Quinton de Kock helped the Lucknow Super Giants beat the Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets in the IPL on Friday.

De Kock scored 54 off 43 balls while fellow opener KL Rahul made 82 off 53 as Lucknow passed Chennai’s 176-6 with six balls to spare.

“I felt that if we bat well, we could chase it down … when your partnership goes on, you can take a few more chances. Glad that it happened,” said Rahul.

Chennai got off to a slightly jittery start after being invited to bat first, losing Rachin Ravindra (nought) and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad (17) in the first five overs.

Ajinkya Rahane looked to steady the side, with the help of Ravindra Jadeja, but fell in the ninth over after racking up 36 off 24 balls.

Lucknow’s clinical bowling restricted Chennai in the middle overs, with Shivam Dube (three) not being able to take off. But Jadeja soldiered on, getting his half-century in the 17th over.

Reliable warhorse MS Dhoni, who smacked 28 runs off nine balls, helped Chennai turn up the heat in the last three overs.

WATCH: De Kock’s classy 54 in IPL

Lucknow openers De Kock and Rahul set up the chase with a superb 134-run partnership, before De Kock fell in the 15th over.

Rahul was dismissed in the 18th over, before a final push by Nicholas Pooran (23) sealed the victory for Lucknow.

“We lost wickets regularly and were 10-15 short,” said Gaikwad. “Good to play them again soon, will come back with homework done.”

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: BCCI