• Boult helps Royals jump to second in IPL

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    New Zealand’s Trent Boult led an inspired bowling attack as the Rajasthan Royals beat the Lucknow Super Giants by 24 runs to edge closer to an IPL playoff berth.

    Opener Yashasvi Jasiwal made 41 off 29 balls to guide the Royals to 178-6, a total their bowlers defended by restricting Lucknow to 154-8 in the second match of the day in Mumbai.

    Boult struck twice on successive deliveries to send back Quinton de Kock (seven) and Ayush Badoni (nought) to dent Lucknow’s chase. The left-arm quick returned impressive figures of 2-18.

    Rajasthan, who won the inaugural IPL title in 2008 under late Australian legend Shane Warne, replaced Lucknow at second on the log. Both teams have 16 points and need a win in their remaining match to book a playoff spot.

    Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna sent back skipper KL Rahul for 10 before Krunal Pandya put together 65 runs with Deepak Hooda. Pandya made 25 before falling to Ravichandran Ashwin off a relay catch between Jos Buttler and Riyan Parag,

    Hooda kept up the charge in his 39-ball 59 but fell stumped off leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and took with him Lucknow’s hopes of a win.

    Obed McCoy took two more wickets, including Jason Holder (one), to expose Lucknow’s tail and Prasidh Krishna then took down Marcus Stoinis (27).

    ALSO READ: Gujarat seal top-two IPL league finish

    © Agence France-Presse

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    Simon Borchardt