SRH vs LSG: Last Year's IPL Gave Avesh Khan A Lot Of Confidence - Ravi Shastri

Former Indian player Ravi Shastri acclaimed Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) pace bowler Avesh Khan for an outstanding performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Monday. LSG won their second IPL game this season after outsmarting SRH by 12 runs at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.

LSG posted 169/7 in the first innings after brisk half-centuries from skipper KL Rahul (68 off 50 balls) and all-rounder Deepak Hooda (51 off 33 balls). SRH started their chase with 21/0 after three overs with skipper Kane Williamson smashing Jason Holder for a six over the keeper’s head.

SRH vs LSG: Avesh Khan’s 4/24 cruised LSG to a hard-fought 12-run victory

Williamson punched Avesh for a boundary at the start of the fourth over and attempted for a lap shot over a short fine leg only for Andrew Tye to pouch the ball at that position. In his next over, Avesh got the better of Abhishek Sharma with a slower ball.

SRH needed 33 from the last three overs with Nicholas Pooran (28) and Washington Sundar (16) present at the crease. After smashing Avesh for a six on the first ball, Pooran hit a full-toss straight into Deepak Hooda’s hands at long-off.

Avesh nicked off Abdul Samad on the very next ball for a golden duck before bowling consecutive dot balls to finish his bowling figures of 4/24 in four overs.

Avesh Khan did an excellent job: Ravi Shastri

Shastri said Avesh took confidence from his previous season’s success with Delhi Capitals where he claimed 24 wickets in 16 games and ended as the second-most wicket-taking bowler in IPL 2021 behind RCB’s Harshal Patel (32).

“It was even-steven until then. Probably SRH had the upper hand. So he had to deliver in that over and he picked up a couple of wickets and ended with a four-fer. He did an excellent job.

“He is improving. I’ve seen him come up through the ranks and he’s an improved bowler in the last 12 months. Last year’s IPL gave him a lot of confidence and he’s started off well here,” Shastri told ESPNCricinfo.

LSG will play their next match against Delhi Capitals on April 7 at the same venue.

Also Read: SRH vs LSG: Wanted To Get Wickets In the Powerplay And At The Death – Avesh Khan