Lucknow Super Giants successfully defended 19 runs in the final over as Rajasthan Royals fell 10 short of their target in Jaipur on Wednesday.

Chasing 155, the Royals started in superb fashion racing to 47 without loss at the end of the Powerplay overs. They didn’t lose a wicket till the 12th over, as both openers batted with conviction. Marcus Stoinis then proved to be the gamechanger.

He dismissed both Yashasvi Jaiswal (44) and Jos Buttler (40). In between Sanju Samson was run out.

Shimron Hetmyer, in excellent form this season, walked in at No. 5. With 51 needed from five overs, Hetmyer looked to go big against Avesh Khan but miscued it to Rahul at long-on.

The Royals needed 48 from four overs with Devdutt Padikkal and Riyan Parag in the middle and then 29 from the final two.

Yudhvir Singh bowled an excellent 19th over conceding only 10 runs even though Parag hit him for a six.

Parag started the last over with a boundary but after a leg-bye, Avesh had Padikkal chasing a wide one only to be caught behind. With 14 needed from three, Dhruv Jurel looked to clear long-on but Deepak Hooda jumped and took the catch right on the edge of the boundary. Avesh conceded only three off the last two balls to seal the game.

Earlier the Super Giants huffed and puffed on a slow wicket before accelerating towards the end to finish on 154/7. Openers Rahul and Kyle Mayers (51) gave them a good start with an 82-run partnership but their dismissals put the skids on the run rate.

The Super Giants added only 45 runs in the last five overs with 17 coming off the 19th over. Even the presence of Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran did little to improve their scoring rate.

Following a six-run 18th over, bowled by Ravichandran Ashwin, Pooran picked up a six and four off Jason Holder’s first two balls. Holder switched the angle, going over the wicket but after a dot, Pooran found the boundary again, this time to deep cover. A brace by Stoinis off the last ball gave the Super Giants renewed hope.