3122dThe Report by Rachna Shetty

Russell blitz leads shaky Knight Riders to win

Kings XI Punjab pacer Sandeep Sharma's controlled, incisive spell with the new ball had threatened to make a chase of 156 insurmountable for Kolkata Knight Riders, before Andre Russell's blunt-force innings took the defending champions to their second win

Match Centre

Statistics

Best performances - Batsmen

AD Russell
AD Russell
66(36) 9x4 - 2x6
Control %77%
  • Productive Shot
  • on drive
  • 16 runs
  • 2x4 - 1x6
2 0 2 14 20 0 10 18
GJ Bailey
GJ Bailey
60(45) 5x4 - 2x6
Control %84%
  • Productive Shot
  • off drive
  • 15 runs
  • 0x4 - 2x6
0 0 3 7 12 16 7 15

Best performances - Bowlers

Sandeep Sharma
Sandeep Sharma
O4
M1
R25
W4
Eco6.25
RHB
OFFLEG
1W1W
1W
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
LHB
LEGOFF
1W
UT Yadav
UT Yadav
O4
M0
R33
W3
Eco8.25
RHB
OFFLEG
1W1W
1W
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
LHB
LEGOFF

Match Details

Toss

Kolkata Knight Riders , elected to field first

Player Of The Match

Season

Hours of play (local time)

20.00 start, First Session 20.00-21.30, Interval 21.30-21.50, Second Session 21.50-23.20

Match days

18 April 2015 - night match (20-over match)

TV Umpires

Reserve Umpire

Match Referee

Points

Kolkata Knight Riders 2, Kings XI Punjab 0

Commentator: Deivarayan Muthu

That is that for tonight. Do tune in tomorrow too. Until then this is Deivarayan Muthu wondering how to pull off a Russell-like Mohawk. G'night..

Russell, Man of the Match: We were positive. Yusuf gave me the strike and I was happy for the win. I am going rate this performance as my best.

Gambhir: There is a lot of fearlessness about Russell and Surya. Credit needs to go to the entire support-staff. We knew if we could take the game till the end and if Russell stays there, we could win. Russell did it in the Champions League as well. We want these kind of characters to go out there and express themselves.

Bailey: I am okay [responding to the shoulder injury]. We were 20 runs short with the bat, we dropped a few catches and missed a couple of run outs. Full credit to Russell. We did not do either of the disciplines well. Russell threw away our plans. Yusuf reined in his natural game and played along with Russell. We need a kick up the backside. We are playing two top teams next - Chennai and Rajasthan. If that doesn't do it, then nothing will do it.

KKR were rocked when they slumped from 60 for 2 to 60 for 5, Sandy producing a double-wicket maiden. KXIP may have been on top at that point, but Russell snatched the game by the scruff of its neck and delivered some monster blows. As Bailey put, Yusuf reined himself in and ably supported Russell. Kings XI Punjab were sloppy on the field, missing a couple of dollies and run-out chances, and paid the penalty. Do stick around for the presentation, folks.

Ashish: "The way Yusuf played...forgiven for the dropped catch...!!!"

vineet: "One must appreciate the way Pathan batted in the partnership"

Mohit: "Punjab's death bowling has been a major issue all tournament. Have to rectify that to become a force to be reckoned with."

Gautam Pondi: "Really impressed with Yusuf Pathan here. Never thought he had it in him to play the anchor!"

Adarsh: "So Gauti and Viru both scored 11 runs each. Opening partners turned into scoring partners today!"

17.5
4
Johnson to Chawla, FOUR, Chawla sealed it for KKR in the final last year! He seals it for KKR tonight! PC pushes at this back-of-a-length ball outside off, gets a thickish outside edge that runs away past the two-man slip cordon. Yusuf pumps his fist. Surya hugs Russell in the dug-out

Piyush Chawla.. Two slips in..

17.4
W
Johnson to Russell, OUT, Mitch pegs the middle stump back, bags the consolatory wicket of Russell. Fuller length and fired though by Mitch, Russell has a huge slog and misses. The bowler hits the stumps. Timber, but all too late. Russell takes high-fives and hugs from his team-mates in the dug-out. What.a.knock

AD Russell b Johnson 66 (48m 36b 9x4 2x6) SR: 183.33

KKR need just one to win

17.3
1
Johnson to Pathan, 1 run, Mitch does not nail the yorker. Mighty full and outside off, drilled to long-off. Robbie applauds from the dug-out
17.2
1
Johnson to Russell, 1 run, very full and outside off, driven to sweeper cover
17.1
1
Johnson to Pathan, 1 run, angled outside off from round the stumps, Yusuf employs finesse and dabs it to deep third man

Adeelkhan: "Wawwwwwww Russel you beauty.... <3"

END OF OVER:
17 | 13 Runs | KKR: 152/5 (4 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.94, RRR: 1.33)

  • Andre Russell65 (34b)
  • Yusuf Pathan26 (22b)
  • Anureet Singh4-0-37-0
  • Thisara Perera4-0-33-1
16.6
4
Anureet Singh to Russell, FOUR, fuller and on middle and leg, he forces it to the long-on boundary with a drilled drive. Those powerful arms of Russell could even wrestle an aligator

Russell looks to shimmy down the track. Anureet pulls out, he has a wry smile on his face

No trouble today

13

Instances of KKR scoring 150+ in successful IPL chases, the fewest among teams that have played all 8 IPLs.

Lower order Landmark

66

Runs scored by Andre Russell, the highest score by any batsman batting at No. 7 or below in IPL history.

On a High

4/25

Sandeep Sharma's figures in this game, his career best in T20s. This was his first 4-wicket haul.

Par or above par?

150

Average score in wins for Kings XI against Knights Riders when batting first. They got 155 today.

Tonked!

106

Sixes conceded by Piyush Chawla in the IPL, the second-most by any bowler after Amit Mishra (111).

Playing Musical Chairs

5

Number of teams that Thisara Perara has represented in the IPL, the second-most after Parthiv Patel (6).

A different century

100

Number of IPL matches played by Virender Sehwag. He is the 10th player to reach this landmark.

Hit or Miss

55

Number of times Virender Sehwag has been dismissed during the Powerplay in the IPL, more than any other batsman.

Knights trump Kings

3

Number of consecutive games that Kolkata Knight Riders have won against Kings XI Punjab.