By Brian Thomas.
It was nail-biting at Jaipur yesterday, but early indications were that Rajasthan Royals at last were getting their act right bowling first and having the strong Lucknow Super Giants in a shock mode with LSG on 153 for 5 wickets and the last over being handed over to Sandeep Sharma to take responsibility with Joffry Archer bowling the penultimate over miserly and conceeding only 32 runs in his 4 overs whilst accounting for the scalp of the dangerous Mitch Marsh for 4 runs , so things looked very much in favour of Rajasthan Royals if they could contain Abdul Samad from opening his broad shoulders against Sandeep Sharma.
Rajasthan Royals are blessed because the Sri Lankan spin twins, namely Hasaranga 2 for 31 and Theekshana despite being wicketless for 32 runs, sent down 8 miserly overs keeping a close vigil on Lucknow Super Giants batters.
In form Aiden Markram made 66 in 45 deliveries with 5 boundaries and 3 sixes with able support from Ayush Badoni making 50.
The pertinent point is that bowlers mentioned above did the hard work by ensuring Nicholas Poram is sent back with the score on 46 for 2 wickets and Rishab Pant to the shelter with LSG 54 for 3 wickets ,in all honesty, Rajasthan Royals could not have asked for a better equation coming into the 8th over.
There is no doubt that with Markram and Badoni and Abdul Samad in the ranks, Rajasthan Royals would have anticipated an on slaught at some stage.
However, 153 on the scoreboard with Abdul Samad on strike experts in the com box opinionised their prediction in a muddle.
They stated 153, for 5, and it seems a below par score at the end of 19 overs , but every Rajasthan Royals fan was shell shocked as Abdul Samad smashed 27 runs off the final over of Mohit Sharma to stretch his team to a defendable total of 180 runs.
181 is a target in between. Bat well, even risk-free in the middle overs, and the chasing team can get over the line.
With Jaiswal opening the innings, Rajasthan Royals looked composed on an 85-run partnership for the first wicket, moving forward steadily to 156 for 3 wickets in 17.1 overs with Jaiswal departing on 76 , needing just another 25 runs in 21 deliveries , which in modern-day T 20 format is a stroll in the park.
Hemiyer at the wickets , in the 20th over with Avish Khan in pursuit, he was dismissed in the 3rd delivery for 12 with the score on 175 for 5 wickets.
6 runs needed in 3 balls , the equation not only got the Rajasthan Royals dug out chewing their nails but the spectators getting their monies worth for a nail-biting fininish
Rajasthan Royals fell short by 2 runs, and Avish Khan ended the day as a hero at Jaipur.
Never say die attitude worked with the old cliche. The game is not won until its won period.
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