De Kock-KL Rahul’s record 210 opening stand lifts LSG

LSG opener Quinton de Kock celebrates his ton. Pic/BCCI; IPL; (right) KL Rahul

Opener Quinton de Kock smashed his first century of the season, an IPL-best unbeaten 140, and also put a record unbroken double century partnership with captain KL Rahul to power Lucknow Super Giants to an imposing 210 for no loss against Kolkata Knight Riders on Wednesday.

Wicketkeeper De Kock struck 10 sixes and as many fours in his 70-ball unconquered knock, while Rahul made 68 not out in 51 balls, his second half-century of IPL-15, studded with four sixes and three fours after LSG opted to bat on a "dry" pitch at the DY Patil Stadium.

At the time of going to press, KKR were 65-2 after seven overs. The 210-run unconquered partnership between De Kock and Rahul overtook the previous best IPL opening stand of 185 compiled by Jonny Bairstow and David Warner for Sun Risers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2019 at Hyderabad.

De Kock was let off in the third over of the innings when on 12 by debutant Abhijeet Tomar at third man off a leading edge when he tried to pull Umesh Yadav. It proved to be a very costly error as the left-handed South African batsman celebrated the lucky escape by pulling Yadav over mid-wicket for the first six of the innings in the same over.

He struck the ball at will towards the end, hitting Tim Southee for three sixes in the 19th over and then Andre Russell for four fours in the last over. The last two overs produced a whopping 46 runs and the last five 88 runs.

Rahul, who has struck two centuries this season, too punished Yadav by hoisting the India pacer over square leg for his first six in the fifth over. By the end of the Powerplay period LSG had advanced to 46 without losing any wicket.

Later De Kock smashed Russell's slower ball for his second maximum in the ninth over.