In Pics, IPL 2022 Match 66: De Kock, Rahul help Lucknow seal play-off spot

Centurion Quinton de Kock and skipper KL Rahul put on the IPL's highest ever opening stand of 210 to help Lucknow Super Giants book a play-off spot with a thrilling two-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders on Wednesday. (BCCI/IPL Photo)

Kolkata's Rinku Singh nearly pulled off victory in Mumbai with his 15-ball 40 but his departure on the penultimate ball saw Kolkata finish on 208-8 and bow out of the final-four race. (BCCI/IPL/PTI Photo)

Marcus Stoinis defended 21 off the final over despite Rinku Singh's four and two sixes to start but he fell to a stunning one-handed catch by Evin Lewis as the fielder came running from deep backward point. (BCCI/IPL/PTI Photo)

De Kock hit 140 off 70 balls laced with 10 sixes and Rahul made 68 off 51 deliveries after Lucknow elected to bat first. (BCCI/IPL/PTI Photo)

De Kock was unforgiving on the bowlers as he smashed Tim Southee for four hit over the fence in a 27-run 19th over and then hit Andre Russell for four fours in the 20th. (BCCI/IPL/PTI Photo)

De Kock survived a dropped catch on 12 and went on to score his second IPL century and dropped to the ground in an emotional celebration. (BCCI/IPL/PTI Photo)

De Kock and Rahul also surpassed the previous best first innings partnership of 185 between Jonny Bairstow and David Warner for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2019. (BCCI/IPL/PTI Photo)

Kolkata lost openers Venkatesh Iyer for nought, Abhijeet Tomar (4) and Andre Russell (5), to Mohsin Khan who returned figures of 3-20. (BCCI/IPL/PTI Photo)

Kolkata lost wickets and hope after contributions by Nitish Rana (42), skipper Shreyas Iyer (50) and Sam Billings' 36. (BCCI/IPL/PTI Photo)

But Rinku Singh and Sunil Narine, who made a 7-ball 21, took Lucknow by surprise with a partnership of 58 off 19 balls. (BCCI/IPL/PTI Photo)