IPL 2023: Rajasthan Royals succumb to pressure in 10-run defeat to Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Wednesday got the better of Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) contest in Jaipur, by 10 runs. And it certainly was not easy.

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Lucknow Super Giants, after being asked to bat first, were restricted to 154/7 in their 20 overs, and even on a slow pitch at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, for a few moments during the run-chase, it seemed as though Rajasthan Royals would walk off with a comfortable victory.

But, that was not meant to be, despite the early promises shown by Yashasvi Jaiswal (44) and Jos Buttler (40).

The duo forged an 87-run stand for the first wicket, before Jaiswal was caught by Avesh Khan at short third off Marcus Stoinis’ ball, and barring a 37-run stand between Devdutt Padikkal and Riyan Parag later on, for the fifth wicket, nothing much seemed to work for the Royals after that early flourish.

Fought till the end, but it just wasn’t our night. ☹️ pic.twitter.com/zAfeDeaU8J

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) April 19, 2023

Samson had walked into bat at number three following Jaiswal’s dismissal, and it was probably Samson’s run-out, following a mix-up with Buttler, that cost RR the game dearly.

Had Samson and Buttler built on the strong start set by Jaiswal and Buttler, the script would have been somewhat different and the game would not have gone this deep. But, it was a slow wicket anyway so it was hard to tell.

Samson was quick to admit the Royals’ mistakes, and said that the team would take some valuable lessons from the defeat.

“They bowled really well, whenever we tried to go hard at them, I think we lost wickets. 5 overs 50 in this kind of wicket is a bit tough with the way they were bowling. Even if you win or lose a game, you take lessons out of it, that’s the beauty of this game. We’ll be taking lot of lessons out of it. We did a reasonably good job to restrict them to 150.,” the RR skipper said at the presentation ceremony.

Avesh Khan, the game changer

Pacer Avesh Khan was possibly the game changer for Lucknow Super Giants on Wednesday.

Avesh Khan was introduced early on in the RR run chase, but he once again proved how effective he can be in the death overs for LSG.

Avesh Khan you beauty