Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) almost end Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) hopes of qualifying for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 playoffs with a colossal 75-run win. KL Rahul-led LSG dethroned Gujarat Titans (GT) from the top of the points table on the basis of superior net run rate (NRR).
Haunting start
The run chase got derailed from the first over itself. The dot ball pressure got to Baba Indrajith as he tried a rash shot against Mohsin Khan and failed miserably to get out for a six-ball duck. In the first three overs, only six runs were scored. Skipper Shreyas Iyer managed to hit the first boundary of the innings in the fourth over but got out off a short delivery from Dushmantha Chameera.
Another short ball got rid of KKR opener. Aaron Finch miscued one off Jason Holder in the fifth over and got out for a run-a-ball 14. KKR had 25/3 on the board after powerplay overs. In the next over, Avesh Khan bowled a yorker to get rid of Nitish Rana, who had taken 11 deliveries to score just two runs. In 6.5 overs, KKR were reduced to 25/4.
Russell, Narine light it up
In the ninth over, Andre Russell infused some life into the run chase with three sixes and a four off Holder. Russell was also dropped in the deep by Ravi Bishnoi in the same over. While Russell went all guns blazing, Rinku Singh could not play the supporting role and got out to Bishnoi for a single-digit score in the 12th over.
Sunil Narine joined the party as well and hit Bishnoi for a four and a six. However, Avesh came back into the attack and got Russell’s wicket. The Caribbean all-rounder scored 45 runs from 19 deliveries including three fours and five sixes. Narine entertained the crowd with a few big shots but in the 15th over, KKR’s tailenders gave up.
Hat-trick of wickets
First, Holder got the wicket of Narine for a 12-ball 22. Tim Southee came in to bat and played an aerial pull shot off Holder. Avesh dived forward and took a fantastic catch in the deep to send the Kiwi batter back to dugout. Off the next ball, Harshit Rana tried to take three runs but got run out. KKR got bundled out for 101 with 33 balls still to go in the game.
QDK’s fireworks
LSG faced an early disappointment after their skipper Rahul got run out for a diamond duck in the first over. Quinton de Kock made up for the run out of his partner with a ruthless knock. In the powerplay overs, LSG posted 66/1 which is their highest so far. The wicketkeeper-batter had support from Deepak Hooda as well. In the seventh over, the Proteas batter got to his half-century from 27 deliveries. However, he could not carry on and got out in the eighth over to Narine.
Russell gets big wickets
Hooda was starting to look more dangerous in the middle overs while Krunal Pandya took his time. In the 13th over, Iyer introduced Russell and got the prized wicket. Hooda scored 41 runs from 27 deliveries including four fours and a couple of sixes. In the 15th over, Russell’s struggle came to an end. Krunal got out after scoring 25 off 27 deliveries. Russell got another wicket.
Mavi’s nightmare
In the slog overs, Marcus Stoinis and Ayush Badoni struggled. However, Stoinis made up for it with three consecutive sixes off Shivam Mavi in the penultimate over. Mavi got Stoinis wicket but then Holder hit him for two consecutive sixes. Mavi leaked 30 runs in his last over. Stoinis contributed with 28 runs from 14 deliveries. In the last over, Tim Southee managed to finish well with the wicket of Holder. Badoni could not do much and remained unbeaten for 18-ball 15 as LSG posted 176/7.
