RR vs LSG highlights: Rajasthan Royals thrashed Lucknow Super Giants by 20 runs to start their campaign in IPL 2024 with a fine win. Chasing 194 runs to win the game, LSG finished their innings on 173 for 6.
LSG’s top order was rocked by Trent Boult and Nandre Burger at the start of the innings. Boult dismissed Quinton de Kock in his first over before sending back Devdutt Padikkal in his second over to leave LSG reeling at 10 for 2. In the fourth over, Nandre Burger sent back Ayush Badoni for just 1 to reduce LSG to 11 for 3.
KL Rahul and Deepak Hooda stopped the rot for a while. While Rahul remained cautious, Hooda played some big shots although he did not last long. He scored 26 runs off 13 balls and was dismissed by Yuzvendra Chahal. At 60 for 4, LSG were well behind in the game before Nicholas Pooran turned the game on its head by launching a stunning attack.
The West Indies star went big right from the start and Rahul started playing some big shots as well. The duo added 85 runs for the fifth wicket to revive their team’s hopes. Sandeep Sharma broke the stand by dismissing Rahul for 58. Pooran, on the other hand, completed his fifty in just 30 balls. However, with very little support from the other end, Pooran could not guide his team to a win as LSG eventually finished on 173 for 6.
RR vs LSG: RR innings
Earlier in the game, RR posted a big total of 193 for 4 in the allotted 20 overs. After opting to bat first, RR captain Sanju Samson led from the very front and scored an unbeaten half-century.
The inaugural IPL winners lost the wickets of both their openers inside the powerplay. Naveen-ul-Haq dismissed Jos Buttler for 11 in the second over of the game before Mohsin Khan sent Yashasvi Jaiswal packing for 24 in the fifth over to reduce RR to 49 for 2.
However, before LSG could make further inroads, Samson and Riyan Parag steadied the ship for the home side. The duo added 93 runs for the third wicket to lay the foundation for the big total. Parag batted fearlessly, scoring 43 off 29 balls with the help of one four and three sixes before being dismissed by Naveen-ul-Haq.
On the other hand, Samson completed his fifty in 33 balls and remained till the end. At 143 for 3 after 15 overs, RR were looking set to post a 200-plus total. However, LSG bowlers did well to restrict RR to less than 200. From 16th to the 19th over, LSG conceded 36 runs to pull things back a bit for their side. Samson not getting much strike also helped the visitors as the RR skipper faced only 9 of the 24 deliveries from 16th to the 19th over.
In the final over, he hit a six while Dhruv Jurel hit a four to collect 14 runs and power their team to a 190-plus total. Samson remained unbeaten on 82 off 52 balls with the help of three fours and six sixes.
RR vs LSG scorecard:
