KATHMANDU: In a thrilling encounter at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, the Rajasthan Royals clinched their fourth consecutive win in the TATA IPL 2024 by defeating the Lucknow Super Giants by seven wickets in Match 44.

Captain Sanju Samson led from the front with a blistering unbeaten 71 off just 33 balls, while Dhruv Jurel contributed a solid 52 not out off 34 deliveries, guiding their team to victory.

The Royals’ bowlers, spearheaded by Sandeep Sharma’s 2/31, made a remarkable comeback to restrict the Lucknow Super Giants to 196/5 after a formidable partnership between KL Rahul and Deepak Hooda.

Chasing a challenging target of 197, the Royals got off to a flying start with openers Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal laying a strong foundation with a brisk 60-run stand.

Despite a few hiccups in the middle overs, Jurel and Samson’s brilliant 121-run partnership ensured a comfortable victory for the Royals.

Lucknow Super Giants, batting first after Rajasthan Royals won the toss and elected to field, got off to a shaky start as Trent Boult struck early to dismiss Quinton de Kock.

However, a resilient partnership between KL Rahul and Deepak Hooda revived their innings before the Royals’ bowlers staged a late comeback to restrict them to 196/5.

With this win, the Rajasthan Royals continue their impressive run in the tournament, showcasing a fine balance of batting and bowling prowess.

The victory also cements their position in the points table, boosting their confidence as they head into the latter stages of the TATA IPL 2024.