IPL 2022: LSG bowlers demolish KKR, take a big step towards playoffs

The Lucknow Super Giants now sit on top of the IPL 2022 points table with 16 points in 11 matches and a healthy run rate of +703. They are the closest a team is to sealing a playoffs berth this year. 

KL Rahul and co, on Saturday, defeated the Kolkata Knight Riders by 75 runs at the MCA Stadium, Pune. 

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Defending 177 runs, LSG put up a comined bowling effort to restrict Shreyas Iyer’s men to 101. Pacer Avesh Khan came back with figures of 3/19 in three overs and West Indies’ Jason Holder took 3/31 in 2.3 overs. Dushmantha Chameera, Mohsin Khan and Ravi Bishnoi picked one wicket each. 

Kolkata were bowled out for their econd lowest total in IPL matches in India – the only lower total being 68 all-out vs MI at Wankhede in 2008. 

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The team’s batting never got going. They were 0-1 and then 24/4 before Andre Russell came to give Lucknow some headache. The West Indies hard-hitter smashed 45 runs in 19 balls with the help of three boundaries and five maximums. However, he was ultimately dismissed by Avesh Khan. 

In the first innings, LSG opener Quinton de Kock slammed a 29-ball-50 but Lucknow Super Giants almost frittered away a solid start before some lusty hitting in a 30-run penultimate over took them to 176 for 7. Skipper KL Rahul was dismissed for a diamond duck. 

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De Kock added 71 with Deepak Hooda (41 off 27 balls) to give LSG a good start after being invited to bat.

“We started superbly with the ball, put the ball in the right areas, couldn’t have asked for more. Trust them a great deal (his pace battery). Having skill is one thing, but knowing what to do when is important. They’ve been put under pressure a couple of times but they’ve stuck to their strengths and been brave with the ball. That’s all we can ask for,” Rahul said after the match.