Samson, bowlers deliver winning start for Royals

Sanju Samson has excelled in opening games for Rajasthan Royals since 2020, registering scores of 74, 119, 55 and 55. Extending that streak, he came up with a well-compiled 82 off 52, with three fours and six sixes, to set up Royals' 20-run victory against Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur on Sunday (March 24). Samson's knock and a handy 43 from Riyan Parag helped Royals to 193/4 after opting to bat on a wicket where it wasn't all that easy to play the shots. KL Rahul and Nicholas Pooran struck half-centuries in the chase but Royals picked up timely wickets to ensure that the target was beyond Super Giants' reach.

Positive start but openers depart

On a dry pitch which didn't offer much bounce, Yashasvi Jaiswal struggled a bit against Mohsin Khan in the first over while Jos Buttler managed to squeeze away a couple of boundaries off Naveen-ul-Haq. But Buttler's stay ended in the same over when he got an outside edge looking to drive and KL Rahul took a good catch behind the stumps. Jaiswal then cracked a flurry of boundaries while Sanju Samson also got into the act as Mohsin was proving to be expensive. He was also hit for a six each by Samson and Jaiswal in the fifth over but he had some respite as he cramped the left-hander for room to have him caught on a pull. Parag had a lucky break as he got a leading edge but Krunal Pandya couldn't get to the ball with Samson in his path at the non-striker's end.

Samson, Parag set the platform in middle overs

Royals managed 54 in the powerplay but the innings slowed down as the field spread, with Krunal and Ravi Bishnoi sneaking in some quiet overs. When there was a little bit of pace offered, in the form of Yash Thakur, Parag and Samson quickly cashed in as they employed the pull for three sixes in a 21-run ninth over. Parag and Samson also took on Bishnoi, choosing the straighter boundaries this time for two more maximums to help Royals past 100 in the 11th over. Parag got another reprieve as Mohsin grassed the opportunity when the batter got a top edge off a sweep. Samson got a 33-ball fifty and both batters also kept the boundaries coming regularly, extending their partnership to 93 before Parag top-edged a pull off Naveen.

LSG fight but RR finish well

Ayush Badoni bowled an economical 16th over which was followed by another good over from Bishnoi who dismissed Shimron Hetmyer caught-behind and almost had the wicket of Dhruv Jurel, who just about cleared the ropes despite a good effort from Naveen at long-on. Samson ended the 18th over with a straight six off Thakur, who had otherwise kept it tight for most of the over. Naveen did a tidy job in the 19th over, conceding only eight runs and was unfortunate not to pick up the wicket of Dhruv Jurel as Devdutt Padikkal put down a catch running in towards mid off. Jurel and Samson ensured a good finish, striking a four and a six respectively off Mohsin as 14 came in the final over.

Left-armers make early dents

Trent Boult has been doing it for years, and it came as no surprise when he delivered early strikes to strengthen Royals' hold over the game. Quinton de Kock whipped one off his pads straight to the fielder as Boult extended his tally of wickets in the opening over in the IPL to 23. For the record, no other bowler has taken more than eight in this period. LSG's debutant Padikkal, having been hit on the grille of his helmet by Boult, was bowled off the next ball. Royals used only three overseas batters in their first innings, giving them the opportunity to bring in the fourth as an impact player. And he made an impact straightaway as IPL debutant Nandre Burger had Badoni caught at mid off. Super Giants, however, managed to recover from those blows as impact player Deepak Hooda and 'opener' KL Rahul struck some much-needed hits to the fence.

Rahul, Pooran keep LSG in the game

Hooda's outing came to an end in Yuzvendra Chahal's first over but Super Giants remained in the hunt thanks to Rahul and Pooran who ensured some big overs from their team's perspective. Rahul struck a six and two fours in the 11th over off Burger which yielded 17 runs. Pooran took on the New Zealand left-armer, hitting two sixes and a four in a 20-run 13th over. But a couple of tidy overs from R Ashwin and Sandeep Sharma left Super Giants needing 60 to score off the last five overs.

RR prevail despite Pooran fifty

Pooran struck a six off Chahal in the 16th over but the 85-run fifth wicket stand ended in the next over as Rahul miscued one to sweeper cover to depart for a 44-ball 58. Pooran got to a 30-ball fifty with a four in the same over but the pressure was on Super Giants, with them needing 42 off the last four. Ashwin made a key incision in the 18th over getting Marcus Stoinis caught at deep mid wicket and conceded only four runs, leaving LSG with 38 to get off 12 deliveries. Pooran was reprieved as Parag, who came running in from long on, put in the dive but couldn't hold on to the ball. The West Indian responded with two fours but Royals still had the upper hand with Super Giants needing 27 from the last over. Avesh did a good job of defending it, keeping it full and away from the hitting arc of Pooran to ensure a victory for Royals.

Brief scores: Rajasthan Royals 193/4 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 82*, Riyan Parag 43; Naveen-ul-Haq 2-41) beat Lucknow Super Giants 173/6 in 20 overs (Nicholas Pooran 64*, KL Rahul 58; Trent Boult 2-35) by 20 runs.

Where next?

Rajasthan Royals will stay back in Jaipur as they face Delhi Capitals in their second home game on March 28. Lucknow Super Giants have a break of five days before their home match against Punjab Kings on March 30.