9:16pm 200 remains elusive at Lucknow. When LSG were 11-2, they did not look likely to even get up to 196. Hooda and Rahul, though, batted superbly, putting on more than 100 and ensuring that the momentum was not lost towards the end of the powerplay and then in the middle overs.

LSG, in fact, were very well-placed after 15 overs. Pooran and Rahul, though, fell in relatively quick succession, and Badoni and Krunal could also not get as many big hits away at the death, meaning that they mustered only 46 in the last five.

The Royals, on the other hand, will be fairly pleased with their bowling effort. There was not much in it for the spinners but Ashwin did get the vital breakthrough of Hooda. Sandeep was tidy as ever, and was perhaps the pick of their bowlers. Boult, meanwhile, made early inroads by removing de Kock and bowled a magnificent penultimate over.

The visitors will fancy their chances of getting the job done but LSG, remember, have an excellent record when defending totals in excess of 160. Join us shortly for the run-chase!

Deepak Hooda: From where I was last year, tried to improve (on my off-side shots). Tried to do what I had been doing in domestic cricket. I feel that works for me personally and the wicket was demanding (that kind of stroke-play). It is a par score and the wicket is good, so we will have to use changes of pace and the dimensions. You cannot swing blindly and you have to play smartly (with the big boundary dimensions). The confidence is high and we are hoping for the best.

Buttler has been off the field for a while, which the commentators on air say is because of a split webbing