Lucknow and Kolkata faced each other at the D.Y Patil Stadium in Mumbai. The game had a lot of stakes for both teams. The purple brigade needed to win this game to keep their least chances of qualifying for the playoffs alive. On the other hand, the Indian T20 League debutants needed to make sure they remain in the top four.
After winning the toss, the KL Rahul-led side decided to bat first. They made full use of the flat pitch as the openers remained unbeaten throughout the innings. Rahul and De Kock stitched an unbeaten partnership of 210 runs. The South African scored 140 not out which is the highest individual score by a wicketkeeper batter in the history of the league.
On the other hand, Rahul scored an unbeaten 68. Talking about Kolkata’s bowling, apart from Sunil Narine (4-0-27-0), every bowler had a forgettable day. The likes of Umesh Yadav (4-0-34-0), Varun Chakravarthy (4-0-38-0), Tim Southee (4-0-57-0), and Andre Russell (3-0-45-0) had a poor day. In reply, Kolkata openers, Venkatesh Iyer and debutant Abhijit Tomar were sent back to the pavilion inside the first three overs.
However, the two-time winners refused to crack in the pressure situation. The likes of Nitish Rana and skipper Shreyas Iyer stitched a partnership of 56 runs in just 5.3 overs. Rana couldn’t capitalize on the start as he got out after scoring 42. Sam Billings came in and stitched another partnership of 66 runs with his skipper before the latter got out after scoring a fifty.
Billings also couldn’t capitalize on the start as he could only score 36 runs. Andre Russell (5) had a disappointing end to a forgettable season with the bat. His wicket meant that the team needed another 61 runs in just 20 balls. However, the likes of Rinku Singh and Sunil Narine took the team close and made it look like they will end their campaign with a memorable win.
However, Singh got out when the team needed three off two balls and Umesh Yadav was clean bowled on the last ball of the game which meant that the team lost by two runs.
This are the memes shared by Netizens on Twitter
KKR lost but King Rinku >>>>> pic.twitter.com/9wYolMK03G
— Shivani (@meme_ki_diwani) May 18, 2022
Lord Rinku #KKRvLSG pic.twitter.com/gKyxAMJXi8
— Kamina (@bittu7664) May 18, 2022
— Pakchikpak Raja Babu (@HaramiParindey) May 18, 2022
A very painful vidaai out of play offs pic.twitter.com/eCT8b24TFR
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) May 18, 2022
After winning such a close match.. Quinton de Kock & K L Rahul :#LSGvsKKR pic.twitter.com/KnP7NtxIq0
— Manoj Pareek (@mrpareekji) May 18, 2022
Rinku going to dressing room pic.twitter.com/7nzCHDLWrd
— sudhanshu' (@whoshud) May 18, 2022
KingKU pic.twitter.com/EJALvL31Xj
— sudhanshu' (@whoshud) May 18, 2022
How did Gambhir hold this position throughout the match pic.twitter.com/QuzpBJxvCj
— Titu Mama (@TituTweets_) May 18, 2022
Rinku bhai ðŸ˜ðŸ˜#LSGvsKKR #KKRvsLSG pic.twitter.com/9nGlHz1aBO
— 2.0  (@Meme_Canteen) May 18, 2022
KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock after smashing Kolkata bowlers @LucknowIPL #LSGvsKKR pic.twitter.com/6fRXQqVrzw
— Anubhav shahi 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳 (@Anubhavshahi48) May 18, 2022
