Markram, Badoni score half-centuries as LSG make 180/5 against RR
Jaipur, Apr 19 (PTI): Aiden Markram and Ayush Badoni struck half centuries and shared a 76-run fourth-wicket partnership as Lucknow Super Giants put up 180 for 5 against Rajasthan Royals in an IPL match here on Saturday.
The South African opener hit 66 off 45 deliveries, studded with five boundaries and three sixes, while Badoni scored 50 off 34 balls as the duo bailed out the LSG after they had lost Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran inside the powerplay.
Abdul Samad (30 not out off 10 balls) then smashed four sixes at the back-end to give LSG a competitive total.
Rajasthan Royals leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga (2/31) emerged the most successful bowler for his side, dismissing LSG skipper Rishabh Pant and Markram.
Riyan Parag is leading the Royals after regular skipper Sanju Samson was sidelined due to a side strain he sustained in the previous game.
Brief scores:
Lucknow Super Giants 180 for 5 in 20 overs (Aiden Markram 66, Ayush Badoni 50, Abdul Samad 30 not out; Wanindu Hasaranga 2/31).
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Rupee rises 28 paise to 92.86 against US dollar in early trade
Mumbai (PTI): The rupee jumped 28 paise to 92.86 against the US dollar in early trade on Friday amid hopes of easing geopolitical tensions and positive sentiment in domestic equity markets.
Buying of Indian equities by foreign investors also supported the local currency even though it stayed under pressure due to a firm dollar, forex traders said.
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 92.93 and gained further to trade at 92.86 against the greenback in early deals, up 28 paise from the previous closing level.
On Thursday, the rupee strengthened 19 paise to settle at 93.14 against the US dollar.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, rose by 0.05 per cent at 98.07.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading 1.16 per cent down at USD 98.24 per barrel in futures trade.
Analysts said that crude oil prices fell below USD 100/barrel amid expectations that the crisis in West Asia would soon come to an end.
In a latest development on the geopolitical front, China, a close ally of Iran and the largest importer of Iranian oil, has asked Tehran to ensure freedom and safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a key international trade route.
Besides, Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, which could also boost the peace efforts towards ending the devastating war involving the US, Israel and Iran.
On the domestic equity market front, the 30-share Sensex gained 176.08 points or 0.23 per cent to 78,164.76 in early trade, while the Nifty rose 33.90 points or 0.14 per cent to 24,232.60.
Foreign Institutional Investors turned net buyers on Thursday, as they bought equities worth Rs 382.36 crore, according to exchange data.
