Blackcaps star Trent Boult was at his new-ball best for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, shining in a three-run victory over Lucknow Super Giants.
A multi-million dollar signing for Rajasthan, Boult lived up to his price tag, taking 2/30 from his four-over spell to send his side top of the IPL ladder.
After losing the toss and being sent in to bat first, Rajasthan racked up an impressive 165/6 from their 20 overs, with West Indies star Shirmon Hetmyer top-scoring with 59 not out from 36 balls, including six sixes.
Defending a target of 166, Boult made sure Lucknow's chase got off to the worst possible start.
Coming around the wicket, he knocked over the stumps of India international KL Rahul with the first ball of the innings, sending the opposition captain back to the pavilion for a royal duck.
Boult followed the wicket up with a wide, before trapping Krishnappa Gowtham leg-before-wicket for another first-ball duck, leaving Lucknow in trouble at 1/2 after just two legal deliveries.
Contributions of 39 from South Africa's Quinton de Kock and 38 not out from 17 balls to Australia's Marcus Stoinis gave Lucknow hope of a fightback victory, with 15 runs needed from the final over.
But even 10 runs from the final two balls to Stoinis proved too little, too late for the Super Giants, who slipped to a three-run defeat.
The victory sent Rajasthan to the top of the table, with six points from their first four matches, sitting clear of second-placed Kolkata Knight Riders on points differential and with a game in hand.
Lucknow sits fifth after their first five matches, with three wins and two defeats in their first year as an IPL side.
