Match Center

Right then, that is it from this exciting match where Rajasthan registered their first win over Lucknow. Another power-packed match continues in the Indian T20 League where Mumbai take on Gujarat at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. You can simply switch tabs to enjoy the live coverage of that game. Until then, Cheers and goodbye!

Sanju Samson the skipper of Rajasthan is also the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his unbeaten 82 runs. He says he enjoyed it and it feels good to end on the winning side. Adds that this time he has been given a different role and Sangakkara has given him some suggestions and playing some International ODI's has helped him do well. Mentions that he is a batter who reacts to the ball and it helps him maintain the shape and its all about timing the ball. Appreciates Sandeep Sharma and says that those 3 overs were crucial and everybody else chipped in well and stuck to their plans.

KL Rahul the captain of Lucknow says that the target was not a lot but was just 10 runs over par and they bowled well in patches which can happen in the first game. Adds that they will learn from that and get better going forward. Mentions that Mohsin Khan wasn't completely fit last season and they missed him but he came back well and Naveen-ul-Haq swung the ball and played a crucial role for the side up front in that powerplay. Appreciates the side for coming back from 3 down to getting so close and says that it is just the first game and they will try to build from this and get stronger going ahead. Adds that Justin Langer has brought a lot of calmness to the side and there is a lot to learn from him and is happy to have him on the side. He concludes that when he gets runs, it always feels good but it gets better if the team wins the game and he will look to contribute and lead the team to a title.

Presentation Time...

Ravichandran Ashwin is up for a quick chat. He says that it was a wicket of two halves as it was tacky in the first half and they felt they were 10 runs short. Adds that he went for 12 runs in his first over, but he bowls in different stages of the game which requires a different mindset. Tells that he is in a good space mentally and physically and is trying to enjoy his cricket. Mentions that he prepares for different batters, like in this match, he had plans for Poora and Stoinis. Praises Sandeep Sharma for his bowling and says that he has been an unsung hero always doing the dirty job for the team. Further adds that Sandeep Sharma is a character and has shown a lot of fight which you need in the T20 format. Ends by saying that as two bouncers are allowed now, Boult and Nandre Burger will get a taste of this tournament as it goes on.

Earlier in the game, Sanju Samson won the toss and opted to bat first. Rajasthan started quickly as Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal got out of the blocks quickly but soon they both got out. Skipper Samson and Riyan Parag added a 90-plus stand to take the home side into a strong position and Samson stayed on till the end to take his side close to 200 runs. With the ball, Lucknow pacers were on the expensive side and Mohsin Khan in particular got a bit of stick. They also dropped a couple of catches but managed to finish decently with the ball.

Rajasthan, on the other hand, will be pretty happy with their bowling effort. Trent Boult as usually set the tone with a couple of crucial early wickets, and Nandre Burger followed it up with another to take control of the game. They did allow their opponents to build up a big partnership in the middle that made the game a bit more interesting, but their death-over specialist, Sandeep Sharma was absolutely sensational keeping the runs in check and also getting the all-important wicket of KL Rahul to help them get the two points. The spin twin of Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal also picked up a wicket each to cap off an excellent performance.

Lucknow got off to the worst possible start losing three wickets inside the Powerplay that put them on the back foot in this chase. KL Rahul held one end solidly and Deepak Hooda came out with a positive intent and played a few lusty blows to keep the runs flowing. However, he too was dismissed after the field restrictions were lifted. Then came the partnership between the skipper and Nicholas Pooran that took them out of trouble and kept them in this game. Both looked really good out there and were keeping up with the asking rate as well. Rahul notched up his fifty but could not stay much longer and that wicket changed the momentum once again. Pooran also registered his half-century but just did not have enough to get them home as they ultimately fell short by 20 runs.

RAJASTHAN START THEIR CAMPAIGN WITH A COMFORTABLE WIN! The margin of victory does not reflect how close this game was at one stage, but some brilliant death bowling from Sandeep Sharma and the others who held their nerve to get their side over the line. Lucknow will be a bit disappointed as they were in this chase till the last five overs but just ran out of gas in the end.

Rajasthan win their first game by 20 runs! This is on a length, just outside off, Krunal Pandya cuts it to deep point for a single.

Bangs the deck hard on a nagging length, just outside off, Nicholas Pooran looks for the reverse hit over short third but only manages to get a toe end to the backward point for one.

Another good delivery! Bowls it just shorter in length and outside off, Krunal Pandya mistimes his cut to short third for one.

Goes fuller and into the stumps, Nicholas Pooran mistimes his heaves to deep square leg for just one.

Nails that yorker! Bowls it right in the blockhole, just outside off, Nicholas Pooran fails to dig it out.

Beaten! Bowls it on a good length, outside off, with no pace, Nicholas Pooran looks to loft it through covers but gets beaten.

TWO WIDES! Bowls it fuller and well wid of that tramline on off, Sanju Samson fails to collect the ball well and the batters scamper for a quick single. Nicholas Pooran is back on strike!

Avesh Khan to bowl the last over.