capitals a stunning start to their season.

In a contest where fortunes swung from one side to another, DC emerged on top riding on the calm and composed knock from Ashutosh, who hit the winning runs as DC made 211/9 in 19.3 overs.

There was a late twist in the tale — with six runs needed off the final over and one wicket left, LSG skipper Rishabh Pant missed a stumping on the first ball from Shahbaz Ahmed which would have given his side the win but it wasn't meant to be.

LSG, who put on a below-par total on a placid surface here after scoring 209/8, made early inroads to shock Delhi's chase.

A recovery looked largely difficult as Delhi Capitals largely appeared more in damage-control mode than to make a real crack at the target.

However, the pair of debutant Vipraj Nigam (39 off 15 balls, 5x4s, 2x6s) and Ashutosh threatened to turn the tables on LSG with their 55-run stand-off only 22 balls for the seventh wicket, but the second strategic break ended their resistance right upon resumption.

Nigam fell to Digvesh Rathi (2/30) and Ravi Bishnoi (2/53) dismissed Mitchell Starc for a second wicket in quick succession as LSG tightened the screws on a faltering Delhi Capitals.