Sensational Quinton de Kock, consistent KL Rahul power LSG to 210-0 against KKR
Navi Mumbai, May 18: Quinton de Kock provided a batting masterclass enroute to a sensational hundred and alongside skipper K L Rahul, fired Lucknow Super Giants to 210 for no loss against Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League here on Wednesday.
More than 60 games into the IPL, the surfaces are getting tougher for strokeplay and Rahul thought it was better to put runs on the board.
Both Rahul and de Kock got the measure of the wicket in the powerplay, reaching 44 for no loss, before flaunting their wide range of strokes on way to their unbeaten 210-run stand, the highest ever opening partnership in the history of the tournament.
The South African hammered 10 sixes and as many fours in his 70-ball unbeaten 140, while Rahul collected four sixes and three fours in his 51-ball 68 not out.
De Kock, who was dropped by Abhijeet Tomar off Umesh Yadav in the third over, made KKR pay heavily by getting the highest score of the season.
The South African was in his elements smashing the spinners and pacers with equal disdain.
He used the pull shot against the faster bowlers and was at his innovative best against the seasoned spin duo of Sunil Narine and off coloured Varun Chakaravarthy.
Out of the sixes he hit, de Kock's reverse sweep off Narine stood out. Anything short from the pacers, de Kock was happy to put it away over deep square leg region.
The southpaw was in no mood to stop even after reaching three figures. Tim Southee was poor in the death overs as he fed balls after balls in the slot for de Kock to deposit it into the stands.
His 19th over yielded as many as 27 runs with de Kock finding the boundary at will.
Rahul watched de Kock's breathtaking knock from the best seat in the house. The skipper did not have much to do in the slog overs but he too played some sublime strokes on way to his third half century of the season.
Rahul also completed 500 runs in the tournament for the fifth season in a row.
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18 dead, 6 critically injured in Andhra Pradesh cracker unit explosion
Vetlapalem (Andhra Pradesh) (PTI): Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha said 18 people died and six were critically injured in the cracker unit blast here in Kakinada district on Saturday.
The intensity of the explosion at Vetlakpalem village in Samarlakota mandal was so strong that the bodies were flung into nearby paddy fields, said a police official.
"So far, we have information that 18 people were killed and six critically injured. I am on my way to the spot," Anitha told PTI
An investigation is going on into the cause of the fire, which led to the blast, police officials said.
Kakinada Government General Hospital superintendent said the hospital received seven patients with burns ranging from 90 to 100 per cent. He said they are under treatment.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed sadness over a large number of cracker manufacturing workers losing their lives at Surya Fireworks, said an official press release.
"The explosion at a crackers manufacturing unit at Vetlapalem village in Kakinada district has really pained me. Multiple people losing their lives in this accident is sad," said Naidu in a post on X.
Horrifying scene played out amid lush green paddy fields as locals were seen shifting bodies in 'barakalu', sheets made of fertiliser bags.
Fire and smoke emanated from the blast site, and an ambulance rushed to rescue the injured.
Naidu said he spoke to officials over the accident and directed them to extend immediate help to the victims.
We are monitoring the rescue efforts and will come to the aid of the affected families, he said.
Up to 20 people were working in the crackers unit when the blast occurred.
Naidu directed senior officials and ministers to visit the accident site.
Police have deployed drones to locate body parts that were flung into nearby agricultural fields.
