Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have knocked out two-time Indian Premier League (IPL) winners out of the playoffs contention with a nail-biting two-run win at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai. Even after Quinton de Kock’s unbeaten 140 in record opening partnership, KKR kept the game alive till the final ball was bowled. In the end, LSG held their nerves and sealed their playoffs spot with their ninth win of the season.
Mohsin’s double blow
The run chase looked in shambles early in the powerplay overs. Mohsin Khan did the damage with the new ball by removing both openers Venkatesh Iyer and Abhijeet Tomar. While Venkatesh got out for a four-ball duck, on-debut Tomar could manage just four runs from eight deliveries.
Comeback in powerplay overs
Nitish Rana and Shreyas Iyer gave the run chase a much-needed boost with a flurry of boundaries starting with Avesh Khan's over. Rana hit him for five fours in a single over. At the end of powerplay overs, KKR were 60/2.
Rana's counter-attacking innings came to an end in the eighth over. Krishnappa Gowtham's loopy delivery got the better of Rana, who scored 42 runs from 22 deliveries.
Shreyas’ fifty
Sam Billings joined Shreyas in the middle and hit the ball freely. LSG bowlers were hit for boundaries from both ends. But Mohsin Khan's economical over changed the game. Shreyas reached his half-century from 28 deliveries in the 14th over but got out trying to overhit a slower delivery from Marcus Stoinis.
Rollercoaster slog overs
After taking a beating in the first spell, Avesh came back well and gave just two runs in the 15th over which included four dot balls to Andre Russell. With too much pressure on Billings, he attacked Ravi Bishnoi every delivery and paid the price. Billings got out for a 24-ball 36 in the 16th over. In the next over Mohsin Khan put an end to Russell's unnatural knock. The Caribbean batter scored just five runs from 11 deliveries.
Rinku Singh and Sunil Narine kept the run chase alive with a few big hits. Against all odds, the big-hitters kept LSG bowlers under pressure.
Final over drama
In the final over, KKR needed 21 runs. Giving Marcus Stoinis the final over turned out to be a bad move for skipper KL Rahul as Rinku smashed him for one four and two consecutive sixes. In the last two deliveries, KKR needed three runs. Rinku went for the big shot but substitute fielder Evin Lewis took a sensational catch to rekindle LSG's hopes. Rinku got out for a 15-ball 40 with KKR needing three runs from final over.
On the final ball, Umesh Yadav came to bat. Umesh went for a full-bloodied shot down the ground but missed the ball completely as it hit the stumps. Stoinis’ pin-point final delivery helped LSG win the match by a narrow margin of two runs.
Record-breaking partnership
Earlier, Quinton and Rahul shared a record-breaking unbeaten 210-run opening partnership. While Rahul played second fiddle with an unbeaten 68 off 51 deliveries, De Kock scored his maiden IPL century. In the last five overs, the duo went ballistic and scored 88 runs. The Proteas wicketkeeper-batter remained unbeaten for 140 off 70 deliveries including 10 fours and 10 sixes. The southpaw’s 140 is also the third-highest individual score in IPL history.
