Lucknow Super Giants secured a thrilling 10-run victory over Rajasthan Royals in an IPL 2023 match at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Wednesday. The Lucknow team's impressive performance was led by Avesh Khan's 3/25 and Marcus Stoinis' 2/28.
Rajasthan Royals had a fantastic 87-run opening partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler. However, Stoinis took out both openers and shifted the momentum in Lucknow's favour. As the required run-rate climbed up, Rajasthan struggled to find boundaries, finishing with 144/6 in their 20 overs.
Chasing 155, Jaiswal survived an lbw decision via review on the first ball off Naveen-ul-Haq and looked good, hitting a six and a four. Buttler found his range after some initial struggles, hitting a massive six over deep mid-wicket.
However, Lucknow struck back, taking crucial wickets as the required run rate continued to climb. In the 18th over, Devdutt Padikkal broke a spell of 31 balls without boundaries, hitting three fours off Stoinis. But with 29 needed off the last two balls, Riyan Parag hit a six over deep mid-wicket, but Lucknow's ul-Haq gave away only ten runs in the penultimate over.
Due to the slow-over rate, Lucknow could keep only four fielders outside the 30-yard circle in the final over. Parag hit the first ball for four, but Avesh Khan bounced back by having Padikkal nick behind to the keeper and Dhruv Jurel holing out to long-on, sealing the game in Lucknow's favour.
Despite a valiant effort by Rajasthan Royals, Lucknow Super Giants' exceptional bowling performance secured their victory in the IPL 2023 match.
Brief Scores: Lucknow Super Giants 154/7 in 20 overs (Kyle Mayers 51, KL Rahul 39; Ravichandran Ashwin 2/23, Trent Boult 1/16) beat Rajasthan Royals 144/6 in 20 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 44, Jos Buttler 40; Avesh Khan 3/25, Marcus Stoinis 2/28) by 10 runs.