IPL 2022 Match 66: LSG qualify for the playoffs with a thrilling win
It was an amazing game of cricket as Lucknow Super Giants became the 2nd team in IPL 2022 to qualify for the playoffs with a thrilling win over KKR played at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai on Wednesday.
LSG captain KL Rahul won the toss and decided to bat first.
Quinton de Kock started off cautiously along with Rahul. Abhijeet Tomar making
his debut for KKR dropped a simple catch chance to get rid of de Kock. After the
drop chance, de Kock showed intent on keeping the pressure on KKR bowlers making
life tough for them. At the end of the first six overs, LSG made 44 for 0. De Kock
and Rahul looked settled as LSG ended the first timeout at 48 for 0.
De Kock upped the ante with big shots putting enough
pressure on KKR bowlers completing fifty off 36 balls while KL Rahul looked
solid giving strike to de Kock. LSG openers maintained the momentum putting
enough pressure on KKR bowlers. At the end of the second timeout, LSG scored 105
for 0.
KL Rahul showed composure reaching fifty off 41 balls. De Kock
created panic among the KKR bowlers hitting them all over the park. The stylish
wicketkeeper from South Africa decimated the opposition reaching century off 59
balls. Tim Southee was taken to the cleaners by de Kock and KL Rahul in the 19th
over. It was an amazing opening partnership as they ended at 210 for 0 which is
the highest opening partnership in IPL history. De Kock registered his highest
IPL score of 140 not out.
Chasing 211 runs to win, it was not an ideal start for KKR
as Venetaksh Iyer was brilliantly one-handed caught by de Kock. Mohsin Khan looked
impressive getting the wicket of Abhijeet Tomar to leave KKR in trouble. Nitish
Rana and Shreyas Iyer showed intent smashing 5 boundaries in an over off Avesh
Khan. Both batsmen kept the momentum going with brilliant hitting. At the end
of the first six overs, KKR ended at 60 for 2. With that, the first timeout was
called.
After the timeout, Krishnappa Gowtham struck to get rid of Nitish Rana trying to reverse sweep caught by Stoinis. Rana and Shreyas Iyer
added 56 runs for the 3rd wicket. Sam Billings joined in with
Shreyas Iyer keeping the scoreboard ticking. Shreyas Iyer showed intent making
life tough for LSG. Sam Billings survived a close LBW shout given not out but
on review, it was retained. KKR captain led from the front reaching fifty off 28
balls. Stoinis struck to dismiss
well-set Shreyas Iyer. Shreyas Iyer and Billings added 66 runs for the 4th
wicket. At the end of the second timeout, KKR made 134 for 4.
Andre Russell was not able to time the ball against top-quality LSG bowling, especially by Avesh and Mohsin Khan. Ravi Bishnoi delivered
at an important time dismissing Billings stumped to leave KKR on the backfoot. Mohsin
Khan showed his temperament by getting the big wicket of Russell caught by Hooda
at long-off.
Things looked bleak for KKR, but Sunil Narine and Rinku
Singh displayed great hitting against Avesh Khan. Rinku Singh timed the ball
brilliantly putting LSG bowlers under pressure. With 21 runs required off the last
over, Rinku Singh smashed Stoinis 18 runs from the first four deliveries. A superb
one-handed catch by Evin Lewis resulted in the wicket of Singh. Singh and Narine
added 58 runs in quick time.
Stoinis held his nerves to nail a brilliant yorker to
dismiss Umesh Yadav giving LSG a thrilling 2 run win.
LSG 210 for 0 in 20 overs (de Kock 140*, KL Rahul 68*,
Narine 0/27) beat KKR 208 for 8 in 20 overs (Shreyas Iyer 50, Rana 42, Stoinis
3/23, Mohsin Khan 3/20) by 2 runs.
de Kock recorded his highest best score in IPL with 140* against KKR
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