NEW DELHI: Kolkata Knight Riders clinched a heart-stopping triumph over the Sunrisers Hyderabad in a pulsating encounter during the IPL 2024 season on Saturday.
The match, marked by intense battles and nail-biting moments, culminated in KKR's victory by a slender margin of four runs, propelled by the explosive batting display of Andre Russell.
An exhilarating half-century by Russell, comprising 64 off a mere 25 deliveries, adorned with seven towering sixes and three boundaries, served as the cornerstone of KKR's challenging total. Additionally, Russell showcased his versatility by scalping two vital wickets while conceding 25 runs in his spell, thereby stamping his authority on the match.
"Close game in the end, wonderful game of cricket. Unfortunately it didn't go our way. I thought for the most part, really happy with how we bowled," remarked SRH skipper Pat Cummins in the post-match presentation, acknowledging the captivating nature of the contest.
Cummins commended the valiant efforts of Heinrich Klaasen, whose scintillating knock of 63 off 29 balls propelled SRH agonizingly close to victory.
"It's one of those, goes one way or the other, amazing job by Klaas (Klaasen) and Shahbaz to get us back into the game and get us into that position," added Cummins, reflecting on Klaasen's heroic innings.
Despite the defeat, Cummins found solace in SRH's resilient performance, identifying areas of encouragement amidst the disappointment.
1/10:Russell, Harshit help KKR edge SRH in IPL thriller
AFP
2/10:Andre Russell's heroics
The big-hitting Russell steered Kolkata to 208/7 with his unbeaten 25-ball 64 and a 81-run stand with Rinku Singh after England's Phil Salt began the batting charge with his 54.PTI
3/10:Harshit Rana's last over
Needing 13 off the last over after a flurry of sixes from SRH's Klaasen in overs 18 and 19, fast bowler Harshit was hit for a six on ball one but kept calm to send back Shahbaz Ahmed and Klaasen in the space of three balls.PTI
4/10:Heinrich Klaasen's blitz
Heinrich Klaasen smashed 63 off 29 balls to give KKR a scare as SRH attempted to chase down a victory target of 209 at Eden Gardens.PTI
5/10:Pat Cummins' debut as captain
Pat Cummins, on his IPL debut as captain, faced the final ball and needed four to tie the match but Harshit bowled a dot ball to trigger wild celebrations.AP
6/10:Mitchell Starc's expensive spell
Mitchell Starc broke the record in the auction when KKR shelled out $2.98 million for the left-arm quick. But Starc endured a day to forget, getting hit for 53 runs off his four overs.AFP
7/10:Sunrisers Hyderabad's strong start
SRH started strongly as Mayank Agarwal (32) and Abhishek Sharma (32) put on 60 for the opening wicket before Harshit broke through to send back Agarwal.PTI
8/10:Russell's bowling impact
Starc created an early chance but wicketkeeper Salt spilled a catch to extend Sharma's stay, which was finally cut short by Russell's pace bowling.PTI
9/10:KKR's spin dominance
KKR unleashed their spin force and a wicket each to Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine further dented SRH's chase.AP
10/10:Klaasen-Ahmed partnership
Klaasen decided to unleash his power in a 58-run stand off 16 ball with Ahmed to scare KKR.AFP"In a game where we didn't really pull it all together, we still almost competed against a very good side at their home venue, lots to be encouraged by, a lot of good performers, a couple of points to work on also," Cummins remarked, highlighting the positives for SRH moving forward.
In the enthralling encounter, KKR overcame early setbacks to post a formidable total of 208/7 in their allotted 20 overs. Notable contributions from Phil Salt, Ramandeep Singh, and a crucial partnership between Russell and Rinku Singh propelled KKR towards a competitive target.
SRH commenced their chase on a promising note, with a solid opening partnership laying the foundation. However, a middle-order collapse ensued before Klaasen and Shahbaz Ahmed's blistering onslaught rekindled hopes of a remarkable turnaround.
Ultimately, Harshit Rana's composed bowling in the final over thwarted SRH's aspirations, securing a narrow victory for KKR amidst pulsating drama.
Andre Russell's scintillating performance earned him the coveted 'Player of the Match' award, encapsulating his pivotal role in KKR's thrilling triumph.
(With inputs from ANI)
