Lucknow: In a high-octane encounter, Sanju Samson’s unbeaten 71 off 33 balls steered Rajasthan Royals to a resounding seven-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants, led by KL Rahul’s 76 off 48 balls, propelling his team closer to the IPL playoffs.
Samson’s stellar knock, highlighted by four elegant sixes, including the match-winner, overshadowed Rahul’s comparatively steady innings as Rajasthan chased down a challenging target of 197 with ease.
Partnering with young talent Jurel, Samson forged an unyielding partnership of 121 runs for the fourth wicket, guiding Rajasthan to victory with an over to spare.
The win catapulted Rajasthan to the top of the points table with 16 points, maintaining a comfortable lead over the second-placed Kolkata Knight Riders. Lucknow Super Giants, meanwhile, retained their fourth position with 10 points.
Opening batsmen Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler provided Rajasthan with a solid start, laying the foundation with a 60-run partnership. However, Lucknow struck back, dismissing key batsmen in quick succession.
Despite the setback, Samson and Jurel orchestrated a remarkable recovery, punctuating their partnership with aggressive strokes and calculated risks.
Lucknow’s attempt to stifle Rajasthan’s momentum with leg-spinners like Amit Mishra and Ravi Bishnoi proved ineffective, as Samson and Jurel capitalized on loose deliveries and seized control of the match.
Earlier, in the first innings, KL Rahul and Deepak Hooda anchored the Lucknow innings with a formidable 115-run partnership for the third wicket, setting a competitive target of 196/5 for Rajasthan.
Rahul’s composed knock, embellished with eight boundaries and two sixes, complemented Hooda’s aggressive fifty, marking his first significant contribution in this IPL season.
