Rajasthan Royals topples Lucknow Super Giants from second place after a clinical 24-run win

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Devdutt Padikkal led the batting department to take Rajasthan Royals’ score to 178 runs. At the same time, Ravi Bishnoi was Lucknow Super Giants’ most successful bowler with figures of 2/31 in 4 overs.

Lucknow then came in to bat but was disappointed as two of their top batsmen (Quinton de Kock and Ayush Badoni) got out early on successive balls. After that, Lucknow Super Giants were restricted to 154/8 in twenty overs.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Devdutt Padikkal help Rajasthan Royals cross the 170-runs mark

Rajasthan Royals won the toss and chose to bat first at the iconic Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. Yashasvi Jaiswal came in to open the innings with the in-form Jos Buttler. Jaiswal started things off in style, hitting Mohsin Khan for two consecutive boundaries in the first over.

However, Lucknow got back early and took out Royals’ trump card, Jos Buttler, in the third for only two runs.

After the first wicket, skipper Sanju Samson joined Jaiswal and got off the mark with a boundary. On the other end, Samsung continued to play brilliantly as Jaiswal got a lifeline after Mohsin Khan dropped him in Avesh Khan’s over. 

After this, Jaiswal got into the groove and continued to send balls over the fence as Sanju Samson played patiently. This flurry of boundaries against Dushmantha Chameera helped Rajasthan clinch 51 runs in the power play overs.

However, after a simple catch to Deepak Hooda, Samson (32 off 24) was sent back to the dugout in the ninth over. 

Devdutt Padikkal joined Jaiswal and quickly sent Marcus Stoinis for two fours and a six to collect himself 14 runs off five balls. 

Padikkal sent Chameera for two boundaries to help Rajasthan cross 100 runs in eleven overs. Jaiswal was removed for 41 off 29 runs in the next over, and Padikkal followed suit in the fourteenth. 

Riyan Parag, James Neesham and the rest of the lower order played their part and added 60 more runs to Rajasthan’s tally to 178/6.

Trent Boult anchors Lucknow Super Giant’s downfall with early wickets

Lucknow Super Giants started as New Zealand’s Trent Boult got rid of wicket-keeper batsman Quinton de Kock for seven runs and Ayush Badoni for a duck in the third over.

Skipper KL Rahul was also struggling as he could only manage to hit ten runs off 19 balls and gave a catch to Yashasvi Jaiswal at cover-point in the sixth over. Lucknow was really behind their rivals as they could only scrap by the 30-runs mark in the power play overs. 

Krunal Pandya joined Deepak Hooda, and the duo added 65 runs to the scoreboard as things started to look good for the Lucknow Super Giants.

However, the happiness was short-lived as Jos Buttler, and Riyan Parag’s team effort near the ropes provided Rajasthan with a much-needed breakthrough. Krunal Pandya was caught and gave up his wicket for 25 runs.

Marcus Stoinis joined Deepak Hooda, but the duo could not do wonders as Rajasthan skipper Samson stumped Deepak Hooda (59 off 39 balls) at the end of the sixteenth over. 

It was downhill for Lucknow as Rajasthan bowled tight to remove any chances of a slip-up while taking out the rest of the batting order.

Lucknow could only manage to get to 154 runs for eight wickets and lost the match by 24 runs.

Both teams have 16 points from 13 matches, but Rajasthan edged Lucknow with a slightly better Net Run Rate (+0.304 to Lucknow’s +0.262) to take the second spot just below Gujarat Titans. 

Both teams will look to win their last matches to reserve a safe berth at number 2. Lucknow Super Giants will play against Kolkata Knight Riders on May 18, while Rajasthan Royals will take on Chennai Super Kings on May 20.