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Andre Russell shines for Kolkata Knight Riders as Kings XI Punjab stumble to 7-run loss in IPL 2016

Andre Russell picked up four-for as Kolkata Knight Riders won a close match against Kings XI Punjab by 7 runs in IPL 2016.

© AFP
Andre Russell has match figures of 4 for 20 © AFP

Kings XI Punjab finally got to see the Glenn ‘BIG SHOW’ Maxwell type performance against Kolkata Knight Riders chasing an imposing total of 165. Maxwell thrashed and smashed KKR bowler only to end up on the losing side as Andre Russell four-for downed KXIP to a 7 runs defeat. Maxwell after a slow start, when into over-drive mode making a 42-ball 68 trying to pull KXIP out of a ditch. It was not before Akshar Patel who thundered to runs which added some hope KXIP. Final overs produced some great cricket with KKR striking back with constant wickets with Andre Russell giving just 4 runs from his last over along with picking up three wickets (2 run-outs) where KXIP needed 11 runs to win. Live Cricket Scorecard:Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab, IPL 2016 Match 32 at Eden Gardens

KXIP had a horrid start to their innings losing as many as three top order batsmen score of 13. Russell picked up Marcus Stoinis and Manan Vohra for zero. Stoinis was the first to go for KXIP in the very first over as he was caught by Piyush Chawala standing at mid-off. Next to go was Manan Vohra who was caught by Shakib Al Hasan for a simple catch at mid-off again. It was time for Morne Morkel to enter his name in the wicket taker list getting skipper Murali Vijay for just 6 runs. It was then that Maxwell and Wriddhiman Saha held fort for KXIP, bring up a 40 run stand for the fourth wicket. Saha made a 20-ball 24 as Piyush Chawala picked his first wicket.

Maxwell continued his hitting after that and completed his half-century in just 29 balls, he along with ex- KXIP captain David Miller  67 run stand for the fifth wicket, with Maxwell contributing 55 runs alone. Maxwell become Chawla’s second wicket getting trapped leg-before on 68. Miller who was the only hope for KXIP also did not perform up to his standards, as he fell for 13 to Russell.  Final over produced as many as three wickets out-of which two were run-outs, first it was Akshar Patel after hitting some lusty blows got run-out second ball for a 7-ball 21. Gurkeerat Singh Mann was the second wicket to fall in the over getting again run-out on the score of 11.  Final wicket and Russell’s fourth wicket was Swapnil Singh who was leg-before for zero.

KKR after being asked to bat first by KXIP skipper Murali Vijay batted clinically to reach 164 for 3 in their quota of 20 overs. Openers Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa made good use of the batting track bringing 101 run stand notching up individual fifties in the process. Uthappa top scored with 70 runs while Gambhir scored 54 runs. Earlier in the day, KXIP captain Vijay winning the toss elected to put KKR into bat first with the weather conditions being a bit cloudy. KXIP made only one change to their playing XI from the last game, bringing Manan Vohra for the injured Shaun Marsh.  While Gambhir led KKR made two changes dropping Sunil Narine and Chris Lynn for incoming Brad Hogg and Shakib Al Hasan.

Brief scores:

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) 164 for 3 in 20 overs ( Robin Uthappa 70 ,Gautam Gambhir 54 ) beat Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) 157 for 9 (Glenn Maxwell 68 , Wriddhiman Saha 24; Andre Russell 4 for 20 ) by  7 runs.

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(Vishal Mehra is a reporter at CricketCountry, who enjoys his weekly dose of anime, and plays cricket once a white moon. His twitter handle is @vishal_oxyjinn.)

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