Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
The ongoing 26th match in the Indian Premier League brought the best out of Lucknow skipper KL Rahul at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. After being invited to bat first, Rahul and Quinton de Kock provided a brisk start as both the batters added 52-runs on board for the first wicket. While de Kock got dismissed after adding 24 runs in 13 balls, Rahul held the fort from one side.
KL Rahul built a 72-run partnership with Manish Pandey for the second wicket before Lucknow lost its second wicket in the form of Pandey in 14th over of the game. In their maiden campaign, Rahul, who has been handed over the captaincy for the Lucknow franchise, led from the front as the Lucknow skipper hit a century in 56 balls.
Watch Rahul's celebration here
Rahul completed his hundred with a boundary on the fifth ball of the 19th over, which Tymal Mills was bowling. Rahul's inning was studded with five maximums and nine boundaries as he remained unbeaten till the end. Lucknow Super Giants posted 199/4 in 20 overs with the help of KL Rahul's 103 in just 60 balls and Manish Pandey's 38-run contribution. Earlier, Rahul and de Kock added 52 runs on board for the first wicket. De Kock was the first one to dismiss as he was trapped before wicket by Fabian Allen.
Later, Manish Pandey, Marcus Stoinis and Deepak Hooda provided decent support to KL Rahul, which helped the side to put a huge target onboard. Playing his 100th IPL match, Rahul has become the first-ever cricketer to hit a century in a milestone match. In what is the second century of this season by any batter, it is Rahul's maiden century for Lucknow, second against Mumbai and third in the IPL.
Having scored 103* (60) with the help of nine fours and five sixes this afternoon, this is Rahul's second-highest individual score in the IPL. It is worth a mention that his first two IPL centuries had come while playing for his previous franchise, Punjab Kings.
