source : BCCI
Avesh Khan turned into the ultimate “Ice Man” in a final-over nail-biter as Lucknow Super Giants edged past Rajasthan Royals by just two runs in Jaipur. Defending eight runs off the last over, Avesh nailed his yorkers to perfection, conceding only six and sealing a stunning win for LSG. This marks RR’s second consecutive stumble in a tight chase, adding pressure as their losing streak extends.
The drama in the final over had everything—dropped catches, misfields, and cold-blooded composure. Hetmyer nearly pulled it off, but a flick to a repositioned Shardul Thakur ended his stay. Avesh followed up with a pinpoint yorker and a cheeky stop off his own bowling to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. It was a climax worthy of the thriller the match had built into.
Before the late chaos, young Vaibhav Suryavanshi stole hearts and headlines. At just 14 years and 23 days, the debutant made a dream entrance, smashing the first ball he faced in the IPL for six. Fearless and flamboyant, he raced to 34 off 13, launching Avesh and Bishnoi over the ropes before falling to Markram’s spin. His partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal (74) gave RR a flying start with 85 runs in under nine overs.
Jaiswal’s fluent fifty kept RR in control, but his mistimed shot against Avesh turned the tide. The dismissal triggered a collapse, and RR’s middle order couldn’t cope with the rising pressure. Despite Ashwin and Parag’s efforts, they couldn’t cross the finish line, leaving RR to rue missed chances and poor execution at the death.
For LSG, Abdul Samad’s late flourish was equally vital. Coming in at the death, he hammered a fiery 30 off just 10 balls, smashing four sixes in the final over to push LSG to 180. That momentum, coupled with Avesh’s clutch bowling and Markram-Badoni’s stabilizing partnership (66 and 50, respectively), gave LSG a crucial win and kept them strong in the playoff race with 10 points.
