Russell’s unbeaten 49 takes KKR to 177-6

KKR’s Andre Russell en route his 49 at the MCA Stadium in Pune on Saturday. Pic/BCCI; PTI

Captains don't want to bowl their off-spinners against Andre Russell in the T20 format, usually. Not, unless they have great confidence in their finger spinners, or unless they are forced to.

Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Kane Williamson found himself in such a situation (read forced to) in their crucial IPL 2022 game against Kolkata Knight Riders at the MCA Stadium here on Saturday night.

And the result wasn't quite favourable for the Kiwi, as Russell smacked Washington Sundar for three sixes to help KKR to 177 for six after electing to bat .

After being reduced to 94 for five, Sam Billings and Russell stitched together a 63-run partnership from 44 balls. Billings scored 34 runs off 29 balls, with the help of three fours and a six. But it was the Russell show that really hurt the Sunrisers. Russell finished unbeaten on 49 from just 28 balls, and struck three fours and four sixes.
At the time of going to press, SRH were 31-1 in six overs.

Earlier, the KKR innings got some much-needed momentum following a slow start, as Nitish Rana launched into T Natarajan in the fifth over. Rana hit the left-arm pacer for two sixes and a four. Rahane that smacked Marco Jansen for two sixes in the next over, as KKR ended the Powerplay at 55 for 1, a terrific recovery from 20 for 1 after four overs.

However, an unfortunate leg injury limited Rahane's movements at the crease as well as running. Sunrisers struck back with a double-wicket over.

Umran Malik, wicketless for the past three games, with a combined aggregate of 10-0-125-0, removed Rana and Rahane in his first over, the eighth of the KKR innings. Malik then removed KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer in his next over to keep Sunrisers ahead in the game.