Quinton de Kock hit a half-century on Sunday in his first 2023 IPL appearance for the Lucknow Super Giants.

The Proteas opener had not been selected until now – his team’s 10th match of the campaign – due to the IPL limit of four foreigners in a playing XI.

De Kock had been kept out of the side by West Indian Kyle Mayers, who took his place at the start of the IPL when he was on ODI duty for the Proteas against the Netherlands.

However, on Sunday, both Mayers and De Kock opened the batting as Lucknow were set 228 to win by the Gujarat Titans.

Mayers made 48 off 32 balls and De Kock 71 off 42 (seven fours and three sixes) before being bowled by Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan. Lucknow ended up losing by 56 runs.

Earlier, David Miller scored 21* off 12 balls as Gujarat posted 227-2.