de Kock and Pooran’s lusty hitting propel Super Giants to decent total
Royal Challengers bowlers keep the visitors on a leash on a sticky wicket after a frenetic start; Maxwell the host’s standout bowler with two wickets
Quinton de Kock (81, 56b, 8x4, 5x6) and Nicholas Pooran (40 n.o., 21b, 1x4, 5x6) took Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to a respectable 181 for five against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Tuesday.
Opener de Kock waged a lone hand at the top of the order. The South African notched up his second successive fifty, before falling to a big hit in the 17th over. de Kock received a life on 32, when Glenn Maxwell failed to hold on to a tough chance at midoff.
LSG skipper K.L. Rahul, cleared to play after recovering from an injury, was tentative in his 14ball 20. The Karnataka batter struck Maxwell inches over Rajat Patidar at deep squareleg for a six, but off the next ball, skied an attempted pull to cover.
Devdutt Padikkal (6), another local lad, was sent back through an excellent catch from wicketkeeper Anuj Rawat.
On a sticky pitch, the RCB bowlers were able to keep LSG on a leash. de
Kock provided some relief in the 13th over, when he hammered a wayward Cameron Green for two sixes and a four.
RCB was quickly back on top, as LSG limped to 148 for five in 18 overs. A subpar total was on the cards, until the visitor received a fillip from Nicholas Pooran.
The West Indian cut loose against leftarm seamer Reece Topley, who in search of the wide yorker, erred with full tosses.
Pooran hit it into the point stands for two sixes, and then rocked back and smashed a short ball onto the stadium roof.
Mohammed Siraj, entrusted with the last over, started well with three dot balls. Pooran regrouped and smacked the next two deliveries for maximums. From being in danger of stumbling to a small total,
LSG entered the interval with a spring in its step.
Maxwell, who has evolved into RCB’s lead spinner this season, was the standout bowler with two wickets.
Springing a surprise
RCB sprang a surprise by dropping fast bowler V. Vyshak from the eleven. Vyshak had used the cutters to great effect in the previous outing.