Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants Match-4 Results

Right then, that is it from this exciting match where Rajasthan registered their first win over Lucknow. Another power-packed match continues in the Indian T20 League where Mumbai take on Gujarat at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. You can simply switch tabs to enjoy the live coverage of that game. Until then, Cheers and goodbye!

Sanju Samson the skipper of Rajasthan is also the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his unbeaten 82 runs. He says he enjoyed it and it feels good to end on the winning side. Adds that this time he has been given a different role and Sangakkara has given him some suggestions and playing some International ODI's has helped him do well. Mentions that he is a batter who reacts to the ball and it helps him maintain the shape and its all about timing the ball. Appreciates Sandeep Sharma and says that those 3 overs were crucial and everybody else chipped in well and stuck to their plans.

KL Rahul the captain of Lucknow says that the target was not a lot but was just 10 runs over par and they bowled well in patches which can happen in the first game. Adds that they will learn from that and get better going forward. Mentions that Mohsin Khan wasn't completely fit last season and they missed him but he came back well and Naveen-ul-Haq swung the ball and played a crucial role for the side up front in that powerplay. Appreciates the side for coming back from 3 down to getting so close and says that it is just the first game and they will try to build from this and get stronger going ahead. Adds that Justin Langer has brought a lot of calmness to the side and there is a lot to learn from him and is happy to have him on the side. He concludes that when he gets runs, it always feels good but it gets better if the team wins the game and he will look to contribute and lead the team to a title.

Presentation Time...

Ravichandran Ashwin is up for a quick chat. He says that it was a wicket of two halves as it was tacky in the first half and they felt they were 10 runs short. Adds that he went for 12 runs in his first over, but he bowls in different stages of the game which requires a different mindset. Tells that he is in a good space mentally and physically and is trying to enjoy his cricket. Mentions that he prepares for different batters, like in this match, he had plans for Poora and Stoinis. Praises Sandeep Sharma for his bowling and says that he has been an unsung hero always doing the dirty job for the team. Further adds that Sandeep Sharma is a character and has shown a lot of fight which you need in the T20 format. Ends by saying that as two bouncers are allowed now, Boult and Nandre Burger will get a taste of this tournament as it goes on.

Earlier in the game, Sanju Samson won the toss and opted to bat first. Rajasthan started quickly as Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal got out of the blocks quickly but soon they both got out. Skipper Samson and Riyan Parag added a 90-plus stand to take the home side into a strong position and Samson stayed on till the end to take his side close to 200 runs. With the ball, Lucknow pacers were on the expensive side and Mohsin Khan in particular got a bit of stick. They also dropped a couple of catches but managed to finish decently with the ball.

Rajasthan, on the other hand, will be pretty happy with their bowling effort. Trent Boult as usually set the tone with a couple of crucial early wickets, and Nandre Burger followed it up with another to take control of the game. They did allow their opponents to build up a big partnership in the middle that made the game a bit more interesting, but their death-over specialist, Sandeep Sharma was absolutely sensational keeping the runs in check and also getting the all-important wicket of KL Rahul to help them get the two points. The spin twin of Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal also picked up a wicket each to cap off an excellent performance.

Lucknow got off to the worst possible start losing three wickets inside the Powerplay that put them on the back foot in this chase. KL Rahul held one end solidly and Deepak Hooda came out with a positive intent and played a few lusty blows to keep the runs flowing. However, he too was dismissed after the field restrictions were lifted. Then came the partnership between the skipper and Nicholas Pooran that took them out of trouble and kept them in this game. Both looked really good out there and were keeping up with the asking rate as well. Rahul notched up his fifty but could not stay much longer and that wicket changed the momentum once again. Pooran also registered his half-century but just did not have enough to get them home as they ultimately fell short by 20 runs.

RAJASTHAN START THEIR CAMPAIGN WITH A COMFORTABLE WIN! The margin of victory does not reflect how close this game was at one stage, but some brilliant death bowling from Sandeep Sharma and the others who held their nerve to get their side over the line. Lucknow will be a bit disappointed as they were in this chase till the last five overs but just ran out of gas in the end.

Avesh Khan to Krunal Pandya, 1 run.Rajasthan win their first game by 20 runs! This is on a length, just outside off, Krunal Pandya cuts it to deep point for a single.

Avesh Khan to Nicholas Pooran, 1 run.Bangs the deck hard on a nagging length, just outside off, Nicholas Pooran looks for the reverse hit over short third but only manages to get a toe end to the backward point for one.

Avesh Khan to Krunal Pandya, 1 run.Another good delivery! Bowls it just shorter in length and outside off, Krunal Pandya mistimes his cut to short third for one.

Avesh Khan to Nicholas Pooran, 1 run.Goes fuller and into the stumps, Nicholas Pooran mistimes his heaves to deep square leg for just one.

Avesh Khan to Nicholas Pooran, No run.Nails that yorker! Bowls it right in the blockhole, just outside off, Nicholas Pooran fails to dig it out.

Avesh Khan to Nicholas Pooran, No run.Beaten! Bowls it on a good length, outside off, with no pace, Nicholas Pooran looks to loft it through covers but gets beaten.

Avesh Khan to Krunal Pandya, 2 Wides!TWO WIDES! Bowls it fuller and well wid of that tramline on off, Sanju Samson fails to collect the ball well and the batters scamper for a quick single. Nicholas Pooran is back on strike!

Avesh Khan to bowl the last over.

Sandeep Sharma to Nicholas Pooran, Four!FOUR! Top shot! Another fuller delivery on off, Nicholas Pooran digs it out to perfection and opens the bat face steering it through backward point for a boundary.

Sandeep Sharma to Nicholas Pooran, No run.Takes pace off and bowls it short over middle and off, Nicholas Pooran gets beaten trying to pull it square on leg.

Sandeep Sharma to Nicholas Pooran, No run.Shorter and outside off, Nicholas Pooran pulls it straight to long on but denies the single.

Sandeep Sharma to Nicholas Pooran, Four!FOUR! Smoked it! Fuller delivery on middle and off, Nicholas Pooran times the slog crouching a bit through deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Sandeep Sharma to Krunal Pandya, Leg bye.LEG BYES! Quick run! Ona shorter length over middle, Krunal Pandya looks for the pull but misses out as the ball wears his high on the things and drops down on the pitch. The batters scamper for a quick single.

Sandeep Sharma to Nicholas Pooran, 1 run.DROPPED! A top effort from Riyan Parag in the deep but they do stick sometimes. Attacks the stumps, on a fuller length, Nicholas Pooran drills it in front of long on. Riyan Parag charges in but the ball dips on him and gets through his hands for a single.

Sandeep Sharma to Nicholas Pooran, Wide!WIDE! Bangs the deck on a shorter length, but way too short, Nicholas Pooran ducks and leaves it alone for a wide. Sanju Samson reviews it but the third umpire reconfirms it to be a wide.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Nicholas Pooran, 1 run.Quicker and fuller, on off, Nicholas Pooran mistimes his pull to deep square leg for a single. Lucknow now need 38 in 12 balls.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Krunal Pandya, 1 run.Fuller and into the stumps, Krunal Pandya slogs sweeps it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Krunal Pandya, No run.Swing and a miss! Tossed up outside off, Krunal Pandya looks to whip it across the line but misses out.

Krunal Pandya walks out to bat now.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Marcus Stoinis, OUT! c Dhruv Jurel b Ravichandran Ashwin.OUT! CAUGHT! Ravichandran Ashwin joins the wicket tally and Marcus Stoinis has to walk back. Lucknow find themselves in a difficult situation with that wicket. A carrom ball bowled on a fuller length on middle, Marcus Stoinis stays put and looks for the big heave but lands it straight into the safe custody of Dhruv Jurel at deep mid-wicket.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Nicholas Pooran, 1 run.A loud appeal for LBW by Sanju Samson but Nicholas Pooran got a bat to it. Tosses this one up on off and gets the ball to turn back in, Nicholas Pooran looks to sweep but gets a thin inside edge onto his pads and to the on side. The batters cross.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Marcus Stoinis, 1 run.Fuller and into the stumps, Marcus Stoinis tucks it to long on for a single.

Sandeep Sharma to Nicholas Pooran, Four!FOUR! Precise placement to get to his half-century! A shorter delivery on middle and off, Nicholas Pooran pulls this along the ground between the gap of deep mid-wicket and deep square leg for a boundary.

Sandeep Sharma to Nicholas Pooran, No run.Top delivery! Bangs it into the pitch on a shorter length, with the pace off, Nicholas Pooran is deceived by the lack of pace as he tries to pull it and misses.

Sandeep Sharma to Marcus Stoinis, 1 run.Goes wider on off, on a good length, Marcus Stoinis waits on and cuts it to deep point for just a single.

Sandeep Sharma to Nicholas Pooran, 1 run.Digs this short and hits the deck hard over middle and leg, Nicholas Pooran pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

Sandeep Sharma to Marcus Stoinis, 1 run.Gets off the mark straightaway! Bowls this fuller and just outside off, Marcus Stoinis cuts it to deep point for a single.

Marcus Stoinis comes out to the middle now.

Sandeep Sharma to KL Rahul, OUT! c Dhruv Jurel b Sandeep Sharma.OUT! CAUGHT! Sandeep Sharma you beauty! Swings the game back in the favour of Rajasthan just after the break. Bowls this fuller and wider of that off-stump line, KL Rahul reaches out and slashes it up in the sky towards Dhruv Jurel at deep point who rushes in and takes a good catch to complete the wicket. The skipper goes back after a well-made half-century but this is now anyone's game.

Strategic-Break! The game is nicely poised at the moment with Lucknow needing 49 runs in 24 balls now. They have KL Rahul and Nicholas Pooran set in the middle now and will be hoping that these two can take them home or at least take them closer to the target. Rajasthan have bowled decently but it is now mainly on how their death over specialist, Sandeep Sharma does here. They will want a couple of wickets here to stop the run flow and get the momentum back on their side.

Yuzvendra Chahal to KL Rahul, 1 run.Bowls this quicker and skids it through on middle and leg, KL Rahul gets cramped up but manages to tuck it square of the wicket on the leg side for a single to end the over. Lucknow now need 49 runs off the last 4 overs.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Nicholas Pooran, 1 run.Goes fuller, on off, Nicholas Pooran knocks it to long off for a single.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Nicholas Pooran, No run.Drops the length short and wider on off, Nicholas Pooran looks for the reverse hit but misses out.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Nicholas Pooran, 2 runs.Wider and fuller in length, Nicholas Pooran reaches out and lofts it well over cover for a couple of runs.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Nicholas Pooran, Six!SIX! BOOM! Floated up outside off, Nicholas Pooran clears his front leg and lofts it over long off for a maximum.

Yuzvendra Chahal to KL Rahul, 1 run.Exceptional effort by Riyan Parag to save three runs for his side. Tossed up delivery on middle and leg, KL Rahul drills it straight down town. Riyan Parag from long on sprints to his left and with his left hand pushes the back ball in the play area for just one.

Sandeep Sharma to KL Rahul, 1 run.Sensational over! Just five runs off it. This is short of a length and outside off, KL Rahul cuts it away towards deep point for just one. Lucknow needs 60 runs in the last five overs now!

Sandeep Sharma to KL Rahul, No run.Swing and a miss! Sandeep Sharma hits the length hard now, outside off, angling away, KL Rahul has a wild slash at it but only connects with thin air.

Sandeep Sharma to Nicholas Pooran, 1 run.Sandeep Sharma nails the yorker now, on middle, Nicholas Pooran digs it out towards long on for another run,

Sandeep Sharma to KL Rahul, 1 run.Risky run! This is back of a length and around off, KL Rahul stabs it wide of extra covers and sets off for the run, Avesh Khan picks up and has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. Rahul was a goner if that hit the stumps.

Sandeep Sharma to Nicholas Pooran, 1 run.A slower bouncer now, on leg, Nicholas Pooran pulls it towards deep square leg for a run.

Sandeep Sharma to KL Rahul, 1 run.Sandeep Sharma starts with a hard-length delivery, outside off, KL Rahul slices it on the bounce to short third man where a fumble allows a single.

Sandeep Sharma is introduced into the attack.

Ravichandran Ashwin to KL Rahul, 1 run.Just wide! Ravichandran Ashwin slows it up and around middle, KL Rahul uses his feet and chips it down the pitch, Ashwin stretches out his right hand but the ball goes wide of it and towards long on for one.

Ravichandran Ashwin to KL Rahul, 2 runs.Flatter, full and on middle, KL Rahul goes down and sweeps it wide of deep square leg and comes back for the second run. Good running!

Ravichandran Ashwin to Nicholas Pooran, 1 run.A bit short and on middle, Nicholas Pooran moves back and clips it through mid-wicket for one.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Nicholas Pooran, No run.Angles this one into the batter, on leg, Nicholas Pooran misses his flick and gets hit high on the pads.

Ravichandran Ashwin to KL Rahul, 1 run.FIFTY FOR RAHUL! A captain's knock from him but he knows that the job is not done yet. This is floated, full and on middle, KL Rahul eases it towards long on for a single.

Ravichandran Ashwin to KL Rahul, 2 runs.Tossed up, full and around off, KL Rahul goes down across and sweeps it through backward square leg for a brace.

Trent Boult to Nicholas Pooran, 2 runs.A great over this for Lucknow as they rack up 20 runs off it. Back of a length, outside off, Nicholas Pooran reaches out and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs. The equation looks better now for Lucknow as they need 72 off 42 balls.

Trent Boult to Nicholas Pooran, Six!SIX MORE! Nikky P is in the house! Trent Boult once again misses his yorker and bowls a juicy full toss, on middle, Nicholas Pooran is not going to miss out on those and he smashes it over the deep mid-wicket fence for another maximum.

Trent Boult to Nicholas Pooran, Four!FOUR! A boundary now! Trent Boult misses his yorker and serves a low full toss, on off, Nicholas Pooran gets low and drills it away through extra covers for four runs. Lucknow changing gears now!

Trent Boult to Nicholas Pooran, Six!SIX! Wow..what a shot! Trent Boult bangs this into the pitch and tries to keep it away from the batters, Nicholas Pooran takes a step forward to create some room, and uses his fast hands to smack it over the deep point fence for a biggie.

Trent Boult to KL Rahul, 1 run.In the air...safe! This is full and outside off, KL Rahul tries to go hard at it but slices it in the air, the ball lands well short of the incoming sweeper covers fielder. They cross.

Trent Boult to Nicholas Pooran, 1 run.Back of a length and around off, slower as well, Nicholas Pooran swats it towards long on for just a single.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Nicholas Pooran, 1 run.Fuller, on off, Nicholas Pooran pushes it to extra cover and steals a single.

Ravichandran Ashwin to KL Rahul, 1 run.A bit short and on middle, KL Rahul stays back and nudges it through square leg for one.

Ravichandran Ashwin to KL Rahul, Four!FOUR! Nicely played! This is tossed up, full and around off, KL Rahul gets down across and paddles it it past short fine leg for another boundary.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Nicholas Pooran, 1 run.Floated, full and on off, Nicholas Pooran knocks it towards covers for another run.

Ravichandran Ashwin to KL Rahul, 1 run.Quicker, full and on middle, KL Rahul eases it towards long on for a run.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Nicholas Pooran, 1 run.Flatter, full and on off, Nicholas Pooran pushes it wide of extra covers for a quick single.

Can Ravichandran Ashwin stem the flow of runs here and deliver a tight over?

Nandre Burger to KL Rahul, Four!FOUR! TWO IN TWO! 17 runs off the over! This is really clever from KL Rahul. Nandre Burger bangs this one into the pitch, on middle, KL Rahul sways away from the line of it and ramps it over short third man for four more runs. Lucknow still very much in this chase!

Nandre Burger to KL Rahul, Four!FOUR! KL Rahul is playing with the field now! Nandre Burger bowls another slower delivery, on o a length and on off, KL Rahul lets it come to him and lofts it, he does not get all of it but enough for it to go over the mid off fielder for a boundary now.

Nandre Burger to KL Rahul, Six!SIX! Up, up and away! Nandre Burger pulls his length back a bit, on off, angling in, KL Rahul picks up the length early, gets on top of the bouncer and whacks it way over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

Nandre Burger to Nicholas Pooran, 1 run.Goes fuller this time, takes pace off again, Nicholas Pooran mistimes his drive off the inside of the bat towards long on for another run.

Nandre Burger to KL Rahul, 1 run.Short and outside off, slower too, KL Rahul slaps it onto the ground through mid-wicket for a run.

Nandre Burger to Nicholas Pooran, 1 run.Back of a length and around off, Nicholas Pooran runs it down to third man for a single.

Nandre Burger (2-0-13-1) comes back into the attack now.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Nicholas Pooran, 1 run.Shorter and wider on off, Nicholas Pooran cuts it to cover and steals a quick single.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Nicholas Pooran, Six!SIX! Can't keep him quiet for long, can you? Tossed up delivery outside off, Nicholas Pooran frees his arms and clubs it over long off for a maximum. The fielder Riyan Parag at deep throws a full stretched dive outside the rope to get to the ball but couldn't push it back in time.

Yuzvendra Chahal to KL Rahul, 1 run.Flights this one up on middle, KL Rahul presses ahead and works it to deep mid-wicket for one.

Yuzvendra Chahal to KL Rahul, No run.Straighter this time, on a fuller length, and into the stumps, KL Rahul pushes it to cover.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Nicholas Pooran, 1 run.Bowls it fuller and wider on off, Nicholas Pooran extends his arms and cuts it to deep point for a single.

Yuzvendra Chahal to KL Rahul, 1 run.Drops the length short and on middle, KL Rahul rocks back and whips it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Avesh Khan to KL Rahul, 1 run.Goes fuller and on off, KL Rahul with a straight bat lofts it to long on for a single.

Avesh Khan to Nicholas Pooran, 1 run.Digs this short again on middle, Nicholas Pooran rides on the bounce and pulls it along the grass towards deep square leg for a single.

Avesh Khan to Nicholas Pooran, No run.Nice change up! Bowls this fuller and into the stumps with pace off, Nicholas Pooran taps it back onto the deck and towards the bowler.

Avesh Khan to KL Rahul, 1 run.Attempts another bouncer and hits the deck hard over middle and leg, KL Rahul swivels across and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for one.

Avesh Khan to Nicholas Pooran, 1 run.Bangs it short and on middle at 140kph, Nicholas Pooran pulls it well to deep square leg for a single.

Avesh Khan to KL Rahul, 1 run.Bowls it on a length, just outside off, KL Rahul drives it to sweeper cover for a single.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Nicholas Pooran, No run.Floats this one fuller and outside off, Nicholas Pooran reaches out and slashes it straight to backward point.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Nicholas Pooran, No run.Goes fuller and on off, Nicholas Pooran with an angles bat pushes it back to the bowler.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Nicholas Pooran, Wide!WIDE! Bowls it fuller and well wider of that tramline on off.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Nicholas Pooran, No run.Quicker and fuller into the stumps, Nicholas Pooran tucks it to the off side.

The hard-hitting Caribbean, Nicholas Pooran is the next man in.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Deepak Hooda, OUT! c Dhruv Jurel b Yuzvendra Chahal.OUT! CAUGHT! Deepak Hooda holes out and Lucknow slips further down with that blow. Chahal bowls it fuller and on middle and leg, Deepak Hooda takes a step out and looks to heave it through mid-wicket but gets it off the toe end of the bat and straight down the throat of Dhruv Jurel at deep mid-wicket. Hooda goes after a quick-fire cameo!

Yuzvendra Chahal to KL Rahul, 1 run.A mix-up but doesn't cost Lucknow! Fuller delivery on middle and leg, KL Rahul clips it in front of mid-wicket and gets a run. Deepak Hooda sets off for the second but is sent back in time by the skipper.

Yuzvendra Chahal to KL Rahul, 2 runs.Bowls this fuller and into the stumps, KL Rahul lofts it uppishly to long on for a couple of runs. Riyan Parag at the deep does well to cut it off diving to his left.

Strategic break! Lucknow, initially shaken by the loss of three quick wickets, have begun to mount a spirited comeback thanks to a counterattack led by Deepak Hooda. Rajasthan's performance thus far has been impeccable, and they will be eager to capitalize on their momentum and break this partnership with a couple more wickets to regain control of the game. Also, Yuzvendra Chahal to bowl after the break.

Avesh Khan to Deepak Hooda, No run.Overpitched and on off once more, Deepak Hooda drills it straight to short covers.