Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals (RR) survived Nicholas Pooran's scare as they beat Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 20 runs in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season opener. Trent Boult and Nandre Burger were lethal with the new ball but skipper KL Rahul and Pooran brought LSG back in the run chase. Pooran kept the game alive till the final over but former LSG bowler Avesh Khan defended 27 runs with ease.
Good start despite early wickets
Earlier, Samson won the toss and opted to bat first. Naveen-ul-Haq conceded two boundaries in his first over but he managed to find an edge off Jos Buttler's bat. He scored 11 runs from nine balls. In Mohsin Khan's second over, Yashasvi Jaiswal hit two consecutive fours. Mohsin was expensive in his third over. Samson hit him for a four and a six. Then Jaiswal hit him for a six as well. On the last ball, Jaiswal lost his wicket to Mohsin in an attempt to play a pull shot. The opener scored 24 runs from 12 balls. After powerplay overs, RR were 54/2.
Samson hits fifty
After two economical overs from Ravi Bishnoi and Krunal Pandya, Samson and Riyan Parag took on Yash Thakur. Parag hit a six whereas Samson ended the over with two sixes. Bishnoi was expensive in his second over as he was smashed for one six each by both batters. In Bishnoi's next over, Parag played a loose shot but Mohsin dropped a simple catch. He was batting on 29 then. Samson reached his 21st IPL fifty from 32 balls. Parag took on Naveen in the 15th over. After hitting a six over long-off, he fell to a slower ball. Parag scored 43 runs from 29 balls including one four and three sixes.
Jurel's cameo
Shimron Hetmyer failed to make an impact and edged one to Rahul in Bishnoi's last over. Dhruv Jurel smashed a six to show his intentions. Thakur was expensive again as Samson hit another six. Naveen finished well in the penultimate over conceding eight runs. Jurel's catch was dropped at long-off. In the final over bowled by Mohsin, Jurel hit a four. Samson hit a six off the penultimate delivery. He remained unbeaten for 82 off 52 balls including three fours and six sixes. Jurel's unbeaten 12-ball 20 helped Royals post 193/4.
Boult's new ball magic
Giants' run chase got off to a rocky start. Quinton de Kock threw his wicket away as he flicked one off pads to find Burger at the fence. In his next over, Boult rattled Devdutt Padikkal with a bouncer. He followed it up with a fuller delivery to hit the stumps. Burger made Ayush Badoni his maiden IPL wicket. Badoni went dor a drive and was caught at mid-off. Deepak Hooda came in as an impact player. He smashed a six and a four off Burger. Ravichandran Ashwin was expensive in his first over. He bowled five wides and then was hit by a six by Rahul. After the powerplay overs, LSG were 47/3.
Rahul hits fifty, Pooran accelerates
Hooda whacked a slower ball over the midwicket fence for a six. In the next over, he lost his wicket to Yuzvendra Chahal. He came dancing down the track to hit the ball over deep midwicket but found Jurel. He scored 26 runs from 13 balls. Pooran was cautious at the start. He hit Chahal for a six over long-off. Burger was brought into the attack. Rahul hit him for a six and two fours. Boult in his final over was hit for two sixes and a four. Rahul reached his half-century from 34 balls. After two quiet overs, Pooran hit Chahal for another six. Rahul succumbed to scoreboard pressure. He went for a big shot but was caught by Jurel at sweeper cover. The skipper scored 58 runs from 44 balls including four fours and a couple of sixes.
Sandeep keeps Pooran at bay
Ashwin was exceptional in his last over. Marcus Stoinis could not do much damage and was dismissed for a single-digit score. In the last two overs, LSG needed 38 runs. Pooran's catch was dropped by Parag at long-on. Sandeep conceded two fours in the over and left 27 runs for Avesh to defend. Pooran did not give the strike to Krunal till the target became unattainable in legal deliveries. Avesh conceded just six runs in the final over as LSG suffered a 20-run defeat. Pooran remained unbeaten for 64 off 41 balls including four fours and as many sixes.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
