Royals fall short by two runs as Avesh Khan shuts door in final over

Avesh Khan emerged as the hero for Lucknow Super Giants, defending nine runs in a tense final over to seal a thrilling two-run victory against Rajasthan Royals in their IPL 2025 encounter on Saturday. With this win, LSG returned to winning ways, while Rajasthan slumped to their fourth consecutive defeat and their second home loss in Jaipur.

Earlier in the match, Aiden Markram and Ayush Badoni starred with the bat, crafting impressive half-centuries and stitching together a crucial 76-run partnership for the fourth wicket. After the early dismissals of Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran during the powerplay, Markram stepped up with a composed 66 off 45 balls, including five fours and three sixes, steadying the innings at a critical moment.

Absolutely 🔥 🔥 🔥

Avesh Khan delivered a yorker masterclass when it mattered most, and just like that, #LSG pull off a 2-run thriller!

How do you even rate that spell of magic?! 🔥

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/02MS6ICvQl#TATAIPL | #RRvLSG | @LucknowIPL pic.twitter.com/1UKViGuhUl

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 19, 2025

Badoni, playing the perfect support role, anchored the innings with a calm and calculated 50 off 34 deliveries. The duo not only steadied the ship but also set the stage for a late flourish.

That acceleration came courtesy of Abdul Samad, who unleashed a devastating cameo in the final overs. His unbeaten 30 off just 10 deliveries, including four towering sixes, propelled LSG to a competitive total of 180 for 5, a score that looked just about par on a good batting wicket.

For Rajasthan Royals, Wanindu Hasaranga was the standout with the ball, returning figures of 2 for 31. He removed both Rishabh Pant and the well-set Markram, briefly disrupting LSG’s momentum during the middle overs.

In the absence of regular skipper Sanju Samson, still sidelined due to a side strain from the previous game, Riyan Parag led the Royals. While the bowling unit tried to exert pressure, they failed to contain the flow of runs in the latter half of the innings.