Advertisement

Rajasthan Royals back to winning ways to move second

cricket22 April 2026 18:23| © MWP
By:Khunulogo Mpolokeng
Share

The Rajasthan Royals returned to winning ways in the Tata IPL after back-to-back losses, brilliantly defending 159 to defeat Lucknow Super Giants by 40 runs at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday night.

All five Royals bowlers contributed with at least a wicket each, while Jofra Archer took the final two in the 18th over to finish with the best bowling figures of 4-1-20-3 and help bowl out their hosts for 119 in exactly 18 overs, chasing a modest 160 for victory.

Advertisement

The feat helped Archer become the Royals' all-time highest wicket-taker as he surpassed Yuzvendra Chahal's 66 scalps to go to 68 from 54 matches.

Australian Mitchell Marsh led the Super Giants' run chase with a fighting 55 runs off 41 balls which included six fours and two sixes, but it was his dismissal by Nandre Burger (4-0-27-2) in the 16th over, which was quickly followed by Brijesh Sharma's (3-0-17-2) two wickets of Mukul Choudhary and Mohammad Shami in the next over that swung the game in the Royals' favour.

After being asked to bat at the start of the match, the Super Giants enjoyed the ideal start after opting to field at the toss, restricting Rajasthan to 159-6 in 20 overs as three pace bowlers - Mohammad Shami, Mohsin Khan and Prince Yadav - shared the wicket-taking duties with two scalps each, while the Royals' Ravindra Jadeja scored 20 runs off the final over to finish on 43 not out, having also carved a partnership worth 49 runs off the final 25 balls with Impact substitute Shubham Dubey (19no).

The Lucknow pace attack helped their side to an ideal start as they had Rajasthan in trouble at 44-3 at the end of the powerplay after taking three wickets in the first four overs, which included a wicket-maiden by standout bowler Mohsin Khan (4-1-17-2).

Opener Mohammad Shami struck first in his second over, dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal (22) and Dhruv Jurel (0) in two deliveries.

First change Mohsin Khan then used the movement to outsmart Vaibhav Sooryvanshi (8) in a scoreless fourth over, before getting him caught at cover off the final ball to complete a rare wicket-maiden.

Prince Yadav, LSG's second-most economical bowler with figures of 4-0-29-2, chipped in with the scalp of the Royals captain Riyan Parag in the ninth over before outplaying Donovan Ferreira with a slower ball five overs later, as the South Africa batter's ramp shot picked out the fielder at deep third.

The wicket of Ferreira, the sixth, brought to the middle the Impact sub Dubey, whose combination with Jadeja saw the visitors finish on 159-6, a total their attack must have felt they could bowl to.

LSG's Shami, having taken the first two wickets to fall, finished with figures of 2-30 in his four overs.

The result sees the Royals return to second place on the log with 10 points from seven games, one behind Punjab Kings who have played six games.

LSG remain marooned in ninth place with just four points from seven games.

LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS: Rishabh Pant (captain/wkt), Ayush Badoni, Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Mukul Choudhary, Mohammad Shami, Mohsin Khan, Prince Yadav, Digvesh Singh, Mayank Yadav.

IMPACT OPTIONS: Himmat Singh, George Linde, M Siddharth, Matthew Breetzke, Abdul Samad.

RAJASTHAN ROYALS: Riyan Parag (captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wkt), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi.

IMPACT OPTIONS: Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Ravi Singh, Yash Raj Punja, Shubham Dubey, Tushar Deshpande.

Advertisement