KKR vs LSG – IPL 2022 Report: The match the fans wanted!

KKR vs LSG, Match 66 – IPL 2022 Report: Lights, Camera and hell load of non-stop action! This was in order for the night at Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy. Lucknow Super Giants needed a win to qualify for the playoffs while Kolkata Knight Riders needed a win to stay alive in the tournament.

LSG captain KL Rahul won the toss and elect to bat and it was record breaking action throughout. Quinton de Kock recorded his second IPL century and smacked 10 fours and 10 sixes as he put on an unbeaten partnership of 210 runs with KL Rahul (68*). de Kock was dropped by debutant Abhijeet at third man off Umesh Yadav in the third over of LSG innings when he was on 12 runs.

This was the first time in T20 history – that a team batting first remained wicketless at the end of 20 overs. This was the highest opening stand in Indian Premier League History. The partnership of 210* is the third highest IPL partnership of all time. de Kock’s 140* off 70 balls is now the third highest individual score in IPL history. Only Chris Gayle 175* and Brendon McCullum 158* scored more than Quinton. The South African batsman’s 10 sixes in the match were the highest recorded by a batsman in an innings this IPL season.

KKR vs LSG - KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock's unbeaten 210 run stand (PC: BCCI) — KKR vs LSG – KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock’s unbeaten 210 run stand (PC: BCCI)

Chasing 211 runs to win, KKR had a disastrous start. Pacer Mohsin Khan removed Venkatesh Iyer for a duck and debutant Abhijeet Tomar for 4 runs. Mohsin removed KKR openers to reduce the team to 9/2 in 2.4 overs. The very next over Nitish Rana spanked Avesh Khan for 5 fours to welcome him in to the attack. KKR managed to power to 60/2 in powerplay!

Krishnappa Gowtham removed Nitish Rana for 42 runs off 22 balls. Rana departed after playing a gem of a knock to put KKR back in to the reckoning. Captain Shreyas Iyer put a 66 run stand with Sam Billings in 6.3 overs to keep the run flow going before Iyer was dismissed by Marcus Stoinis on 50 – KKR were 131-4 in 13.4 overs.

After a stormy start – LSG bowled three back-to-back good overs courtesy Marcus Stoinis, Mohsin Khan and Avesh Khan – as Ravi Bishnoi repeated benefit as Sam Billings was stumped out for 36 runs. Mohsin Khan struck again by getting the wicket of Andre Russell with KKR tottering at 150-6 in 16.4 overs needing 65 runs in 20 balls. Sunil Narine walked in and started dealing in Sixes. He hit 3 sixes as Rinku Singh played a blinder of a knock to bring KKR close to the target.

KKR needed 21 runs to win off the final over and Marcus Stoinis was trusted with the responsibility to deliver with the ball. Rinku hit a four, six and a six to pull back the equation to 5 runs to win in 3 balls. He picked a double the very next ball and the equation read as 3 runs to win in 2 balls.

The very next ball Rinku tried hitting a wide slower delivery over extra cover but he skied it to a curious fielder in Evin Lewis who grabbed the ball one-handed to take a catch that changed the match again! Rinku departed for 40 runs off just 15 balls with the help of 2 fours and 4 sixes. Umesh Yadav walked in as KKR needed 3 runs to win off the last ball to win. Stoinis bowled a full delivery – Yadav swung the bat and missed. BOWLED! LSG qualified to playoffs in their maiden IPL season!

Toss: Shreyas Iyer (KKR) won the toss and elect to bowl

Playing XIs:

Kolkata Knight Riders:

Venkatesh Iyer, Abhijeet Tomar, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nitish Rana, Sam Billings (wk), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, Varun Chakaravarthy

Lucknow Super Giants:

Quinton de Kock (wk), KL Rahul (c), Evin Lewis, Deepak Hooda, Manan Vohra, Marcus Stoinis, Jason Holder, Krishnappa Gowtham, Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi

Venue: Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai