RR vs LSG Highlights, IPL 2023: Avesh Khan and Marcus Stoinis help Lucknow best Rajasthan by 10 runs

Three boudaries off the 18th over to stablise the equation in favor of Rajasthan a bit. An outside edge down the third man boundary, a pull down square leg and hoist wide of mid off for four. 13 off the over. 126/4 after 18.

Ravi Bishnoi keeps the flow of runs squeezed on two new batters in the middle. Despite a boundary, a cracking punch down long on, Rajasthan still on the backfoot with just six runs off the over. 113/4 after 17. 42 required off the last 18 deliveries.

That's the big blow!

Captain KL Rahul runs from long on to complete the catch up ahead and is overjoyed by the prospect at hand. Rajasthan losing their power finisher, maybe their last hope in a 50 plus chase off the last five overs. Game. Set. Match to Lucknow by the looks of it. On a wicket not offering much to the batters. Avesh Khan gets the wicket and what an over that was from him. Just three runs off it. 107/4 after 16.

Naveen-ul-Haq (2-0-5-0) started brilliantly in the powerplay and returns for a second spell. Shimron Hetmyer, the finisher from the last game is in. At the other end, Impact Player Devdutt Padikkal. Off the southpaw, the Afghan pacer generates an lbw shout out coming around the wicket. Again, nothing given by the umpire and Lucknow have no reviews left to contest the decision. 100 up for Rajasthan. 104/3 after 15 overs. 51 needed off the last 30 balls.

It's not been an innings characteristic of the maker and it comes to an end. Jos Buttler (40 off 41) goes for the pull but is unable to find the sweet spot of the bat and Ravi Bishnoi completes a fine catch at deep mid wicket. 99/3, Rajasthan after 14 overs.

A poor call for a run that. Buttler, places it to short fine leg was halfway, and Amit Mishra throws it back quickly. Yes? No? A bit of hesitation costs the non-striker. A sacrifice that from the RR captain for the set batter. Six runs off the over. Rajasthan, 95/2 after 13.

Yashasvi Jaiswal (44 off 35) goes for the late cut off a hit-the-deck delivery from Marcus Stoinis but is caught at short third by Avesh Khan. He seemes to have injuered his finger while doing so and is taken off the field to receive some treatment from the medic. Good comeback that from Stoinis after being hit for a six off the first ball. A first wicket for Lucknow. Eight off the over. 89/1 after 12 overs.

Almost a replay of that last boundary from Mishra's first over. A reverse sweep dissecting the two fielders inside the circle for four. He goes for it again off the next delivery but misses and it hits his pad. LBW appeal but nothing from the umpire and LSG decide against the review. To the naked eye, it looked close and worth a review but they had just the one left. 81/0 after 11. 

Lucknow introduce Amit Mishra as the Impact Player. Offers a loopy delivery to Buttler, who reverse sweeps it for another four. Eight off the ninth over. Meanwhile, Bishnoi comes out well from that 10-run over with just half returns in his second from the other end. 73/0 after 10 overs.

Ravi Bishnoi had been held back until the 13th over in the last game. Comes on to bowl the 8th over and gets picked up by Jos Buttler with a powerplay punch to squeeze the gap between long off and sweep. Four runs. Good over that for Rajasthan, 10 runs come from it. 60/0 after eight.

Marcus Stoinis with the ball. Breaks the flow of runs that has been off the last couple of overs. Slow in pace and this wicket won't give an inch of advantage to the batters. Fifty up for Rajasthan. 50/0 after seven.

The flight has left the airport and it's not looking back. Avesh Khan gets hammered down long off for four off the first delivery. Angles it away off the next one and the southpaw has a go at it. Edged and down third man for a second straight boundary. Buttler too opens his blade to pierce through point for another four. 13 come from the over, 47/0 at the end of the powerplay.

Yudhvir Singh Charak hasn't found his length so far and a misfield from his first ball doesn't help. Slanted away and Jaiswal cuts him. Four runs. Keeps it full and on the stumps off the next one and Jaiswal plays it straight back to him. Looking for the aggressive throw pose to the southpaw, who'd come down the crease, Charak twists his ankle. Nothing serious though as he continues. 

Meanwhile, Buttler takes off and the Sawai Mansingh Stadium roars like they haven't so far on the night. A pull off a length delivery and it's a 112m whooper! Goodness grief! Such nonchalance, didn't even look at it once he'd connected the shot. 11 off the over, 34/0 after five.

Avesh Khan had dismissed Jos Buttler in both the meetings between these two teams last season. After Yudhvir Charak went for 16 in his first over, on he comes to replace him. Another economical over that from Lucknow. Two runs off it, 23/0 after four.

While Jaiswal took just the first over before he took the attack to the Lucknow bowlers, Jos Buttler at the other end is at 4 off 10 deliveries. On a surface that has offered little to the batters, the England international seems to be in for the long haul while Jaiswal plays the aggressor. Isn't that a luxury for Rajasthan. The best of most-attacking of white-ball players in the world, can moonwalk rather than B-boy his way to this total. Just the three off Naveen-ul-Haq's second over. 21/0 after three.

Yudhvir Singh Charak, who had nabbed a couple of wickets upfront in Lucknow's last game, from the other end. Over the wicket, pitched up and Jaiswal punches it straight down for four. Comes around the wicket to the southpaw with a short one, and the latter pulls it over deep mid wicket for six. 18/0 after two overs.

Naveen-ul-Haq, in his first IPL game, to bowl the first over. Does a retake with the run up and brings one in to Yashasvi Jaiswal from round the wickets. Hits the pads and an lbw appeal is born. Nothing from the umpire. Lucknow take the review. Just the faintest of inside edges on UltraEdge. Good first over from the Afghan pacer, just the two runs off it.

Sandeep Sharma, Rajasthan's key figure in a death overs bowling act this season, for the last one. Having nailed those yorkers against CSK, he's catered to the short-slower ones so far. Traps Marcus Stoinis with a caught-behind. 

Krunal Pandya the new man in. Goes wide and full agaist the southpaw, who slashes him wide for four. Is unable to connect off a cross seam delivery on the next one, a brilliant piece of throw from Sanju Samson to cut on the single. Another run out on the last one. Lucknow finish at 154/7. 

Pooran takes off against Jason Holder from ball one. First up, onto the pads, flicked behind with a big back lift for six. Keeps to that line and another one goes down fine leg, this time for four. Moving to off side hasn't helped. The idea may have been good but the execution is a botchy full toss and Pooran whacks it through point for four. 17 off that over. 149/4 going into the last one.

Ashwin on for the last time this innings. Has been the pick of the bowlers for the hosts. Was pushing Pooran to play a lofted one on the off side and he does so but is lucky as the ball falls between deep cover and long off. That's the end of his spell. 4-0-23-2. 129/4 after 18 overs.

Marcus Stoinis with a fierce punch through wide mid-off and the fielder from long off is unable to cut it before it reaches the fence. The timing on that shot did the trick. Sandeep Sharma's third over costs eight runs. 123/4, Lucknow after 17.

'I think if they get to 160, they should back themselves (to win this),' reckons Robin Uthappa. Four wickets in quick succession have led the run rate to fall and even Nicholas Pooran and Marcus Stoinis, two of the best power hitters in the sport, are finding it hard to go after bowlers on a surface that is inducing 'hitting hard and into the ground'. It's skidding and keeping low. 10 runs off the last two overs. 115/4 after 16.

Ravichandran Ashwin comes back on. Deepak Hooda with a slogsweep but is unable to find the sweet spot of the bat and holes it to Shimron Hetmyer in the deep, a good diving catch from the Caribbean. 

Marcus Stoinis is the new man in and finds a boundary to bring 100 up for Lucknow. Against Mayers, Ashwin bowls a quick off-break delivery to clean up the off stump. Two wickets in the over. Lucknow on the backfoot. 30 runs off the last 30 balls. Four wickets. 104/4 after 14.

Kyle Mayers with the counter attack off Yuzvendra Chahal. Back to back fours for the southpaw. Inside outs a lofted shot down wide long off for four. A crunching pull to split two men square on the onside for his second. Fifty for him. 12 off the over. 98/2 after 13.

Good attacking captaincy this from Sanju Samson, bringing in his best bowler for his final over just as a wicket has fallen. And the new man in is trapped. Trent Boult comes around the wicket, uses the angle against right-handed Ayush Badoni, who looks to scoop it to fine leg but plays on. Lucknow two down for 86 after 12 overs.

A wicket at last for Rajasthan!

Jason Holder bowls in the slot but KL Rahul holes out to long-on as Lucknow lose the first wicket. Ayush Badoni the new man in gets an angled-in delivery wrapped around his pads. An lbw shout but it seems high and also Badoni has advanced down the track as well. 83/1 after 11 overs.

Rajasthan hang on with the spin as Ravichandran Ashwin comes on for his second over. Better returns from the off spinner than his first over. As is the case with timeout breaks in the IPL, a shift in momentum is always around the corner. Just the five runs off the over. Halfway through the innings, Lucknow are 79/0.

The Lucknow openers are starting to come into their own. The run rate shackles have been broken through. Chahal continues from the other end. A lofty drive over long off for six to start off from Kyle Mayers. Gets lucky off the sweep on the next delivery as the under edge goes behind for four. KL Rahul joins the party with a gigantic sweep shot for a 103m six later in the over. 18 come off the best. Costliest over of the evening so far and the umpire signals for strategic timeout. 74/0 after nine overs.

Jason Holder, who's come in for Adam Zampa tonight, replaces Ashwin. Kyle Mayers finally connects one down the ground over long off for six. Flat batted and latched onto the length ball. KL Rahul sits down and tees a pull shot clear of deep mid wicket for four. 13 off the over. Fifty up for Rajasthan, 56/0 after eight overs.

"It's a slow pitch. It (ball) is not coming on," reads Anil Kumble as Yuzvendra Chahal makes it even harder for the Lucknow openers to take the attack to the home side. The ball is coming too late to the bat. Almost a home-like deja-vu for Lucknow, who have had a two-paced wicket in their last two games at home. Six runs off the over. 43/0 after seven.

Ravichandran Ashwin on for the final over of the powerplay. A close run out call featuring the luckiest man in Jaipur. KL Rahul survives again. Seemed touch and go on the naked eye but the Lucknow captain's in. Sweeps down fine leg for four and there's literally no fielder stationed in a big gap there given an off spinner's bowling. 37/0 after six overs and the field restrictions have been lifted.

No swing on offer now and Kyle Mayers takes the aerial route off Trent Boult. Full, on the stumps and the Caribbean makes room outside the leg stump to play a lovely lofted shot over covers for six. First of the evening. Had tried to drive hard on the length off the first delivery as well, so as far as he's concerned, it's time to break the shackles. KL Rahul has a go at his luck as well. Nicks one, but there's no slip behind as it goes down third man for four. Miscues off the last ball, while going down the ground. Jason Holder from mid off is on the run but drops it outside the circle. Second time Rahul has been dropped this evening. 13 come off the over. 31/0 after five.

Sandeep Sharma continues. KL Rahul on strike. Gets a bit of length outside off. Comes down the track to drive it through covers but is dropped by Yashasvi Jaiswal in the ring. A low catch it was but nevertheless a good opportunity for an early wicket. A string of dot balls lead to the pressure that forced the Lucknow skipper to advance down the wicket for that shot. Four runs off the over. 18/0 after four overs.

Wicket to wicket, not giving away too much room, that's how Trent Boult has gone about his business so far. As he usually does. This time against Kyle Mayers. Just the two off his second over and the Black Caps pacer has put the early pressure on the visitors. 14/0 after three overs.

Sandeep Sharma from the other end, concedes a couple of boundaries after that maiden over start. Full and swinging away from Kyle Mayers, who latches onto it with a drive. A no-ball extra goes with it. KL Rahul eases his shoulders for another four as he leans onto the full length juicy delivery outside off. Placed between cover and point. 12/0 after two overs.

The left-armer starts off around the wicket, with an angular advantage to bring the ball in to KL Rahul, who's had a hard time against left-arm swing bowlers. The first ball, whiskers past a straight bat defence, not so far from that off stump. Next one is slightly further outside off, maybe looking to drag KL out of his natural stance. Shifts to over the wicket, bat comes on the ball more easily for the Lucknow captain. Switches back to around the wicket for the penultimate delivery before a major scare off the last ball from over the wicket as the ball comes in after pitching. "Inside edge, that saves him," exclaims Pommie Mbangwa on-air. A maiden to start from the star RR pacer, a third in this season.

Trent Boult, as customary, has the new ball in his hand. KL Rahul will take the strike for the first ball. The countdown is over. Off we go in Jaipur!

Right then! A night of opportunities this early in the season. For Lucknow, to level on points with top-seated Rajasthan. For Rajasthan, to extend their lead on top to four points, with five wins in six games. And of course, the opportunity to give the city of Jaipur an IPL homecoming to remember. The home side huddles around their captain as the opposition captain, KL Rahul walks out with Kyle Mayers to open the innings.

LSG: Amit Mishra, Jaydev Unadkat, Krishnappa Gowtham, Prerak Mankad, Daniel Sams

RR: Devdutt Padikkal, Murugan Ashwin, Donavon Ferreira, Navdeep Saini, Akash Vasisht

Rajasthan Royals: Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson(w/c), Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jason Holder, Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul(c), Kyle Mayers, Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya, Nicholas Pooran(w), Ayush Badoni, Naveen-ul-Haq, Avesh Khan, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Ravi Bishnoi.

Sanju Samson: We are going to bowl first. It looks like a really good wicket. We are very happy to come back to Jaipur and play after 4 years. It's all about how we react under pressure. We have a fearless attitude. We have one change. Jason (Holder) comes back in for (Adam) Zampa.

KL Rahul: We would have bowled first as well. First game here. It's important that we start well and put a good total on the board. We've executed well in most games. We have had clarity with bat on ball. All three skills have been good. We are quite settled. We'll try to keep that left-hand, right-hand combination going. Quinny still misses out. He'll just have wait for some more time. I have enjoyed opening with Quinton.

Sanju Samson wins the toss, Rajasthan Royals opt to bowl first.

Quinton de Kock joined Lucknow Super Giants in their third game but is yet to feature for them so far. Kyle Mayers, who has instead opened with KL Rahul remains the frontrunner for that opener's spot, reckons Graeme Smith.

"Mayers is their leading run scorer. You wouldn't want to drop him. The question remains, who you're going to pick as the tournament progresses, when the wickets become drier and it starts turning a little bit more. It's also about what de Kock brings with the gloves (as wicketkeeper)," the former South Africa captain reckons. 

Twice have Rajasthan Royals face Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL so far, last season of course, and twice the first-ever IPL winners have bested KL Rahul and Co.

'No tall stands, so there's a bit of a breeze factor. Pretty substantial breeze that's blowing across, it might come into play. This is not a dead-centre pitch on this ground. (Square boundaries) 62m short boundary, 68m on the other side, but straight is 70 and upwards (78m). If you're going to hit straight, make sure you've got a lot of power behind the shot. So there's an incentive to play cross-batted on this pitch. I find this pitch on the harder side. It might be a little bit two-paced as well. There's a nice covering of grass. It might skid on a little. I don't think we'll see a lot of bounce. Doesn't look like a turner. First half of the game may be something for the spinners. Win the toss, you want to bowl first on this surface,' reckon Sanjay Manjrekar and Nick Knight.

“Since 2010 & 2011, I haven’t seen Ashwin bowl like this,” Prasanna Agoram, former performance analyst of South Africa who knows R Ashwin’s bowling more than most overs.

RR: W, L, W, W, W

LSG: W, L, W, W, L

Rajasthan Royals: Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson(w/c), Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Adam Zampa, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul(c), Kyle Mayers/Quinton de Kock, Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya, Nicholas Pooran(w), Ayush Badoni, Avesh Khan, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Mark Wood, Ravi Bishnoi.

Dhruv, who has been a wicketkeeper opener since his childhood days, has been given the job of a finisher by Rajasthan Royals and the youngster has adapted to the role seamlessly and has played a couple of valuable knocks to steer his team to wins from the direst situations, much like his childhood idol MS Dhoni.

“I knew that at some stage of the tournament, I am going to play. I was just waiting for one opportunity and wanted to do well,” he told The Indian Express' Pratyush Raj. “He told me ‘it (finishing) is a thankless job, there’s more failures than success, so don’t think much. The only good thing about being a finisher is that you expect the worst and prepare accordingly. Not every day you can finish the match.'

“If you talk about establishing yourself in the Indian team, I believe KL Rahul is far better than Sanju Samson. He has played Test matches and scored hundreds in many countries. He has performed well in ODIs, both as an opener and in the middle order, and has also scored runs in T20 cricket,” said Virender Sehwag. Read more.

Ravi Bishnoi will bowl the last over. Pulled towards deep mid wicket and Daniel Sams has taken all the time in the world to throw the ball as Punjab take two off the first ball. Shahrukh Khan goes down the ground and is almost caught at long on, another two follow. Shahrukh Khan slashes the next down wide long off for four and Punjab have won this by two wickets and three balls to spare. Highlights from Lucknow's close defeat to Punjab. 

It was punch and counterpunch towards the end – a couple of big hits followed by a wicket – that kept the contest on the edge. Rajasthan Royals seemed out of it in the first half of the chase before Sanju Samson and Shimron Hetmyer brought them back. Then Dhruv Jurel and Ravichandran Ashwin played vital cameos, leaving Hetmyer to finish it off. Highlights from Rajasthan's win over Gujarat.

High-fliers Rajasthan Royals will take on Lucknow Super Giants in a top-of-the-table clash in Jaipur.

It's still early days in IPL 2023 but a meeting between the top-two teams in the league is always exciting, right. Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants. While Sanju Samson and Co have four wins in five games, Lucknow have six points in five outings. Two solid batting lineups with star studded bowling lineups that follow suit. The meeting will be a first game at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur since 2019. Should be fun!