KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) put up an impressive bowling display to beat table-toppers Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Sawai Man Singh Stadium by 10 runs in a low-scoring encounter on April 19. Despite an 87-run opening partnership, Royals lost too many wickets and lost their first game at the venue on return after four years.
Ideal start
In the run chase of 155, the openers were kept quiet by on-debut Afghanistan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq who conceded just five runs from his two overs. In the first four overs, only 23 runs were scored. While Jos Buttler struggled, Yashasvi Jaiswal took the attacking approach. In the sixth over, Naveen dropped Jaiswal's catch. After powerplay overs, Royals had 47 runs on the board. The partnership continued and Royals had 73 runs on the board at halfway stage.
Wickets tumble
Marcus Stoinis broke the 87-run partnership in the 12th over after getting hit for a six. Jaiswal got out after scoring 44 runs from 35 balls including four fours and two sixes. In the 13th over, skipper Sanju Samson got run out after miscommunication with Buttler. He scored just two runs from four balls. In the 14th over, Stoinis got rid of Buttler who went for a big shot but got caught at deep mid-wicket. He scored 40 runs from 41 balls including four fours and one six. In the 16th over, Shimron Hetmyer tried to take on Avesh Khan but got caught. Hetmyer could score just two runs from five balls.
Flawed finish
In the last four overs, Royals needed 48 runs. In the 18th over Devdutt Padikkal went after Stonis and hit him for three fours. They needed 29 off the last two overs. Naveen who had conceded just nine runs from his three overs was hit for a six by Riyan Parag in 10-run over. RR needed 19 off the last over and Parag started off with a boundary followed by a leg byes. Padikkal went for the big shot but got caught behind the stumps. He scored 26 runs from 21 deliveries including four fours. Dhruv Jurel went for the big shot but got caught on the boundary. In the end, RR lost the game by 10 runs.
Quiet powerplay overs
Earlier, Samson won the toss and opted to field first. Trent Boult started off with a maiden against Rahul. Sandeep Sharma erred with his line and got punished by Kyle Mayers. Boult troubled Mayers as well. In the fourth over, Rahul was dropped by Jaiswal. Boult's third over was expensive as he got hit for a six by Mayers followed by a four by Rahul. On the last ball, Rahul's catch was dropped again. This time it was Jason Holder. After powerplay overs, LSG had 37 runs on the board.
Mayers leads the way
The two batters tried to accelerate after powerplay overs. Mayers hit Holder and Yuzvendra Chahal for a six. Rahul hit a monstrous 103-metre six off Chahal too. At halfway stage, LSG were 79/0. Holder broke the partnership in the 11th over with the wicket of Rahul. The opener scored 39 runs from 32 balls including four fours and one six. Ayush Badoni was promoted up the order but Boult got him bowled from around the wicket. In the 13th over, Mayers got to his half-century from 40 balls.
Pooran's late blitz
In the 14th over, Ashwin struck twice. Deepak Hooda's horrible run continued as he scored just two runs from four balls. Mayers got bowled in the same over. The Caribbean batter scored 51 runs from 42 balls including four fours and three sixes. No boundaries came in the next two overs despite Stoinis and Pooran in the middle. At one point, even crossing the 150-run mark looked unlikely. In the penultimate over, Pooran took on Holder and hit him for one six and two fours. Sandeep bowled an excellent last over. He got the wicket of Stoinis who scored 21 runs from 16 balls. Krunal Pandya found a boundary. There were two runs outs off the last two balls as LSG posted 154/7 in the first innings.
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