Umesh Yadav continued to chase his run of dreams with four wickets before Andre Russell returned to his unstoppable best to propel Kolkata Knight Riders to an easy win of six wickets in the match against Punjab Kings on Friday (April 2).
Umesh (4/23), who came to the IPL season having played only two games in two IPL seasons and not been sold initially in the auction, put up the highest career T20 figures that helped KKR to dismiss Punjab for a sub-par 137 overs in 18.2 overs.
It’s a straightforward chase, but Rahul Chahar boost the hopes of Punjab with an unbeaten double-wicket maiden over, which reduced KKR to 51/4.
READ MORE: Andre Russell, fifty powers KKR wins against Punjab Kings.
But Russell (70 not out from 31 balls) was out in the middle of the game and made a difference with his flurry of sixes, which totaled eight, making it a breeze in only 14.3 overs. He knocked three of them off Odean Smith in an innings that lasted thirty runs.
There is no rope sufficient to be long enough when Russell is all guns blazing, and Russell was in that situation on the night of Friday. The Jamaican sprinter aptly concluded the match with some sixes on the friendly leg-breaks of Liam Livingstone.
While the other hand, KKR co-owner and Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan took to Twitter to post an exclusive message to Russel and Yadav and congratulate KKR on their victory.
SRK Tweeted: “Welcome back my friend @Russell12A, I’ve been waiting for you to see the ball fly that high!! It’s a world of its own after U hit it. Man! Wow! Thank you @ShreyasIyer15 and team for a job well done. Thank you for a great night.”
It’s also the second win for KKR in three matches, while Punjab was beaten for the first time of the season following their victory against RCB.
KKR won the toss in the earlier game, and Shreyas Iyer chose to take the first bowl. Punjab Kings’ batters never got to between their KKR bowling attack, but the KKR bowler was Kagiso Rabada, who smashed 25 runs towards the end of the innings, putting an impressive total for his team.
