Riding on Andre Russell’s stunning whirlwind knock, Kolkata Knight Riders piled up a mammoth 202 for 6 in the ongoing game against Chennai Super Kings. The West Indies star hit 11 gigantic sixes en route to his 88-run knock.
Sent in to bat first, Kolkata Knight Riders were off to a electric start. Sunil Narine hit two sixes while Chris Lynn hit one four in the very first over to take the score to 18. However, Harbhajan Singh dismissed Narine in the next over. Three fours later, Lynn departed too. But Robin Uthappa was firing on all cylinders from one end. As a result, the Knight Riders were 64 for 2 after the end of the powerplay.
The runs were coming at a good rate but wicket at regular intervals were hurting the Knight Riders. Nitish Rana became the third wicket to fall after scoring 16 to leave his team reeling at 80 for 3. 1 run later, Robin Uthappa fell prey to a mix-up and was run out for a well-made 29.
And even before they could recover from those setbacks, they lost another wicket in the form of Rinku Singh. Andre Russell and Dinesh Karthik then took the score past 100-run mark. The duo not only steadied the ship but also laid the platform for a good total witha 76-run stand. Russell did the bulk of the scoring during the stand, reaching his fifty off just 26 balls. The stand came to an end in the 18th over when Watson dismissed Karthik for 26.
In the very next over, Russell hit Dwayne Bravo for three consecutive sixes to take his team’s score over 180. He scored 88 not out off just 36 balls to fire Knight Riders to a massive total.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the innings:
.@Russell12A Are you serious?? #IPL2018
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) April 10, 2018
See, those big muscles on Andre Russell are not for show.#IPl
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) April 10, 2018
The last shot by andre Russell to slower one of bravo is pure power with great skill. The ball was dipping
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 10, 2018
Andre Russell , remember the name.
11 sixes in his 88 not out and has single handedly given KKR the momentum and advantage. Some of the cleanest striking you will ever see. #CSKvKKR— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) April 10, 2018
Andre Russell now holds the record of scoring most runs batting at No.7 in IPL beating DJ Bravo's 68 which he scored at Mumbai in 2018. #CSKvsKKR
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) April 10, 2018
Andre Russell is the player you pay 12.5 crores for to retain. @IPL
— M. Sarosh Ebrahim (@msarosh) April 10, 2018
Russell is picking the slower one before Bravo decides on it.
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 10, 2018
Russellmania!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 10, 2018
Suresh Raina has given more no. of hugs than Preity Zinta in the IPL.
— sunil the cricketer (@1sInto2s) April 10, 2018
CSK is just an overload of bowlers imo. You can't have your full time bowler just getting 1 over, as it takes couple of overs to even find their rythm
— Jatin (@LogicalBakwaas) April 10, 2018
KKR scoring but CSK striking regularly. Even for now.
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 10, 2018
Geez! As soon as it is the IPL, Uthappa seems to wake up, on occasions. Cracking shots.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) April 10, 2018
Imran Tahir jitna wicket lene k baad daudta hai utna hamesha daude to khud apni bowling me padi boundaries rok le. ??
— mthn (@Being_Humor) April 10, 2018
Bang Bang Narine has Chennai crowd stunned with his first over assault. CSK have advantage of batting 2nd but wont want to chase huge target
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 10, 2018