IPL 2023Lucknow Super Giants defend lowest total of the season to end Rajasthan Royals winning streak

By Rajarshi GuptaLucknow Super Giants defeated IPL 2023 table-toppers Rajasthan Royals by 10 runs in a low-scoring match at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Wednesday. Both LSG and RR now have 8 points from 6 matches but the Royals retained the No.1 spot because of a superior net run rate.

This was also the first win for Lucknow Super Giants over Rajasthan Royals after losing to them twice in the 2022 Indian Premier League. Avesh Khan (3 for 25) and Marcus Stoinis (2 or 28) helped LSG successfully defend the lowest total of this season.

RR v LSG, IPL 2023 Highlights

Rajasthan Royals did not find batting any easier than Lucknow Super Giants on a sluggish pitch at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Despite the conditions, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler helped the Royals to a solid opening stand. The runs were difficult to come by but neither Jaiswal nor Buttler felt the need to take too many risks because they were not chasing a big total and there were enough power hitters down the line.

Yashasvi Jaiswal was more aggressive than the usually dangerous Jos Buttler. Jaiswal hit 4 fours and 2 sixes in a 35-ball 44 but he was sent back by Marcus Stoinis who had a superb evening with the ball. He also removed Jos Buttler for 40 off 41 balls as the Royals lost their momentum suddenly. In between those two wickets, Sanju Samson was run out thanks to a good throw from Amit Mishra.

IPL 2023Points Table

Shimron Hetmyer loved batting in these situations but the slow nature of the pitch did not let him do much. He fell to Avesh Khan as the asking rate started to climb. Devdutt Padikkal was well set by the Riyan Parag walked in to join him.

Rajasthan Royals needed 42 off the last 3 overs and their slow approach was baffling because they were batting deep with Jason Holder slotted to come in at No.9. An edge off Marcus Stoinis in the 18th over gave Devdutt Padikkal four lucky runs but the next two boundaries were examples of his sheer class. A rare poor delivery from Stoinis was dispatched past deep square leg while another was smashed over extra cover.

Kevin Pietersen, who was on commentary duty for STAR Sports, was far from impressed with Riyan Parag for taking a single in what was now a tight finish. Moments later, Parag hit a slower ball from Naveen-ul-Haq for a six with 19 needed off the final over.

WAS RAHUL’S INTENT OKAY?

It was a bizarre approach from the Lucknow Super Giants openers after Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson won the toss and chose to bowl. KL Rahul showed no intent while Kyle Mayers struggled with this rhythm. The RR pacers Trent Boult and Sandeep Sharma were brilliant on a pitch which was deemed to be good for batting at the toss.

KL Rahul was dropped twice – once off Sandeep Sharma and then off Trent Boult – but after a phase of poor T20 batting, he fell for 39 off 32 balls. The LSG captain hit 5 boundaries during his knock, raising questions on his strike-rates and his ability to provide the team with quick starts.

Kyle Mayers eventually hit a half-century but he was nowhere near his fluent best.

LSG had managed only 37 runs in the Powerplay and then in another strange move, sent Ayush Badoni and the out-of-form Deepak Hooda ahead of the hard-hitting Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran. The pair added 45 for the 4th wicket and gave some kind of respectability to the LSG total.

The pitch might have been difficult to bat on but the approach of the LSG openers was inexplicable. KL Rahul has faced constant criticism over his strike-rate issues but he has played those concerns down. On Wednesday, he was on 19 off 19 balls at the end of the first 6 overs, at a time of the innings when most openers try to make the most of field restrictions.

Kyle Mayers was slow as well but at least, he tried to hit a few big shots.

It was a spectacular bowling performance from the Royals. Trent Boult bowled his 4 overs for 1 for 16 while R Ashwin finished with 2 for 23 off his 4 overs. However, Yuzvendra Chahal who is currently leading the Purple Cap race, conceded 41 runs in his spell as LSG finished with 154 for 7.