KKR vs LSG, IPL Results: Lucknow Super Giants enter Playoffs, Kolkata Knight Riders out of last four race
Lucknow Super Giants have survived the scare to reach the knockout stages of the Indian Premier League. Marcus Stoinis’ two consecutive dribbles (three for 23) in the final gave the team a two-legged win over the Kolkata Knight Riders.
After Lucknow entered into the unbroken opening partnership between Quinton de Kock (140 no, 70b, 10×4, 10×6) and captain KL Rahul (68 no, 51b, 3×4, 4×6) to reach 210, The Kolkata Knight Riders hit a notable distance with Rinku Singh and Sunil Narine making a 58-run spot for the seventh wicket.
At a time when victory seemed like a distant dream for the Knights having lost six 150-balls in 16.4 passes, Rinku stepped up with 15 40-ball (2×4, 4×6) and built Build a partnership with seasoned Narine.
With the 21 runs needed to finish the final, Rinku hit a point four and a couple of six, before a stunning catch by Evin Lewis ended his break. With the last three serves required, Stoinis tore through Umesh Yadav’s stump to secure the win for Lucknow.
As the Super Giants celebrated reaching the knockout stages, there was a bleak atmosphere at the KKR camp after the team was eliminated from the tournament.
After Mohsin Khan eliminated opener Venkatesh Iyer and debutant Abhijeet Tomar in the first three rounds, with just nine runs across the board, no one would have thought KKR would have such a fight. Captain Shreyas trained for half a century (50, 29b, 4×4, 3×6) and forged two partnerships – with Nitish Rana and Sam Billings – before suggesting Deepak Hooda capture the Marcus Stoinis. Even Andre Russell opened fire without success.
READ |
IPL 2022: GT Barrier for RCB in a do-or-die game
But Rinku and Narine tried their best. The duo held their ground and chased after Lucknow pitchers Stoinis and Jason Holder, before hitting their target.
Prior to that, De Kock took a beating on the 12th when Tomar dropped a regulatory catch, allowing the South Africans to make the most of the compensation.
After losing their last two games – to the Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals – Rahul and de Kock forged the highest opening partnership in the league. It was also the first time a team hit the ball first and didn’t lose to wicket. In the absence of seasoned Pat Cummins, none of the Knights Templar archers could make an impact as the Super Giants have robbed 88 in the final five rounds.
