Avesh Khan holds nerve as LSG edge past RR in a thriller

Jaipur, April 19:In a match that had all the makings of an IPL classic—momentum swings, debut brilliance, seasoned fireworks, and a nail-biting finish—it was pacer Avesh Khan who rose to the occasion under pressure to guide Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to a thrilling two-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Saturday.
Defending 180, the visitors appeared to be on the backfoot for the major part of the chase, thanks to a brisk 74-run knock from the stylish Yashasvi Jaiswal and a spirited hand from teenager Vaibhav Suryavanshi.
However, the ever-reliable Avesh Khan turned the tide at the death, delivering a sensational final spell that not only stemmed the flow of runs but also claimed three crucial wickets—including Jaiswal, Riyan Parag and the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer.
His spell of 3 for 37, capped off with remarkable composure in the final over, sealed a memorable win for LSG as RR finished on 178 for 5—just short of the target by a whisker.
Earlier in the evening, Rajasthan Royals opted to bowl first after winning the toss. The visitors didn’t get off to the best of starts, losing their top three batters inside the powerplay. But that’s when Aiden Markram and Ayush Badoni came to the rescue. The duo stitched together a 76-run stand for the fourth wicket, steadying the ship and laying the platform for a late flourish.Markram was elegance personified as he crafted a well-paced 66, mixing calculated strokes with moments of aggression, while Badoni’s 50 was marked by clever placement and a calm temperament under pressure. The pair not only rebuilt the innings but also ensured the scoring rate didn’t dip drastically.Towards the end, it was Abdul Samad who provided the fireworks.
His unbeaten 30 off just 14 balls injected much-needed momentum as LSG finished at 180 for 5 in their allotted 20 overs. Wanindu Hasaranga was the pick of the RR bowlers, returning with figures of 2 for 31 in his four overs.Chasing 181, Rajasthan got off to a confident start, largely due to Jaiswal’s fluency. The left-hander looked in sublime touch, dispatching anything short or wide to the fence with disdain. His knock of 74 off 51 balls featured nine fours and two sixes, and he appeared to be guiding RR comfortably toward the finish line.
Just when it seemed the Royals had the match in their grasp, Avesh Khan was handed the ball. He responded with a spell that tilted the contest. (PTI)