For the first time in IPL history, the openers remained unbeaten at the end of an innings when the score had crossed 200 runs. Quinton De Kock and KL Rahul of the Lucknow Super Giants shared 210 runs at the top against Kolkata Knight Riders at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai on Wednesday. 

After electing to bat first, De Kock and Rahul started off patiently. They helped the team post 44 runs in the powerplay. While the former was the aggressor, the latter held on to one end. 

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De Kock reached his fifty in 36 balls. Rahul took 41. However, as soon as the score read 122 in 15 overs, the two exploded. The last five overs of the first inning went for 71 runs. The last three going for 61. 

Quinton De Kock smashed Tim Southee for three consecutive sixes before taking Andre Russell for 19 runs in the final over. He ended up scoring 140 runs in 59 balls with the help of 10 boundaries and as many maximums. KL Rahul made 68 off 51. 

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This was the highest partnerships for any wicket against KKR, the highest opening stand and third highest for any wicket. 

Highest partnerships for any wicket against KKR

170*Rahul – De Kock 1st wkt Mumbai DYP 2022

167*Rohit – Gibbs 2nd wkt Kolkata 2012

139 Warner – Shikhar 1st wkt Hyderabad 2017

Highest partnerships for any wicket in IPL

229 Kohli – De Villiers RCB v GL Bengaluru 2016

215*Kohli – De Villiers RCB v MI Mumbai WS 2015

210*Rahul – De Kock LSG v KKR Mumbai DYP 2022

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 “It’s a helluva score, they batted beautifully. We’ve been seeing some special batting from both of them this season and again that was brilliant to watch. They are both beautiful batters to watch. At the end of the 18th over, we sent a message on saying, ‘If you guys are too tired hitting the ball hard, you can retire and we’ll send some of our big-hitters in.” These boys, all of them, from 1 to 9 can hit the ball hard like that,” LSG coach Andy Flower said after the game.