Summary: How a catch won the match
The Kolkata Knight Riders spiritedly chased the mammoth total of the Lucknow Super Giants but failed by two runs in a crucial match of IPL 2022 at Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium on Wednesday night. Facing a stiff target of 211 to win, Nitish Rana (42 from 22 balls), captain Shreyas Iyer (50 from 29), Sam Billings (36 from 24), Rinku Singh (40 from 15) and Sunil Narine (21 from 7) produced brilliant knocks after making light of the early loss of two wickets.
With 21 required off the last over bowled by Marcus Stoinis, Rinku lashed 18 off the first four balls before a stunning catch by Evin Lewis ended his brave knock. And that catch decided the game, sending Lucknow into the last four and Kolkata out of the tournament.
Earlier, Quinton de Kock slammed an unbeaten 140 (70) — the highest individual score in IPL 2022 — to power Lucknow to 210/0 in 20 overs. His unbeaten partnership with KL Rahul 68 (51 was the highest for the first wicket in the history of the Indian Premier League. Lucknow became the first team, batting first, to go through 20 overs without losing a wicket.
18 off 4 balls and a 2-run win
With 21 required off 6 balls, Rinku Singh slammed two sixes, a four and a two before Evin Thomas's blinder of a catch ended his brave knock. Marcus Stoinis clattered Umesh Yadav's stumps with a yorker, and it was all over. Kolkata finished at 208/8 in 20 overs
Narine blitz keeps Kolkata afloat
Sunil Narine refuses to roll over and die. He pulls out some big hits over the ropes. Kolkata need 21 from 6 balls. Tight finish. 190/6 in 18.5 overs
Billings, Russell depart
Sam Billlings (36 from 24) had kept up the fight with some blazing strokes, but three miserly overs from Lucknow raised the pressure, and Billings is stumped off Ravi Bishnoi. Andre Russell tried to take up the gauntlet, only to fail. And the match is firmly in Lucknow's bag. 144/5 in 16 overs
Shreyas: 50 and out
Captain Shreyas Iyer's courageous innings comes to an end after he completed his half century. Two tight overs cranked up the pressure and Iyer was forced to take risks. Stoinis' slower one did the trick. Big setback for Kolkata, and Lucknow will heave a sigh of relief. 133/4 in 14.1 overs
Billings the aggressor
Sam Billings takes over the role of the aggressor, with big hits against Avesh Khan and Ravi Bishnoi. Shreyas Iyer too is chipping in with occasional sixes and fours, as Kolkata are motoring despite losing three wickets. If these two can sustain the assault on the Lucknow bowlers, the match could turn on its head. 125/3 in 12 overs
Rana's briliance ends
The fireworks were too good to sustain and Nitish Rana (42 off 22) perishes against the spin of Gowtham. It will slow down Kolkata badly, but Shreyas Iyer is keeping up the fight. Advantage Lucknow. Kolkata are 76/3 in 8.1 overs
Shreyas, Rana blaze away
The loss of two early wickets doesn't seem to trouble Kolkata as captain Shreyas Iyer and Nitish Rana are unleashing a flurry of shots to put the Lucknow bowlers on the defensive. And they have a strung together a fifty-run partnership in quick time. Their methods are risky but that's the only way Kolkata can regain the initiative. 60/2 in 6 overs
Tomar's nightmare debut
Kolkata lose their second wicket inside three overs as Abhijit Tomar skies a catch off a Mohsin Khan delivery. The Kolkata chase is unravelling. Two wickets lost in the powerplay will undermine their chase of a huge total. Kolkata will need an extraordinary innings from a batter to win it from here. Can't see that coming, unless Russell does his magic. 23/2 in 3.4 overs
Early setback for Kolkata
De Kock is back in action. He leaps to take an inside edge off Venkatesh Iyer from the bowling of Mohsin Khan. An early breakthrough, and Lucknow are tightening the noose around Kolkata, who are 8/1 in 2 overs. They need a solid partnership to put the chase back on track
Midway summary: Lucknow makes IPL history
Quinton de Kock slammed an unbeaten 140 (70) — the highest individual score in IPL 2022 — to power the Lucknow Super Giants to 210/0 in 20 overs against the Kolkata Knight Riders at Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium on Wednesday.
De Kock’s unbeaten partnership with KL Rahul 68 (51) was the highest for the first wicket in the history of the Indian Premier League. Lucknow became the first team, batting first, to go through 20 overs without losing a wicket.
Kolkata’s Abhijit Tomar had a nightmare debut, dropping De Kock at 12, and later wicketkeeper Sam Billing spilt another catch when De Kock was 68. None of that takes away the sheen from the brilliant strokeplay of De Kock, which was at its best in the slog overs.
Can Kolkata chase it down? Unlikely.
Historic partnership gives Lucknow 210/0
Quinton de Kock (140) and KL Rahul (68) post 210/0 in 20 overs, which is the highest opening stand in IPL history. It's the first time a team batting first has gone through 20 overs without losing a wicket.
Over 19: 6, 1, 6, 6, 6, 0, 1
27 runs from the Tim Southee over. A hat-trick of sixes from Quinton de Kock and Lucknow are 191/0 in 19 overs.
A century for QDK
The slog overs are here and Lucknow haven't lost a wicket. And De Kock blasts away to a century. He's struck 102 (60 balls) as Lucknow race away to 164/0 in 18 overs
Another 50 for Rahul
Rahul scores the 34th half-century of his IPL career of 99 innings. This one comes off 41 balls, as Lucknow reach 118/0 in 14.2 overs. With 10 wickets in hand, they should look to accelerate against Kolkata.
50 for De Kock, 500 for Rahul
Captain KL Rahul crosses 500 IPL runs this season as Lucknow continue to pile more agony on Kolkata. De Kock completes a fine 50, and Lucknow look to step up the scoring. 87/0 in 12 overs.
Rahul picks up pace
Skipper KL Rahul has switched gears, and Lucknow are looking at an imposing total, at the moment. 57/0 in 8 overs and Kolkata are seeking a breakthrough. And they need one quickly.
Powerplay riches for Lucknow
KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock are purring along superbly as Lucknow are off to a good start in the powerplay. They are 44/0 in 6 overs. Great platform for a launch.
De Kock launches Lucknow
Quinton de Kock takes the lead in giving the thrust to the Lucknow Super Giants. Abhijit Tomar of Kolkata spilled a chance and De Kock celebrated with a six hoisting Umesh Yadav over midwicket. Lucknow are 25/0 in 3.3 overs
The toss, the teams and the changes
Lucknow Super Giants win the toss and elect to bat against Kolkata Knight Riders.
Three changes for Lucknow. Krunal Pandya, Dushmantha Chameera and Ayush Badoni are replaced by Krishnappa Gowtham, Evin Lewis and Manan Vohra. Abhijeet Tomar comes in for the injured Ajinkya Rahane in the Kolkata team.
The teams:
Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul (captain), Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Manan Vohra Evin Lewis, Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Krishnappa Gowtham, Jason Holder, Avesh Khan, Mohsin Khan, Ravi Bishnoi
Kolkata Knight Riders: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhijeet Tomar, Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Sam Billings (wicketkeeper), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, Varun Chakravarthy
Preview: Lucknow fancied to beat Kolkata
The Lucknow Super Giants and the Kolkata Knight Riders can’t afford a loss. That adds plenty of spice to their IPL 2022 clash at Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium today. A defeat can jeopardise their chances of making the playoffs as the league phase of the 10-team event nears its conclusion.
A win will clinch a last-four spot for the Super Giants, who have 16 points from 13 games. A Knight Riders’ victory will help the Shreyas Iyer-led side keep alive their hopes of snatching a knockout berth. With 12 points from 13 matches, another loss will knock them out of contention.
For a side packed with talents, the travails of the Super Giants beggar belief. Beyond the fearsome opening duo of captain KL Rahul and Quentin de Kock, the rest of the batters have struggled with consistency. The bowling may not boast of big names, but Jason Holder, Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan and Dushmantha Chameera have performed well. Leggie Ravi Bishnoi has not been at his best, but left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya makes up for it.
The Knights‘ worries start with the openers, and the fragility runs through the rest of the batting. Nitish Rana, the Iyer duo, Rinku Singh and Andre Russell have come good on occasions, but a concerted effort has been missing. The bowling is no longer incisive: Tim Southee has been among the wickets and Sunil Narine continues to be thrifty, but rest have to pull their weight.
The Super Giants are coming off two defeats, but they have enough quality to stop the two-match win streak of the Knights. An exciting clash looms.
