Chasing a target of 155, RR openers – Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler – guided them to 87 inside 12 overs, as a win looked almost certain before LSG bowlers reined their chase in.
Royals were in control for most of the game, beginning with a sharp bowling performance, which restricted LSG to 154 in the first innings. Their openers – Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler – guided them to 87 inside 12 overs, as a win looked close to certain before LSG bowlers reined their chase in.
“Our openers put on a good stand. Unfortunately, we lost three wickets in three overs. We still should have gotten over the line. We had enough batting in the shed. Unfortunately, we left it a little bit too late and needed too many boundaries in the end,” said Sangakkara.
“I think we got a better PowerPlay than them. It was all about targeting one or two over. Unfortunately, every time we tried to do that, we lost wickets. It was a difficult wicket to bat on and their [LSG] bowlers bowled smartly,” he added.
‘Idea was to take the game as deep as possible’
LSG’s fighting win was built on a concerted bowling effort, with Avesh Khan leading the line with figures of 3/25. The right-arm pacer was given the task of defending 19 runs off the last over. Despite going for a boundary of the first ball, Avesh held his nerve to help his side to a first win over Royals.
