Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) prevailed in a high-scoring thriller against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 2 runs at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Wednesday (May 18) to enter the IPL 2022 playoffs in their maiden season.

LSG skipper KL Rahul (68*) and wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock (140*) batted outstandingly well to help the team post 210/0 after opting to bat first. Several records were created and broken as the opening pair became the first to bat through an IPL innings batting first and also registered the highest opening partnership in the league's history. 

KKR replied valiantly but fell just two runs short of the target to finish at 208/8. Shreyas Iyer (50), Nitish Rana (42), Rinku Singh (40), and Sam Billings (36*) were the top contributors for the two-time former champions as Mohsin Khan and Marcus Stoinis took three wickets each for LSG.

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By virtue of this result, KKR were knocked out of the tournament as they finished with 12 points from 14 matches and LSG moved to second spot with 20 points from as many matches.

As the match got closer towards the end, LSG mentor Gautam Gambhir could be seen worried about the win slipping away, but when Stoinis won the match off the final ball by dismissing Umesh Yadav, the former cricketer celebrated the important win passionately in the dugout. Incidentally, he had led KKR to their two titles during his playing days.

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