Kolkata Knight Riders captain Shreyas Iyer opted to field against Punjab Kings, keeping in mind the “swimming pool” of dew that’s visible in the evenings.
His decision paid off as Umesh Yadav’s four for 23 helped KKR restrict PBKS to 137 at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday. Andre Russell’s unbeaten 70 (31b, 2x4, 8x6) then guided the team to a convincing six-wicket win with 33 balls to spare.
KKR got off to a shaky start, losing openers Ajinkya Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer with just 38 on the board. Captain Shreyas Iyer and Nitish Rana then fell to Rahul Chahar in the same over.
With KKR struggling at 51 for four, Russell stepped it up. He forged an unbeaten 90-run stand with Sam Billings (24 n.o., 23b, 1x4, 1x6) for the unbroken fifth wicket.
Going hammer and tongs
Russell, who had a sore shoulder in the previous game against Royal Challengers Bangalore, went hammer and tongs at the Kings bowlers.
In the 12th over, he hit Odean Smith for a boundary and three sixes before Billings smashed a six off the last ball as 30 came off that over. That sealed the deal for KKR.
Earlier, Umesh, who has provided KKR with a breakthrough in all the three matches this season, struck off the last ball of his opening over, trapping Kings captain Mayank Agarwal in front.
Rajapaksa’s cameo
Bhanuka Rajapaksa (31, 9b, 3x4, 3x6), one of the architects of PBKS’ big chase against RCB in its previous game, added 41 for the second wicket with Shikhar Dhawan (16,15b, 1x4, 1x6).
Pacer Shivam Mavi, who replaced wicketkeeper Sheldon Jackson in the KKR XI, came in as first change in the fourth over.
Rajapaksa welcomed him with a boundary and followed it up with three sixes in a row before being caught at extra-cover by Tim Southee off Mavi in the same over.
After the 22-run over and Rajapaksa’s exit, Kings couldn’t flex their muscles. Dhawan, who took time to find his rhythm before hitting a boundary and a six, edged Southee to Sam Billings, who took a low catch behind the stumps.
Kings was 62 for three after the PowerPlay, but none of the middle-order batters showed intent. The big-hitting Livingstone started promisingly, scoring a 16-ball 19 before getting caught by Southee at long-off off Umesh.
Falling cheaply
Raj Bawa, Shahrukh Khan and Harpreet Brar departed in quick succession as Kings slumped to 102 for seven.
It was left to Kagiso Rabada’s cameo (25, 16b, 4x4, 1x6) and his 35-run stand for the ninth wicket with Odean Smith (9 n.o.) to boost the PBKS total. Rabada’s innings was ended by a terrific catch by Southee off Russell.
Once the West Indian got going, there was nothing Kings could do as KKR scored its second win in three matches.
Scoreboard
Punjab Kings
Mayank Agarwal lbw b Umesh 1 (5b), Shikhar Dhawan c Billings b Southee 16 (15b, 1x4, 1x6), Bhanuka Rajapaksa c Southee b Mavi 31 (9b, 3x4, 3x6), Liam Livingstone c Southee b Umesh 19 (16b, 1x4, 1x6), Raj Bawa b Narine 11 (13b, 1x4), Shahrukh Khan c Rana b Southee 0 (5b), Harpreet Brar b Umesh 14 (18b, 1x4, 1x6), Odean Smith (not out) 9 (12b, 1x6), Rahul Chahar c Rana b Umesh 0 (2b), Kagiso Rabada c Southee b Russell 25 (16b, 4x4, 1x6), Arshdeep Singh run out 0 (1b); Extras (lb-2, w-7, nb-2): 11; Total (in 18.2 overs): 137.
Fall of wickets
1-2 (Mayank, 0.6 ov), 2-43 (Bhanuka, 3.5), 3-62 (Dhawan, 5.5), 4-78 (Livingstone, 8.6), 5-84 (Bawa, 9.3), 6-92 (Shahrukh, 12.1), 7-102 (Harpreet, 14.2), 8-102 (Rahul Chahar, 14.4), 9-137 (Rabada, 18.1).
Knight Riders bowling
Umesh 4-1-23-4, Southee 4-0-36-2, Mavi 2-0-39-1, Varun 4-0-14-0, Narine 4-0-23-1, Russell 0.2-0-0-1.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Ajinkya Rahane c Smith b Rabada 12 (11b, 3x4), Venkatesh Iyer c Harpreet b Smith 3 (7b), Shreyas Iyer c Rabada b Rahul Chahar 26 (15b, 5x4), Sam Billings (not out) 24 (23b, 1x4, 1x6), Nitish Rana lbw b Rahul Chahar 0 (2b), Andre Russell (not out) 70 (31b, 2x4, 8x6); Extras (lb-1, w-3, nb-2): 6; Total (for four wkts. in 14.3 overs): 141.
Fall of wickets
1-14 (Rahane, 1.6), 2-38 (Venkatesh, 4.3), 3-51 (Shreyas, 6.4), 4-51 (Rana, 6.6).
Punjab Kings bowling
Arshdeep 3-0-32-0, Rabada 3-0-23-1, Smith 2-0-39-1, Rahul Chahar 4-1-13-2, Harpreet 2-0-20-0, Livingstone 0.3-0-13-0.
Toss: KKR; MoM: Umesh.
KKR won by six wickets with 33 balls to spare.
