Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) book their berth in the IPL 2022 playoffs after defeating Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 2 runs in a thrilling encounter.
Dubbed as one of the most exciting games of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) sealed their berth in the playoffs after defeating Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by two runs in Navi Mumbai's DY Patil Stadium.
With this win, the KL Rahul-led side is in with a solid chance of claiming the second spot in the IPL 2022 points table, while the Shreyas Iyer-led side is officially eliminated from playoff contention.
LSG are now on 18 points, two points clear of Rajasthan Royals for sole possession of the second place. Lucknow will have to wait for the result of the Royals match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is known to understand if they'll finish second or not in the 15th edition of the T20 league.
WHAT. A. GAME. π€―π€―π€―
LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS MARCH INTO THE PLAY-OFFSβΌοΈβΌοΈβΌοΈ
Winning the toss and opting to bat first against Kolkata, LSG skipper Rahul joined forces with veteran opener De Kock to torment the potent bowling attack of the KKR side. The established opening pair of the Lucknow franchise ended up smashing multiple records by turning the tie into a high-scoring contest.
De Kock and Rahul scored the highest opening partnership in the history of the T20 tournament as LSG smashed 210-0 in the 20 over-contest. While skipper Rahul scored 68 off 51 balls, his partner-in-crime De Kock slammed his second IPL ton (140 off 70 balls), helping him register the third-highest individual score in the T20 league.
Also read:Β IPL 2022: De Kock, KL Rahul's historic opening stand: Records scripted by LSG stars
In response, Kolkata was reduced to 65-3 in 7.1 overs as Mohsin Khan got the better of Venkatesh Iyer (0) and Abhijeet Tomar (4) during Kolkata's steep run chase. However, Nitish Rana (42) and captain Iyer (50) played scintillating knocks as KKR managed to bounce back after the powerplay.
After Sam Billings' fighting 36-run knock, Rinku Singh and Sunil Narine showed their batting skills to put KKR in the driving seat. At a time when Kolkata was staring at a historic victory, Lucknow's Even Lewis plucked a one-handed stunner to remove free-scoring Rinku (40 off 15 balls) in the final over.Β
In the end, Marcus Stoinis defended three runs on the final ball to script LSG's thrilling 2-run win over KKR, leaving cricket fans entertained. KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer too was impressed and said, "I'm not feeling sad at all because that was one of the best games of cricket I've ever played, to be honest. The performance, the way we showed our character and attitude in this game, it was simply outstanding."
Here's a look at some of the reactions on Twitter following this mouth-watering encounter:
One of the Best match of this Season π₯
Well played Rinku Singh π
Gotta feel sad for Rinku Singh π
Young player, almost took away the match from but luck didn't favored him at last!! pic.twitter.com/a7QqhwXgmp
Evin Lewis, just unbelievable. What a one handed catch. WHAT A innings π₯π₯π₯
WHAT A MATCH pic.twitter.com/FZUBr4oE5N
What happened in !
Insane Premier League, Evin Lewis with the match winning catch, but the pendulum was swinging every ball.
Nail biting, Rinku Singh almost did it for KKR, insane knock π€―π₯
The new rule coming into play,
BIG βWhat ifβ¦ Narine wouldβve been on strikeβ
What an amazing game. Congratulations on qualifying for the playoffs. Well played π Evin Lewis catch was the difference
β S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath)What mad hitting by deKock here tonight along with the captain π₯ Fiesty and incredible! Tumbling records at IPL! Lagey raho π π
β Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh)What a match! Best I have ever seen!
IPL AT ITS PEAK pic.twitter.com/m9sISLPRFp
Highest Partnership runs 210
Highest Individual Runs scored by a player 140*(70) in ipl 2022
Best Match of IPL 2022 Undoubtedlyπ₯
Best Catch Of the Tournament so farπ₯
All in one Matchπ»π₯ What a match it wasπ€© pic.twitter.com/5KrICpAh7Q
LSG WON MATCH
RINKU SINGH WON HEARTS. β€οΈβ€οΈ pic.twitter.com/ca8HmVXjkZ
What a knock
What a catch
What a match
IPL Is Greatest Ever ππππ pic.twitter.com/IF1wTwXXNP
Just the kind of matches KKR fans have to go through π
Ups, Downs, Ups and Downs again
What a knock by Rinku Singh, Narine and Rana pic.twitter.com/s3hJOMuQzh
Whatta Knock
Whatta Match
But you gotta feel sad for this guy.
Rinku Singh youβre My Hero π. pic.twitter.com/UUAmsUBvXR
Mind-blowing Climax Twitst....π₯π₯π₯
β π πΌπΎπ β’ (@itz_Chris_Of)One of the best Game of this year's IPL!!!
β Shivi (@ShiviShivaya)What a Game.π€
β Varun (@varunamogh)That is why I love cricket, what a match it was, excellent fight till the end actually looks like a must win match, wow!! as a fan not the result we wanted but proud of the boys! Hat's off ππ» pic.twitter.com/ZImNTovjS9
β Animesh Das (@ianimeshdas)It was always βs match to lose but what an incredible innings by ! He must be disappointed for being so near yet so far but we should be proud of such cameo!
β R P Singh ΰ€°ΰ₯ΰ€¦ΰ₯ΰ€° ΰ€ͺΰ₯ΰ€°ΰ€€ΰ€Ύΰ€ͺ ΰ€Έΰ€Ώΰ€ΰ€Ή (@rpsingh), WHAT A MATCH π₯
π quality entertainment for every cricket fan πΏπ€©
Whatta a game that, LSG nd specially Gambhir celebration says it all, QDK, Rahul, Nitish, Shreyas, Billings and Narine & Rinku man at the end made breathes hold for last over, Lewis π€― but what a final 2 balls by Champion Stoinis. LSG by 2 runs means KKR knocked off. https://t.co/GF1Io2Z6Vd
β Mani Viratfied πβ€οΈ (@MViratfied)