04/22/26 01:59:00
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04/22 13:54 CDT Jadeja's all-round IPL show leads Rajasthan to second spot with
40-run win over Lucknow
Jadeja's all-round IPL show leads Rajasthan to second spot with 40-run win over
Lucknow
LUCKNOW, India (AP) --- Ravindra Jadeja's brilliant all-round performance
handed Lucknow Super Giants a fourth straight loss in the Indian Premier League
and lifted Rajasthan Royals to second in the standings on Wednesday.
The left-handed Jadeja top-scored with an unbeaten 43 off 29 balls on a tricky
wicket as he led Rajasthan to 159-6 after Lucknow skipper Rishabh Pant had won
the toss and elected to field.
"The wicket was not easy to bat on because the ball was seaming and swinging,"
Jadeja said after being adjudged player of the match. "In T20 cricket, you
never know. In the last over you can cash in and we did ... the ball was
gripping so when bowling slow, I got some hold and that helped."
Three of the top four Lucknow batters, including Pant and Aiden Markram, were
dismissed without scoring inside the first three overs as the home team was
bowled out for 119 to ensure a 40-run win for Rajasthan.
Jadeja stifled the chase further by grabbing the wicket of the struggling
Nicholas Pooran for 22 in the 10th over, the batter holing out at mid-on in an
attempt to accelerate.
Pooran's disappointing campaign has included four single-digit scores in seven
games.
Opening batter Mitchell Marsh made a fighting 55 while fast bowlers Jofra
Archer (3-20) and Nandre Burger (2-27) shared five wickets that left Lucknow
skipper Pant disappointed.
"I don't have answers, the batting has let us down," Pant said. "We are
disappointed as a team, as a group ... no excuses out there. Including myself,
we could have taken it deeper. As a batting group, we have to put our hands up."
Earlier, Rajasthan's aggressive top-order perished inside the first six overs
with young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (8) striking two boundaries
off his first two balls before falling to fast bowler Mohsin Khan (2-17).
Lucknow seemed to be in control with the Royals on 110-6 in the 16th over but
Jadeja and Shubham Dubey (19 off 11 balls) shared a brisk 49-run stand.
Rajasthan has 10 points, one behind Punjab Kings. Lucknow has two wins from
seven games and is just above rock-bottom Kolkata Knight Riders.
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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
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