Rajasthan inch closer to playoffs

Mumbai, May 15: A clinical Rajasthan Royals inched closer to securing a play-offs berth with a convincing 24-run win over Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League here on Sunday.

Both RR and LSG are now tied on 16 points from

13 matches and need another win to confirm their place in the next stage of the tournament. Thanks to their margin of victory, RR also toppled LSG from the second place.

Batting first, Yashasvi Jaiswal top-scored with 41 while Devdutt Padikkal blazed away to an 18-ball

39, as Rajasthan Royals posted 178 for six. Skipper Sanju Samson made 32 off

24 balls.

Ravi Bishnoi was the most successful bowler for LSG, picking 2/31 in four overs.

When their turn to bat came, LSG were stopped at

154 for eight. The Super Giants got off to a terrible start as Trent Boult (2/18) sent back two of their top batters — Quinton de Kock (7) and Ayush Badoni (0) — in successive deliveries in the beginning of the third over.

De Kock was caught at point by an agile Jimmy Neesham, while Badoni was trapped in front of the wicket, after which the batter opted for a review to clear his doubts.

Deepak Hooda (59 off 39 balls) denied Boult a hattrick — the ball headed towards the slip but after one bounce.

In the next delivery though, Hooda got off the mark with a beautiful drive through covers.

Following the New Zealand pacer’s double blow, Prasidh Krishna (2/32) and Boult conceded only two runs in the next two overs, as RR kept things tight.

However, KL Rahul (10) struck Prasidh for a six to begin the final power play over but the bowler had the last laugh as he had the LSK skipper caught with his smart bowling.