Super Giants' incredible defence paves way for victory over IPL leaders Royals
Lucknow Super Giants impressively defended a total of just 154 to beat Indian Premier League leaders Rajasthan Royals by 10 runs at Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Wednesday.
The Super Giants' haul of 154-7 looked underwhelming as the hosts went into bat in Jaipur.
But fine bowling almost across the board helped keep the Royals in check after an encouraging powerplay, moving the Super Giants level with them in the table.
For much of the day, victory looked a tall order for the Super Giants.
Openers Kyle Mayers (51) and KL Rahul (39) had held on until the 11th over when the latter knocked to Jos Buttler for an easy catch.
His replacement, Ayush Badoni (1), lasted just four balls before deflecting a scoop right into leg stump off Trent Boult (1-16) ? Mayers was soon taken cleanly by Ravichandran Ashwin (2-23), who just moments earlier had lured Deepak Hooda (2) into a slog that Shimron Hetmyer gobbled up.
Marcus Stoinis (21) and Nicholas Pooran (29) offered late resistance, but at the time it almost appeared futile.
Buttler (40) and Yashasvi Jaiswal's (44) opening stand of 87 in the Royals' chase ended in the 12th, the latter removed by a stooping Avesh Khan, and things quickly unravelled.
Sanju Samson (2) was run out after hesitancy from Buttler, who fell in the 14th when a shank towards deep mid-wicket came up short.
Hetmyer (2) then misjudged a slog attempt as the Royals sunk into deeper trouble.
Riyan Parag (15 not out) and Devdutt Padikkal (26) tried to hoist them out of the mire, but Khan (3-25) defended 20 runs and took two wickets in the final over to get the Super Giants over the line.
twitter:1648748837765521409Stoinis and Khan fight back
The Super Giants bowled well in general, but Stoinis and Khan were particularly vital. Not only did they take all five wickets between them, but those that fell carried real significance.
Stoinis was the one to make the initial breakthrough with Buttler and Jaiswal, while Khan brought up the rear, holding the Royals off when Padikkal and Parag threatened to make it a tense finish.
Boult's efforts for nothing
Boult will have surely felt his work with the ball was going to have played a part in victory ? just 16 runs were scored against him in four overs, giving him the best economy of all bowlers on display.
He played a big role in limiting the Super Giants' total. Unfortunately for him, the batters could not return the favour.
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