Andre Russell, promoted up the order, put the dancing shoes on at the Eden Gardens to hammer an unbeaten 40-ball 80 including eight sixes and six fours. Russell added 62 for the second wicket with Shubman Gill, propelling Kolkata Knight Riders to an intimidating total of 232/2. The Trinidadian, a part of West Indies' 15-member World Cup squad, had earlier expressed his joy at being part of the team. “I am so hungry right now to represent the West Indies because a lot of fans (have been) saying all sorts of things. They never know what it is to play with injuries and to play in situations where you are not comfortable,” Russell had said on the eve of KKR’s Indian Premier League match against Mumbai Indians.
Mumbai Indians batsman Hardik Pandya, on Sunday, hammered the fastest fifty (off 17 balls) in this edition of the IPL, against the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens. Pandya was eventually dismissed for a 34-ball 91.
Andre Russell starred with the ball too, picking up the wickets of Evin Lewis and Suryakumar Yadav. He returned figures of two for 25 from his four overs.
Opening the innings, Shubman Gill got KKR off to a flying start with a 45-ball 76. The Under-19 World Cup winner hit four sixes and six fours during his innings which eventually helped Kolkata post the tournament's highest total of 232. Gill's stay was cut short by Hardik Pandya who had him caught by Evin Lewis.
Leg-spinner Amit Mishra's two for 29 dented Royal Challengers Bangalore's hopes of staying alive in the league. Mishra, who is the first spinner to claim 150 wickets in IPL history, snapped up Shivam Dube and Heinrich Klaasen.
Shikhar Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer both struck fifties to power Delhi Capitals to a formidable total. Dhawan's 50 off 37 balls coupled with Iyer's 52 off as many deliveries handed Delhi its maiden playoff berth in 12 years.
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