Pooran fifty in vain as Super Giants fall short

JAIPUR, India (CMC):

Nicholas Pooran launched his latest Indian Premier League campaign with a stellar unbeaten half-century, but it proved in vain as his Lucknow Super Giants went down to Shimron Hetmyer’s Rajasthan Royals by 20 runs here Sunday.

In pursuit of 194 at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Super Giants got a top score of 64 not out from Pooran and 58 from captain and opener KL Rahul but fell short of their target as only one other batsman – Deepak Hooda with 26 – passed 20.

They required 38 from the last two overs, and seamers Sandeep Sharma and Avesh Khan managed to shackle the left-handed Pooran.

Choosing to bat first, Royals posted 193 for four off their 20 overs, captain Sanju Samson top-scoring with a Man-of-the-Match unbeaten 82 off 52 deliveries.

He struck three fours and half-dozen sixes, adding 36 for the second wicket with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (24) and a further 93 for the third wicket with Riyan Parag, whose 43 came from 29 balls and included a four and three sixes.

The left-handed Hetmyer managed only five before feathering a catch behind off leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi in the 17th over, but Samson galvanised a 43-run, unbroken fifth- wicket stand with Dhruv Jurel (20 not out) to finish the innings strongly.

In reply, Super Giants slipped to 11 for three in the fourth over after being rattled by two quick strikes from left-arm pacer Trent Boult (2-35).

However, Rahul belted four fours and two sixes in a 49-run, fourth-wicket partnership with Hooda before finding an ally in Pooran to add a further 85 for the fifth wicket.

Pooran struck four fours and four sixes off 41 balls, but his attempts to script a win, especially after Rahul perished at the start of the 17th over, fell flat.