By Our Special Correspondent
Opener’s second century of the season hands Mumbai Indians eighth successive defeat
Two first-ball ducks this season at the Wankhede Stadium, and going up against a largely partisan crowd supporting the ‘home side’, it was easy to question KL Rahul’s mental state ahead of Lucknow Super Giants’ game against Mumbai Indians on Sunday. The answer to that was an exhibition of stroke-play as Rahul once again proved to be a thorn in the flesh for Mumbai and stood between them and a batting meltdown by Lucknow. Even as the rest of the Giants batters toiled, it was another batting master class from their skipper.
At first glance, K L Rahul's individual contribution of 103* off 62 balls towards the Lucknow Super Giants' cause against Mumbai Indians looks spectacular on its own merit. Compared to the fact that LSG posted 168 runs on the board reveals that Rahul contributed over 61% of the total.
Considering the numbers, one may confidently say that he single-handedly won the tie for Lucknow. The one and only true 'Super Giant'.
When these two teams met earlier this season, there was a lot of debate surrounding Rohit’s decision to hand the new ball to Tilak Varma instead of Jasprit Bumrah against the likes of Rahul and Quinton de Kock. Rahul went on to score a century as Lucknow ran out comfortable winners.
De Kock's wicket triggered a lean period for Lucknow, one where the scoring rate dipped and both Rahul and Manish Pandey seemed content to rotate the strike and keep the scoreboard ticking.
Even the 13th over from Sams, where he bowled four wides and was smashed for two sixes by Rahul fetched a wicket as Marcus Stoinis departed for a duck. Krunal Pandya departed in the very next over by Kieron Pollard just as Rahul was applying the pressure from the other end.
After hitting Bumrah for two fours in the 17th over, Rahul went one better in the 18th deliverey by Unadkat -- smashing three back to back fours off the last three balls.
His century, his third of the season, came in grand style after launching Meredith for six in the final over of the innings.
Brief scores: LSG 168/6 in 20 ovs (Rahul 103 no; Meredith 2/40, Pollard 2/8) but MI 132/8 (Rohit 39, Tilak 38; Krunal 3/19).
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