Match Details
Ovaise: Lucknow Super Giants won the toss and opted to bat first on a dry-looking pitch, Quinton de Kock and the skipper walked out to bat in the middle and were very watchful in the beginning taking very less risks but once they got their eye in, they started peppering the bowling all around the park and had a strong start scoring 45 without losing a wicket in the power play. Narine was brought into the attack in the powerplay and kept bowling a nagging line and length which he is known for and dried up runs from one end.
De Kock smacked a magnificent century, he was dropped twice, once by the debutant in the third man region and one by Sam Billings behind the stump, he made full use of these chances and powered LSG to 210 along with KL Rahul who ended with an unbeaten knock of 68. The pair registered the highest ever opening partnership in the Indian Premier League and the momentum was on their side.
KKR got off to a disastrous start losing 2 early wickets early in the chase, they were 2 down with just 10 runs on the board. Nitish Rana walked into the middle and counter-attacked right from the get-go and he got KKR back into this game and made them believe that this was still possible. Nitish was dismissed in the 8th over and Sam Billings continued from where Rana had left it off, Sam along with Iyer hammered the bowlers all across the park and KKR looks on track to chase this one down.
Mohsin Khan bowled a terrific 13th over and shifted the momentum back in LSG’s direction, Stoinis dismissed Iyer in the 14th over and in the 16th over Sam Billings had to make his way back to the Pavilion as well. It was time for KKR to unleash the beast, 'DRE RUSS' but he was dismissed for just 5, at this point in time, KKR looked down and out of this game with 2 new men in the middle (Rinku Singh and Sunil Narine).
The game was dead and buried, but some unbelievable batting from the two left-handers got KKR till the finish line. 21 runs were required in the last over for them to cross it and the ball was handed to Marcus Stoinis. 4 6 6 of the first 3 deliveries, Rinku was on fire and looked like he was going to get this done with a couple of balls to spare. 5 from 3 were needed and Rinku managed to scamper through for two runs getting the equation down to 3 from 2 deliveries!! The cricketing world had stopped for a second when one of the most amazing catches one will ever see given the situation of the match was taken in the very next ball by Evin Lewis who had not done much in the game until then but then came up with the biggest contributions. Give Evin Lewis the man of the match not QDK!!! So it finally came down to the last ball and 3 runs were required. Marcus held his nerve and bowled a cracking yorker and hammered the last nail in the coffin for LSG. We have witnessed a thriller at the DY Patil stadium today, some unbelievable cricket!!! LSG has qualified for the playoff with this win!!