Gautam Gambhir, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) mentor had a smiling face as his side beat Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur. Now LSG with four wins in six matches it played this season, is at the second spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 points table.
While Gambhir’s smile looked more of an ‘escaped’ one as at one stage Super Giants was not in the game, and the home side was at the top it was looking easy victory for them but as the wicket started trembling, and brilliant bowling by Avesh Khan with a figure of 3/25 in 4 overs, LSG side clinched victory by 10 runs against RR, although the game went to the last over, two wickets also fell in that over, so after the third ball in 20th over, it was clear who will win the game.
Gautam Gambhir with Yashasvi Jaiswal. pic.twitter.com/IFTRkoF1xc
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 19, 2023
RR vs LSG recap-
Sanju Samson-led RR won the toss and opted to bowl, the home side bowled exceptionally well and they kept the strong LSG batting side restricted to 154. While in powerplay LSG did not lose a wicket but only managed 37. That set the tone for the rest of the innings, there were a few occasions where runs came quickly.
LSG struggled for the most part of the innings. While Nicholas Pooran and Marcus Stoinis showed some effort by 29 (20) & 21 (16), it felt that they had too much to do, a major part of the run was added by openers as they had 82 runs opening stand, Kyle Mayers scored a highest run in the innings with 51 (42).
While in the chase RR, after a strong powerplay, and with 87 run opening stand, lose their first wicket in the 12th over, as Yashasvi Jaiswal was bowled out for 44 (35), while two wickets fell in successive overs, Samson was out next over followed by opener Jos Buttler on 40 ( 41), and after that what looked liked home side game, changed drastically especially as the run-rate kept climbing post Shimron Hetmyer‘s dismissal in the 16th over, at one stage 68 was needed from 51 deliveries with 10 wickets in hand, from that KL Rahul-led side has defended the total.
Australian all-rounder, Marcus Stoinis was awarded player of the match for his 21 (16) and 2/28, his all-round performance insured LSG wins the game comfortably, and we saw the veteran Indian batter smile, who most often is seen showing a finger on the lips gesture to opposition crowd in IPL.
Gautam Gambhir – One rarely see smile on his face but he smiles when Lucknow Super Giants win and do well. Kudos to LSG #RRvLSG pic.twitter.com/K5ZoxWj8n8
— Vikram Rajput (@iVikramRajput) April 19, 2023
Now in IPL 2023, for their seventh game of the season, LSG will take on defending champions Gujarat Titans on April 22 at Lucknow (3.30 PM IST).