The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) moved to the top of the points table in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 after defeating Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 75 runs on Saturday at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.

A half-century from Quinton de Kock along with Avesh Khan’s three-wicket haul powered LSG to a comprehensive victory by 75 runs as they successfully defended their total of 176. 

Chasing 177, KKR lost the wicket of Baba Indrajith in the first over. Mohsin Khan scalped the wicket of the opener and bowled a wicket—maiden to kick off the innings. 

Dushmantha Chameera scalped the second wicket of the innings after KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer was caught at square-leg in the 4^th over. 

Troubles increased further for KKR as Jason Holder dismissed Aaron Finch, who was caught by Quinton de Kock in the 6^th over. KKR were 25-3 at the end of the powerplay. 

Nitish Rana was the next batter to depart after the left-handed batter was castled by Avesh Khan in the 7^thover. 

Andre Russell announced his arrival to the crease by going all guns blazing against the LSG bowling attack. The KKR all-rounder hammered two fours and 4 massive sixes as LSG were 64-4 at the halfway mark. 

Ravi Bishnoi brought an end to Rinku Singh’s stay at the crease after the batter was caught at deep mid-wicket.  

Sunil Narine and Andre Russell collectively added two sixes and a four. However, Avesh Khan brought LSG back into the game by scalping two wickets in an over including the all-important breakthrough of Russell. 

Jason Holder then scalped two wickets on consecutive deliveries to dismiss Narine and Tim Southee while Harshit Rana was run-out in the same over. KKR were all out for 101 and LSG won by 75 runs.

Earlier, LSG, who were put in to bat first, made one change – Avesh Khan replaced K Gowtham in the eleven. Skipper KL Rahul was run-out without facing a delivery, thanks to a brilliant direct-hit from opposition skipper Shreyas Iyer.

The pressure of an early wicket didn’t affect LSG as Quinton de Kock and Deepak Hooda stitched a quick fifty-run partnership. 

de Kock hammered the first six of the innings in the third over, bowled by Southee. Hooda smashed his first maximum off Narine’s bowling. 17 runs came off the 6^th over and LSG were 66-1 at the end of powerplay after de Kock smacked consecutive sixes. 

The opener notched his half-century in the 7^th over before he was caught at long-off by Shivam Mavi, off Narine’s bowling. 

Krunal Pandya joined Hooda at the crease. Pandya and Hooda added a four each against Harshit Rana and LSG were 90-2 at the halfway stage. The 100 was up for LSG after Hooda cleared the ropes against Anukul Roy. 

Andre Russell put an end to the 34-run partnership after KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer grabbed Hooda’s catch. Russell then dismissed Krunal Pandya after the batter was caught at deep-point. 

Marcus Stoinis whacked three sixes in a row before the all-rounder holed out to the deep in the penultimate over, which produced 30 runs. 

Jason Holder clubbed two sixes before he was caught by Rinku Singh in the final over as LSG posted 176-7 in the first innings. 

Brief Scores:  Lucknow Super Giants 176/7 (Quinton de Kock 50, Deepak Hooda 41; Andre Russell 2-22) beat Kolkata Knight Riders 101 all out (Andre Russell 45, Sunil Narine 22; Avesh Khan 3-19) by 75 runs.