LSG vs RR review: RR reaches the top of the Points table after defeating LSG by three runs
An absolute thriller ending to the clash between Lucknow Super Giants and Rajasthan Royals. The pitch at Wankhede gives thrilling finishes. The chasing team is never out of the game, no matter how the equation looks.
Shimron HetmyerShimron Hetmyer helped RR post a respectable total.
As in their previous matches, Rajasthan Royals, batting first, didn’t get off to a strong start. Avesh Khan dismissed the in-form Jos Buttler (13), who once got to form of hitting could have played a complete match from one end. Skipper Sanju Samson, too, lost his wicket to LBW by Jason Holder, whereas Devdutt Padikkal got out for 29. Rassie van der Dussen in the middle got bowled out by Krishnappa Gowtham. It was then Shimron Hetmyer who took the role of a power hitter and smashed six-sixes in his 36-ball inning. He got to the big score with the support of Ravichandran Ashwin, who got retired out on 28 runs, followed by Riyan Parag, who got dismissed for eight runs. Shimron Hetmyer hit the finishing runs to post a target of 166 for Lucknow Super Giants.
Rajasthan bowlers ripped LSG batters from chasing the total.
In response to the total posted, Lucknow Super Giant had one of their worst starts as KL Rahul and Krishnappa Gowtham both got out in the first over of Trent Boult. “You just can’t write a script for such an over. You just dream of it” described Alan Wilkins, former Welsh cricketer, after watching the first over of Trent Boult. To further put them in a tough spot came Prasidh Krishna, who took Jason Holder (8) as their third wicket. Quinton de Kock got a little partnership with Deepak Hooda, but none could capitalize on a big one. Yuzvendra Chahal took Quinton de Kock (39), and Kuldeep Sen bowled out Deepak Hooda (25). Ayush Badoni, too failed to make a mark in this one. Krunal Pandya played a quick knock of 22 off 15 when Chahal struck him as his third wicket. Marcus Stoinis then took the game pretty deep to keep the team in the game. He played an outstanding knock of 38-runs off 17 balls but failed to end up on the winning side as debutant Kuldeep Sen successfully defended 15 runs in the final over to hand Lucknow their second defeat by three runs. Sensational bowling from Rajasthan landed them two more points to reach the top of the points table.