IPL 2019: Andre Russell blitz takes KKR home

With KKR needing 53 runs off the last three overs, the West Indian all-rounder struck four sixes and three boundaries (plus two singles) to rack up 38 in a space of just 10 balls in the 18th and 19th overs.

Published : Mar 24, 2019 21:11 IST , kolkata

Andre Russell took KKR over the line with an unbeaten 49 off just 19 balls.
Andre Russell took KKR over the line with an unbeaten 49 off just 19 balls.
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Andre Russell took KKR over the line with an unbeaten 49 off just 19 balls.

Andre Russell played like a man possessed, blasting a quickfire, unbeaten 49 in 19 balls to propel Kolkata Knight Riders to a convincing six-wicket win over the Sunrisers Hyderabad, in an entertaining IPL encounter here at the Eden Gardens on Sunday.

With KKR needing 53 runs off the last three overs, the West Indian all-rounder struck four sixes and three boundaries (plus two singles) to rack up 38 in a space of just 10 balls in the 18th and 19th overs.

As it happened| Rana, Russell assaults down Sunrisers Hyderabad

He was ably supported by young Shubman Gill, who smacked two big sixes in the final over to wrap up the chase with two balls to spare as the Sunrisers leaked 54 in the last 2.4 overs.

Rana, Uthappa steady ship

KKR suffered an early blow when opener Chris Lynn (7), in the second over, mistimed one off left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan and offered an easy catch to Rashid Khan at cover.

Nitish Rana and Robin Uthappa steadied the ship with a second-wicket stand of 80 runs before the latter was cleaned up by Siddarth Kaul for a well-crafted 35. Dinesh Karthik followed suit leaving the host side in a spot of bother.

Rana (68, 47b, 8x4, 3x6) brought up his sixth IPL fifty but when he was trapped in front by Rashid Khan, immediately after play was halted briefly due to floodlight failure, KKR found itself in a spot of bother. But Russell's blitz dispelled all fears in the end. 

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David Warner made 85 on his IPL comeback.
 

Warner shines on return

Earlier, inserted in to bat, Sunrisers rode on David Warner’s 85 to reach 181 for three. Warner, who is coming towards the end of his 12-month international suspension for the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town, modelled his innings on his trademark aggression hitting nine boundaries and three sixes during his 53-ball knock. The Australian southpaw's record extending 40th 50-plus score, during which he put on a 118-run opening partnership with Jonny Bairstow off 78 balls, was buoyed by Vijay Shankar's 24-ball 40.

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