IPL 2023, Rajasthan Royals (RR) vs Lucknow Super Giants (LSG): Ravichandran Ashwin-Trent Boult's combined 3-39, Marcus Stoinis' 21 & 2-28 and Avesh Khan's 3-25 are top performances. LSG beat Rajasthan Royals and stay at no. 2 spot in points table.
Brief Scores: LSG 154-7 (Mayers 51, Rahul 39; Ashwin 2-23) beat RR 144-6 (Jaiswal 44, Buttler 40; Avesh 3-25) by 10 runs.
Player of the Match: Marcus Stoinis (21 off 16 & 2-28)
Rajasthan Royals took on the Lucknow Super Giants at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur for the 26th Match of Tata IPL 2023. After four long years, an IPL game was being hosted at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Sanju Samson won the toss and elected to bowl first on this fresh wicket. For LSG, Naveen-Ul-Haq made his debut and for RR, Jason Holder was back in the eleven in place of Adam Zampa.
LSG's Game-Changing Strategy Sinks RR: Victorious Visions on the Field!
A green tinge wicket and the new ball being shared between Sandeep Sharma and Trent Boult, and spectators witness nothing but a swing bowling masterclass. LSG started cautiously and could only manage 37 runs for no loss at the end of six overs. Thanks to two drop catches, KL Rahul was still alive at the crease. In the next six overs, LSG picked up the pace and attacked the RR spinners in the middle overs scoring above eight runs per over escalating to 86-2 at the 12th over mark. The strong bowling lineup of Rajasthan held the LSG batters by the throat and didn’t let them lose as they dried up the runs which ended up putting pressure on the batters and pressure led to the loss of wickets at the quick session as they managed only 154-7 at the end of 20 overs.
Read More: IPL 2023, GT vs RR: Samson, Hetmyer help Rajasthan cruise through top spot; Gujarat at third
Unlike LSG, Rajasthan boarded the Rajdhani train and started scoring above seven runs per over chasing a mediocre target of 155. Jos Buttler and Yashaswi Jaiswal both looked untroubled and scored 73 runs in the first 10 overs. Rajasthan just needed 82 runs off 60 deliveries with all the 10 wickets intact. Stoinis’ golden arm and a run-out cost Rajasthan three quick wickets, and the momentum shifted big time toward LSG. KL used his bowlers well and the bowlers backed up with hard length bowling which stuck into the wicket making it difficult for the batters to clear the ropes. In the end, Avesh and Naveen Ul-Haq’s tremendous death bowling ensured LSG crossed the finishing to defeat RR by 10 runs.
Talking Point from Rajasthan Royals (RR) vs Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
Jos Buttler went in wearing colourful jerseys instead of plain white test jerseys to play out dreadful below-a-run ball innings in the power play with a strike rate of 97.56. LSG fast bowlers read the wicket well and made use of cutters and length deliveries to curb the Rajasthan Batters.
Top Three Performances from Rajasthan Royals (RR) vs Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
Trent delivers “Thunder Boult” and Ashwin spins the web at Sawai Mansingh Stadium
Trent Boult shines with 18 dot balls and a maiden over against LSG at Jaipur. He also nicely set up KL Rahul's dismissal. Ravichandran Ashwin adds to the impact with a superb four-over spell, and clean bowling Kyle Mayers. Boult finishes with 16 runs conceded and one wicket, while Ashwin gives away only 23 runs for two wickets, stifling LSG's batting.
Marcus “golden arm” Stoinis gets two crucial breakthroughs
The Australian all-rounder was yet to hold the ball in the 2023 Tata IPL. But KL has reserved Marcus Stoinis’ best for today as he came in the seventh over first to deliver a three-run over. Backed it up again by breaking the 87-run partnership between Jaiswal and Butler. The all-rounder then took the onus upon himself to dismiss the struggling Jos Buttler too. Marcus’ match-winning two-wicket spells giving just 28 runs in his four overs turned the game on his head and pulled LSG back in the game. The all-rounder also contributed with his bat with a little cameo of 21 runs of just 16 deliveries when LSG looked down and out in the batting.
Avesh hits the deck, and delivers an impactful 3-wicket spell
In his opening two overs, Avesh Khan wasn’t successful and gave away 15 runs on this tricky wicket of Jaipur. However, Avesh came back in the 15th over dismissing the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer cheaply before he could go big. Then when the game was on the wire, with Rajasthan needing 19 off the final over, Avesh did what he does best. Held his nerve under pressure in the death overs. A double-wicket 20th over and closed the game for LSG handsomely. Avesh just gave 25 runs in his four overs and picked up three very important wickets.
Points Table Scenario & What's Next
Even after the loss, Rajasthan maintained their top spot with 8 points thanks to a +1.043 NRR LSG closing in on them at the second position with an equal number of points.20TH April, we will see an odd-Thursday double-header with Punjab Kings taking on the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 3:30 PM slot.
IPL 2023 Points Table
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