‘Most struggled to time, Quinton de Kock makes batting look so easy’ – Twitter hails half-century on tough pitch

Quinton de Kock played a vital hand for the Lucknow Super Giants in their game against Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday evening. He hit 50 from 29 balls, including four fours and three sixes and played at a healthy strike-rate of 142. His innings helped LSG post a total of 176 on the board.

LSG’s innings started off an a sour note, with KL Rahul being run-out without facing a ball for his third duck of IPL 2022. While the first two were golden ducks he has now managed to bag a diamond duck, but is still somehow the second highest run-scorer of the season by a fair margin.

Quinton de Kock scores half-century after running out KL Rahul for a diamond duck

Tim Southee, opening the bowling for KKR bowled a length ball down the offside and de Kock mistimed his drive. The South African called for the run but changed his mind, meanwhile Rahul had already sprinted out of his crease. The ball was scooped up by Shreyas Iyer fielding at short extra cover, and he hurled down the stumps at the bowler’s end. Rahul was found short of his crease, and had to depart for the ignominious 0(0).

de Kock took it on himself to make up for that, however, and joined hands with Deepak Hooda to add a 70-run partnership off 39 balls. At the end of the 7th over, LSG were cruising at 72-1 at a brisk runrate 0f 10.25, but the wicket seemed to slow down after the powerplay. Sunil Narine bowled a short of the length delivery along off stump, and de Kock didn’t get the elevation he would’ve wanted, ending up slicing it to long-on.

LSG managed just over 65 runs off the next ten overs, before a late innings assault from and Marcus Stoinis and Jason Holder against Shivam Mavi helped them to 170. The total turned out to be more than enough, with KKR folding to 101 all out and losing by 70 runs.

Deepak Hooda and Quinton De Kock are playing like we play Real Cricket 20, bhai har ball pe chauka chhaka, amusing to the eyes.

— Vishcomical (@vishcomical) May 7, 2022

QdK makes batting look so easy.

— Aditya (@Adityakrsaha) May 7, 2022

Most of the batters have struggled to time the ball on this pitch. That tells you what a high quality that was from QDK.He made it look easy Class QDK.#IPL2022

— Shubham⚡️ (@funnygangwal) May 7, 2022

QDK is one of the best players of pace in the world, it’s as much of a blessing as it kind of is a detriment

— Pant's Reverse Sweep (@SayedReng) May 7, 2022

One his best half century 🔥🔥🔥 make it big QDK

— Mohammed Asif (@Klassy__KL) May 7, 2022