In the fourth match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, Rajasthan Royals (RR) defeated Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 20 runs at Sawai Mansingh Stadium here on Sunday, Nicholas Pooran’s 63 and K.L. Rahul’s 58 were in vain.
Trent Boult struck twice in his successive overs, removing Quinton de Kock and Devdutt Padikkal, as the Lucknow Super Giants faltered early in the inning while attempting to chase the mark of 194, which was set up by an unbeaten 82 by captain Sanju Samson and 43 by Riyan Parag. After being hit for four by de Kock, Boult recovered with a fullish delivery outside leg in his opening over, and Nandre Burger made a simple catch at fine leg.
Then, with Padikkal playing in his first inning for LSG, Boult replaced him for a duck. This time, the experienced New Zealand paced angled it into the left-hander a little bit closer to the shorter end of the length. The ball pitched on or near the stump and returned to the pitch without completely leaving it. Padikkal attempted to bend, but it was too late since he had already curved to swipe, possibly seeing the length.
Ayush Badoni was replaced for one run by Impact Player Nandre Burger.
Following the early loss, Deepak Hooda and captain K.L. Rahul forged a relationship that saw LSG claw their way back into the match by hitting boundaries and maximums. Hooda used Burger’s pace to target the deep third boundary for his first two scoring strokes, a six and a four in back-to-back balls. Rahul then recovered from another helmet-thumping bouncer from Boult to slog-sweep R. Ashwin over deep midwicket for six. LSG achieved a 47 for 3 Powerplay finish.
In order to maintain his lead at the top of the IPL all-time wickets figures, Yuzvendra Chahal scored in his opening over. Hooda, who finished with 26 points from 13 wickets overall, played with a suitably light touch, hitting Avesh Khan for a second six over deep midwicket. However, Dhruv Jurel made a wise decision to take the catch five metres in from the rope, therefore his effort to rush Chahal was unsuccessful.
Halfway through, Lucknow was 76 for 4, with Pooran making his first six after he had survived a diving attempt by Riyan Parag at far off. However, Burger delivered a costly third over, giving up 17 runs, including two fours and a six from Rahul, so the chase was far from finished.
When Boult came back for his fourth and last over, he gave up 20 runs, two maximums, and a boundary. Rahul, on the other hand, needed 35 balls to get his fifty. A superbly calibrated countermovement to that powerplay explosion.
Conversely, Pooran rotated the strike with caution and batted wisely. Rajasthan maintained their competitiveness by limiting the run-rate to about two runs per ball. Following the calculated time-out, KL Rahul appeared hurried, took on Sandeep Sharma’s wide line and identified Jurel in the covers. Marcus Stoinis entered the fray as Rahul, who had scored a solid 58 off 44, ended a stand of 85 from 52.
Ashwin’s carrom ball got his measure, and Marcus Stoinis needs to exert himself immediately. Krunal Pandya took a slog to deep midwicket to reach the middle, while Stoinis returned to the pavilion having managed just three runs from four deliveries.
With just 11 overs bowled, Sandeep Sharma produced an outstanding 19th over, forcing Avesh Khan to defend 27 in the last six balls. Avesh lived up to the captain’s expectations by delivering a brilliant wide outside yorker and conceding just six runs. The Giants’ 20 run deficit in the game meant that it ended in an anticlimactic fashion.
The Royals began the competition with a victory thanks to Sandeep Sharma’s great performance at a critical point in the match. Boult was excellent once more during the powerplay, and Ashwin, albeit a little pricey, claimed the crucial wicket of Stoinis. The Royals put up an outstanding team display, and they will now play the Delhi Capitals in Jaipur on March 28.
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