Scintillating Russell leads KKR to victory

A swashbuckling innings from West Indian Andre Russell led the Kolkata Knight Riders to an exciting four wicket victory, with 13 balls remaining, over the Kings XI Punjab in Pune on Saturday.
Russell, batting at number seven, came in with his side in deep trouble at 60 for five in the eighth over but then proceeded to attack bowling, smashing nine fours and two sixes as he scored 66 from just 36 balls before he was out with one run remaining to win.
The Knight Riders were rocked as seamer Sandeep Sharma ripped through the heart of their batting line-up, recording figures of four for 25 in fours, to the Kings were well on top at that stage.
Sandeep accounted for Robin Uthappa, Gautam Gambhir, Manish Pandey and Ryan ten Doeschate while Tisara Perera claimed the wicket of Suryakumar Yadav as the team from Kolkata faded badly.
But enter Jamaica-born Russell who has a reputation for going after the bowling and he did not disappoint, hitting the ball to all parts of the ground.
Russell needed an able partner and he received it in Yusuf Pathan, who was happy to give the strike to the to the burly man from the Caribbean. Pathan ended the innings on 28 from 24 balls as the KKR eased home in the end.
Earlier Kings XI skipper George Bailey scored a fighting innings of 60 from 45 balls as his team battled to 155 for nine in their 20 overs.
The only other score of note came from Glenn Maxwell who scored 33 batting at number four, but the team from Punjab could not muster enough runs to win the match.
Latest
-
News
Jonathan Trott warns England not to get ‘too desperate’ against India spinners
The duo have taken a combined 42 wickets in the series so far.
-
News
Darren Gough fears England could be on the end of another hiding by India
Gough knows all about two-day Test wins.
-
News
Chris Silverwood hopes England batsmen can learn from quickfire third-Test loss
Silverwood would not be drawn into criticising the pitch.
-
News
England players clash online over Alex Hartley’s social media comments
Hartley advertised England Women’s one-day international with New Zealand by referencing the men’s third Test defeat inside two days to India.
-
News
Nat Sciver excels as England wrap up series win in New Zealand
Sciver claimed three for 26 and hit 63.
-
News
Joe Root invites ICC to make own judgement on Ahmedabad pitch
England were beaten by 10 wickets to go 2-1 down in the series.
-
News
It was nice to bat on – Rohit Sharma defends pitch after India seal two-day win
The hosts thrashed England by 10 wickets in Ahmedabad.
-
News
Charlotte Edwards elected as first female president of the PCA
The former England captain takes over from Graham Gooch at the Professional Cricketers’ Association.
-
News
Joe Root refuses to blame pitch for England’s quickfire defeat in Ahmedabad
It was the shortest match since 1935 in terms of balls bowled.
-
News
7 Tests with the most premature endings since 2000
A turning wicket caused chaos for batsmen on both sides as England’s first-innings collapse for 112 set the tone.