Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul thinks his team went 10 runs short of their target batting first against Rajasthan Royals, but they won the IPL game on Wednesday thanks to their bowling.
Lucknow won by 10 runs at Sawai Mansingh Stadium when Avesh Khan’s last-over heroics halted RR’s innings at 144/6 while chasing 155.
“At the 10-over mark, the message me and Kyle (Mayers) sent out was 160 would be a good total on this track,” Rahul said at the post-match presentation.
Lucknow batted after RR won the toss.
“They had some good bowlers who exploited the conditions. We lost 10 runs but made up with the ball and no dew. “That was fair for both teams,” he said.
“We came in here yesterday (Tuesday) and saw (the pitch) and felt 180 would be par. After Trent Boult’s first over, Kyle and I talked and realized this wicket isn’t 180. “We gave ourselves time in the powerplay because the ball was keeping low,” the LSG captain explained.
RR started well with an 87-run first wicket partnership. Yashasvi Jaiswal (44 in 35 balls) and Jos Buttler (40 off 41 balls) started well despite not playing aggressively. Marcus Stoinis eliminated both and finished with 2/28.
“We know (that) with Rajasthan, their strength is their top four, so we needed to have our plans in place to get them out,” Rahul added.
The run-out of captain Sanju Samson (2) gave LSG an opportunity to come back with some fast wickets.
Avesh’s 3/25 spell won.