Guwahati (Assam) [India], March 27: Quinton de Kock delivered a historic performance for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), smashing an unbeaten 97 off 61 balls to register the highest individual score in a run-chase for the franchise in Indian Premier League (IPL) history.
Facing Rajasthan Royals on their home turf at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Assam, Quinton showcased an exhibition of aggressive strokeplay, dismantling the opposition’s bowling attack with ease. His knock helped KKR successfully chase down Rajasthan’s modest total of 151/9, marking their first win in the 18th edition of the tournament.
With his blistering innings, Quinton surpassed Manish Pandey’s 11-year-old record of 94 runs, which he had set in the 2014 IPL final against Punjab Kings. The previous top run-chase performances for KKR also included Chris Lynn’s unbeaten 93 against Gujarat Lions in 2017, Manvinder Bisla’s 92 against Chennai Super Kings in 2013, and Gautam Gambhir’s 90* against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016.
Despite the early dismissal of Moeen Ali, Quinton maintained composure, finding support from captain Ajinkya Rahane and later from impact substitute Angkrish Raghuvanshi. His dominance was evident in the 18th over, where he launched a brutal attack on Jofra Archer. He smashed a boundary on the first ball, followed by a massive six, and then finished the game in style with a flashy shot over long-on.
Quinton’s commanding innings not only secured KKR’s win but also etched his name in the franchise’s history books as one of their greatest match-winners.