Avesh spoils Royals' party as LSG clinch last-ball thriller

Avesh Khan bowled an excellent final over as Lucknow Super Giants snatched victory from the jaws of almost certain defeat by edging out Rajasthan Royals by two runs in a thrilling Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here on Saturday.

- Statesman News Service

In a match that went right down to the wire, Rajasthan needed nine runs off the final over. With established batters like Shimron Hetmyer and Dhruv Jurel at the crease, it seemed to be game, set and match in favour of the hosts.

However, with Lucknow skipper Rishabh Pant deciding to hand the ball to Khan, the pacer stepped up to the occasion, conceding seven runs and claiming the wicket of Hetmyer to leave the home crowd stunned.

Khan returned figures of 3/37 to emerge as the most successful bowler for the Super Giants on the night.

Chasing a target of 181 runs, the Royals were boosted by a half-century by opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who continued his fine form this season by scoring 74 runs off 52 deliveries. He also put on an 85-run opening partnership with teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi to give the Rajasthan innings a solid start.