IPL 2019 | Andre Russell | Jacques Kallis |
Photo by Prashant Bhoot /SPORTZPICS for BCCI

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Andre Russell launched a counterattack to chase down the target set by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) with six wickets in hand on March 24 (Sunday) at the Eden Gardens.

In pursuit of a high-scoring target, the home side had the worst possible start. They lost their star opener Chris Lynn in the second over the chase. Shakib Al Hasan provided the first breakthrough but since then Nitish Rana and Robin Uthappa bailed the Knight Riders with an 81-run stand for the second wicket. They rotated the strike beautifully while the odd boundaries came by.

Meanwhile, just when looked Kolkata Knight Riders will take away the game, the Sunrisers struck back to back to peg back into the game. Sandeep Sharma and Siddarth Kaul to dismiss Robin Uthappa (35) and Dinesh Karthik (2). However, Rana brought his half-century from the other end to keep the host in the scheme of things.

IPL 2019: Match 2 - KKR vs SRH - Twitter Reacts as Andre Russell Wins it For Kolkata 1
IPL

With 68 runs needed from just 30 balls, the Eden Gardens witnessed a delay in play with one of the light stands going off. Soon after the play resumed, Rana got out after a well-made 68 off 47 deliveries. But Andre Russell launched a counterattack to change the course of the game. He remained 49 runs off just 19 deliveries including four boundaries and sixes each to chase down the target with two balls to spare.

Previously, comeback man David Warner led the charge for the Sunrisers Hyderabad along with Jonny Bairstow. The opening pair led an onslaught against the Kolkata Knight Riders new ball bowlers. They added 118 runs for the first wicket in 13 overs with Warner being the aggressor of the two. Warner made a statement ahead of the ICC World Cup, whose ban ends on March 28. At the 13th over mark, Piyush Chawla drew the first blood rattling Bairstow’s stump (39).

IPL 2019: Match 2 - KKR vs SRH - Twitter Reacts as Andre Russell Wins it For Kolkata 2
IPL

Since then, David Warner and Vijay Shankar – promoted up the order, carried on a carnage against the host. Warner finally fell 15 short of his century after a scintillating knock. His knock included nine boundaries and three sixes off 53 deliveries.

With 144 runs in 16th over, Sunrisers Hyderabad were in for a 200plus score. But Kolkata Knight Riders pulled things back despite a late cameo from Vijay Shankar (40 off 24). Andre Russell was the pick of the bowlers for the Knight Riders picking two wickets to halt the free flow of runs.

Twitter Reactions:

https://twitter.com/LagbhagEngineer/status/1109823699157291011

 

Ankush Das

I am an accountant by qualification, my parents thought their obedient son would study further to become a CA, but I had other things in mind. An ardent Cricket fan is following his passion and making...