IPL 2024, RR vs LSG: Samson & Parag led the charge, gave upper hand to RR

IPL 2024, RR vs LSG: Sanju Samson & Riyan Parag led the charge, gave upper hand to Rajasthan Royals. RR beat LSG by 20 runs and moved first in points table.

IPL 2024: Sanju Samson gets player of the match for his 82 off 52 (Images: ©IPL/X)

In the previous season, the Rajasthan Royals encountered difficulties at their home venue, securing only one victory out of five matches. However, as they commence IPL 2024 campaign, there's a palpable sense of optimism and resolve to redefine their performance.

As the Royals embark on their journey this year, they will draw inspiration from this hard-fought victory and aim to create a different tale of success at their home ground.

Brief scores: RR 193/4 (Sanju Samson 82 not out, Naveen UL Haq 2/41) beat LSG  173/6 (Nicholas Pooran 64, Trent Boult 2/35) by 20 runs.

Player Of the Match: Sanju Samson (82* in 52 balls) 

Let’s look at the key points of this match

Sanju's powerful captain's innings drives Rajasthan to an impressive total

When Sanju Samson came to bat, he showed quick and aggressive play. After Jos Buttler got out early, Samson wasted no time in attacking Mohsin Khan. He hit a powerful six to show he meant business, and then followed it up with a well-timed boundary.

But it was in the 9th over, bowled by Yash Thakur, that Samson really showed his strength with the bat. He hit a bunch of boundaries and sixes, scoring 21 runs in that over alone. He was especially good at hitting the ball early and hard, especially with the pull shot. Even when Thakur tried some tricky deliveries, Samson stayed focused and kept scoring.

Despite facing different kinds of deliveries, like slower ones and bouncers, Samson stayed calm and took advantage of loose balls. His partnership with Riyan Parag also helped the team's score, with Parag hitting some impressive shots too. As the innings went on, Samson reached his fifty with a single off Ravi Bishnoi's bowling. His unbeaten score of 82 runs played a big part in his team reaching a total of 193 runs. His innings showed his skill, temperament, and ability to control the game against the opposition bowlers.

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Riyan Parag’s 43 run knock aided Rajasthan to reach a good total

In addition to Sanju Samson's stellar performance, Riyan Parag exhibited fearless batting prowess, particularly against Naveen-ul-Haq's bowling. Parag's innings was characterized by powerful strokes, exemplified by a massive six over long-off that showcased his adept use of the bottom hand. He capitalized on loose deliveries, dispatching a shortish slower ball past point for a boundary. Parag's aggressive approach kept the bowlers on their toes, and his partnership with Samson was instrumental in Rajasthan Royals' success, as he contributed a brisk 43 runs.

Batting at the fourth position, Parag's experience in similar roles, notably in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), provided him with clarity about his role in the team. This familiarity with the batting order allowed Parag to approach his innings with confidence and purpose, contributing significantly to his team's performance.

Read More: Riyan Parag in his own league: Emerges as highest run-scorer in SMAT 2023-24

IPL 2024: Rahul Pooran added 85 off 52 balls (Images: ©IPL/X)

Good bowling strategies at the death helps Rajasthan seal the deal

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) had a tough start to their innings, losing Quinton de Kock early on to a catch by the long leg off Trent Boult's delivery. However, Nicholas Pooran and KL Rahul stepped up to stabilize the innings. Their partnership looked promising, with Pooran's aggressive shots and Rahul's steady batting guiding LSG in the right direction.

Things changed when Sandeep Sharma came into bowl. His well-executed yorkers made scoring difficult for LSG, even though he only took one wicket. Sharma's pressure tactics slowed down LSG's progress significantly.

Ravichandran Ashwin's entry into the bowling attack made matters worse for LSG. His strategic bowling led to Marcus Stoinis' dismissal, disrupting LSG's middle order and making their chase even more challenging.

Despite their efforts, LSG couldn't reach the target. The effective bowling changes and disciplined performance by the opposition bowlers, especially Sharma and Ashwin, prevented LSG from scoring freely, resulting in their defeat.

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