Quinton de Kock Smashes 140* as Lucknow Super Giants beat the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Quinton de Kock smashed the third-highest individual score in Indian Premier League (IPL) history to help the Lucknow Super Giants edge the Kolkata Knight Riders on Wednesday. The Proteas wicketkeeper-batsman opened the innings and hit an unbeaten 140 off just 70 balls.
While the match itself turned out to be a thriller with LSG requiring a wicket off the last ball to seal the win, the fact remains that their openers, especially De Kock, put up something for the fans at the stadium and those watching on their televisions to remember.
The South African, who survived a missed catch on 12, dropped to the ground in an emotional celebration when reaching his hundred.
He went past his former South Africa team mate AB de Villiers’ 133 not out against Mumbai Indians in 2015. Chris Gayle’s 175 not out off 66 balls against Pune Warriors in 2013 remains the highest score of all time in the IPL and in T20 cricket while Brendon McCullum’s 158 not out off 64 balls against RCB in the first ever match of the IPL in 2008 remains is second on the list.
de Kock’s 140 not out is also the joint highest score by any South African in T20 cricket. He equalled Peter Malan’s score, which he reached in 69 balls, during South Africa’s domestic T20 tournament in 2014.
He hit 10 sixes and as many fours in his innings. He is tied on fourth for most number of sixes hit in an Indian Premier League (IPL) innings. Gayle leads this list as well hitting 17 sixes during his record 175-run knock.
It is also the most number of sixes hit by any batter this season. De Kock is also the first batter since Kieron Pollard in 2019 to have hit 10 or more sixes in an IPL match.
Kolkata’s Rinku Singh nearly pulled off a stunning victory with his 15-ball 40 but his departure on the penultimate ball had the Knight Riders finish on 208-8 and bow out of the final-four race.
The two-run win sealed a playoff spot for Lucknow.
My Goat Sports 