Rajasthan Royals (RR) suffered a narrow 10-run defeat at the hands of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Match 26 of the IPL 2023 on Wednesday (April 19).
The Royals failed to chase the target of 155 at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur despite the opening stand of 87 runs between Yashasvi Jaiswal (44 off 35) and Jos Buttler (40 off 41).
Once the opening partnership was broken, RR suffered a collapse and slipped to 104/4, losing Sanju Samson (2) and Shimron Hetmyer (2) in quick succession.
While Devdutt Padikkal (26 off 21) and Riyan Parag (15* off 12) tried to resurrect Rajasthan’s innings, they failed to take the hosts over the line. Avesh Khan (3-25) defended 19 runs off the last over and restricted RR to 144/6.
After the game, RR head coach Kumar Sangakkara rued the fact that the team's batters let it slip from a point when they were cruising in run-chase.
"Our openers put on a really good stand. We were needing 8 per overs when the 12th over finished with 10 wickets in hand, that's not very difficult," said Sangakkara during the post-match press conference.
"Unfortunately, we lost three wickets in three overs. We still should have gotten over the line. We had enough batting in the shed. We left it a little bit too late and needed too many boundaries in the end.
"At the back end, especially (Ravi) Bishnoi's last over, we weren't committed enough to take him down for three four sixes. Even if the batter got out that time, it didn't matter."
The former Sri Lanka skipper further said that the pitch was not easy to bat on as the ball got older.
"I think we got a better powerplay than they did. It was all about targeting one or two over but unfortunately every time we wanted to do that we lost a wicket," Sangakkara stated.
"It was a difficult wicket to bat on as the ball got older but they also bowled very well. It was a tough pitch and Lucknow bowled really smartly but at the same time we should have got over the line."
Despite the constant backing, Riyan Parag has failed to deliver for the Royals in crunch situations time and again.
"In that situation (last couple of overs), he can just go out and hit as many sixes as quickly as he can. It's a very clear plan that Riyan has. We had Dhruv (Jurel) to kind of take care of the pace and we just needed 2-3 sixes in the middle overs," Sangakarra said.
"He's (Parag) been batting well in the nets. We do back our players quite well ... Unfortunately, he hasn't been in good form. We will assess that and address that at his training and see where we get to over the next few games."
Ravichandran Ashwin starred with the ball for RR, claiming two wickets by conceding 23 runs in his four overs.
Sangakkara was full of praise for Ashwin as he said: "He (Ashwin) is just concentrating on bowling his stock ball, he trusts his variations. He has a great series in terms of Tests, bowled a lot of overs. He understands that the ball is coming out really well. He is getting his under-cutter going and he has got his carrom ball. He is in amazing form for us and I think it is a good lesson for all the bowlers on a pitch like this."
(With agency inputs)
