IPL 2023 LSG vs RR: Stoinis, Avesh help Lucknow Super Giants defend the lowest total of the season, thrash Rajasthan Royals by 10 runs
IPL 2023 LSG vs RR: Lucknow Super Giants defeated IPL 2023 table-toppers Rajasthan Royals by 10 runs in a low-scoring match at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Wednesday. Both LSG and RR now have 8 points from 6 matches but the Royals retained the No.1 spot because of a superior net run rate.
This was also the first win for Lucknow Super Giants over Rajasthan Royals after losing to them twice in the 2022 Indian Premier League. Avesh Khan (3 for 25) and Marcus Stoinis (2 or 28) helped LSG successfully defend the lowest total of this season.
IPL 2023 LSG vs RR: Stoinis, Avesh lead Lucknow to 10-run win over Rajasthan
Chasing a moderate 155, Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal maintained a cautious approach but put Rajasthan in a strong position with a 87-run stand for the opening wicket. Marcus Stoinis then removed Yashasvi for 44(35), following which Rajasthan endured a collapse, which swung the momentum into Lucknow’s favour.
Such was the impact that the equation dropped to 19 in the final over. Avesh Khan then bowled a brilliant final over as he struck twice and conceded 8 runs to restrict Rajasthan at 144/6 in 20 overs.
Earlier, clinical bowling by R Ashwin and Trent Boult helped the hosts restrict Lucknow at 154/7 after inviting them to bat. Ashwin scalped two wickets and conceded 23 runs in his four overs, while Boult gave 16 runs and picked a wicket in his quota. Kyle Mayers scored a half-century, but it came at a very slow pace.
Regardless of the defeat, it was a spectacular bowling performance from the Royals. Trent Boult bowled his 4 overs for 1 for 16 while R Ashwin finished with 2 for 23 off his 4 overs. However, Yuzvendra Chahal who is currently leading the Purple Cap race, conceded 41 runs in his spell as LSG finished with 154 for 7.
Avesh Khan kept his nerves after getting smashed off the first ball
With 19 runs to defend, Avesh Khan came to bowl the final over and Riyan Parag welcomed him with a four. He then conceded a single in the following delivery.
With 14 required off 4, Avesh removed Padikkal for 26(21). A wide yorker and Padikkal was caught-behind. The pacer then removed Dhruv Jurel in the following delivery as Hooda grabed a superb catch at long-on.
Avesh defends 19 runs in the final over as Rajasthan manage 144/6 in response to LSG’s 154/7 and win the contest by 10 runs.
Despite the Win LSG Skipper KL Rahul would have a lot to correct
It was a bizarre approach from the Lucknow Super Giants openers after Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson won the toss and chose to bowl. KL Rahul showed no intent while Kyle Mayers struggled with this rhythm.
LSG had managed only 37 runs in the Powerplay and then in another strange move, sent Ayush Badoni and the out-of-form Deepak Hooda ahead of the hard-hitting Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran. The pair added 45 for the 4th wicket and gave some kind of respectability to the LSG total.
KL Rahul has faced constant criticism over his strike-rate issues but he has played those concerns down. On Wednesday, he was on 19 off 19 balls at the end of the first 6 overs, at a time of the innings when most openers try to make the most of field restrictions.
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