IPL8 KXIP vs KKR: Russell powers Kolkata to four-wicket win

A power-packed half century by West Indian all-rounder Andre Russell (66) steered Kolkata Knight Riders to a four-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab in Pune on Saturday.

Chasing a target of 156, Kolkata coasted home with more than two overs to spare making 159-6 in 17.5 overs.

However, Punjab had sniffed victory when they had Kolkata on the ropes at 60-5 after eight overs.

Russell had other ideas clubbing nine boundaries and two sixes in his 36-ball knock adding 95 runs with Pathan (28 not out) before falling with one needed to win.

Sandeep Sharma bowled an excellent spell to claim four for 25.

Earlier, a superb half century from George Bailey (60) lifted Punjab to 155-9 after being put into bat.

They were struggling at 27-3 before Maxwell (33) added 63 with Bailey.

Yadav claimed three for 33 while Morkel and Russell snared two apiece.

Narine returned excellent figures of 4-0-17-1.

Kolkata innings

Johnson castles Russell with Kolkata needing one to win. KKR 155-6, 17.4 overs.

Andre Russell b Johnson 66 (36b 9x4 2x6)

Russell pummels Thisara for a massive six and is dropped by Maxwell next ball. KKR 139-5, 16 overs.

Russell smashes his eight boundary off Perera to race to his fifty of 28 balls.

Pathan cracks a couple of boundaries off Anureet and Kolkata need just a run a ball. KKR 125-5, 15 overs.

Russell and Pathan have added 52 off 35 balls with Johnson failing to stem the flow of runs as Kolkata are back on course. KKR 113-5, 14 overs.

Patel goes for 19 with Russell smashing two boundaries and a six. KKR 103-5, 13 overs.

Russell pierces the packed offside twice for boundaries with powerpacked shots off Johnson. KKR 77-5, 11 overs.

Sandeep finishes with excellent figures of 4-1-25-4. KKR 60-5, 8 overs.

Sandeep is on hat-trick as Ten Doeschate is trapped leg before first ball. KKR 60-5, 7.5 overs.

Ryan ten Doeschate lbw b Sandeep Sharma 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Sandeep strikes again and Kolkata are in deep trouble as skipper Gambhir departs caught behind. KKR 60-4, 7.4 overs.

Gautam Gambhir c Saha b Sandeep Sharma 11 (19b 1x4 0x6)

Thisara strikes ending Yadav's breezy knock having him caught behind with a leg cutter. KKR 60-3, 6.5 overs.

Suryakumar Yadav c Saha b Perera 23 (10b 2x4 2x6)

Johnson goes for 15 in his first over with Suryakumar whacking a couple of sixes. KKR 53-2, 6 overs.

Suryakumar plays an incredible shot moving across and virtually flicking Johnson for a six over fine leg.

Sandeep strikes getting rid of Pandey who was living dangerously. KKR 34-2, 4.3 overs.

Manish Pandey c Bailey b Sandeep Sharma 12 (6b 2x4 0x6)

Pandey cracks Sandeep through point for a boundary after swinging the previous ball to midwicket when Patel leaps but fails to latch onto the chance.

Sandeep strikes trapping Uthappa leg before. KKR 16-1, 2.2 overs.

Robin Uthappa lbw b Sandeep Sharma 13 (10b 2x4 0x6)

Uthappa survives being run out before slamming the first boundary of the innings in an eventful opening over. KKR 8-0, 1 over.

Punjab innings

A superb half century from George Bailey (60) lifted Punjab to 155-9 after being put into bat.

They were struggling at 27-3 before Maxwell (33) added 63 with Bailey.

Yadav claimed three for 33 while Morkel and Russell snared two apiece.

Narine returned excellent figures of 4-0-17-1.

Gambhir takes an excellent catch at point to dismiss Johnson. KXIP 155-9, 20 overs.

Mitchell Johnson c Gambhir b Morkel 1 (2b 0x4 0x6)

Bailey blasts a six off Morkel before his wonderful knock comes to an end. KXIP 154-8, 19.4 overs.

George Bailey run out 60 (45b 5x4 2x6)

Narine picks up a wicket. KXIP 146-7, 19 overs.

Akshar Patel c S Yadav b Narine 2 (3b 0x4 0x6)

Bailey completes another half century off 40 balls.

Yadav claims his third wicket as Gurkeerath falls. KXIP 131-6, 17.3 overs.

Gurkeerat Singh c S Yadav b Umesh Yadav 11 (10b 0x4 1x6)

Thisara does not last long cutting straight to backward point. KXIP 107-5, 14 overs.

Thisara Perera c Pandey b Russell 9 (8b 0x4 1x6)

Thisara playing his first match for Punjab gets going by despatching a bouncer from Russell for a six to bring up the 100 of the innings.

Russell takes a brilliant catch to get rid of Maxwell. KXIP 90-4, 11.4 overs.

Glenn Maxwell c Russell b Umesh Yadav 33 (26b 2x4 2x6)

Maxwell blasts another six off Russell adding 50 off 36 balls with skipper Bailey. KXIP 77-3, 10 overs.

Maxwell keeps going hitting a couple of boundaries off Narine, including a reverse hit. KXIP 64-3, 9 overs.

Maxwell attempts a big hit and gets away after misucing it with Pathan dropping a sitter. KXIP 54-3, 8 overs.

Maxwell gets into his stride by slamming Morkel down the ground for a six and cracks a boundary off consecutive balls. KXIP 48-3, 6 overs.

Bailey opens his account by pulling and cutting Russell for consecutive boundaries. KXIP 37-3, 5 overs.

Punjab's batting procession continues as Sehwag departs after cracking a boundary. KXIP 27-3, 4.2 overs.

Virender Sehwag c Chawla b Russell 11 (10b 2x4 0x6)

Morkel strikes as Saha edges to slip. KXIP 23-2, 3.5 overs

Wriddhiman Saha c Pathan b Morkel 15 (11b 1x4 1x6)

Saha hits the first boundary of the match pulling Yadav over backward square leg before striking the first maximum. KXIP 18-1, 3 overs. 

Disastrous start for Punjab as Vijya perishes for a duck chipping to square leg. KXIP 0-1, 0.4 overs.

Murali Vijay c Russell b Umesh Yadav 0 (4b 0x4 0x6)

For KKR, Ten Doeschate replaces Shakib, Umesh in for Cariappa, while for KXIP Perera replaces Miller.

Playing XI

KXIP: M Vijay, V Sehwag, W Saha, G Maxwell, GM Singh, T Perera, G Bailey, A Patel, M Johnson, Sandeep Sharma, Anureet Singh

KKR: G Gambhir, R Uthappa, M Pandey, Y Pathan, S Yadav, R ten Doeschate, A Russell, S Narine, P Chawla, M Morkel, U Yadav

Kings XI Punjab play host to defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders in Match 14 of IPL8 which will be a repeat of last season’s final at MCA International Stadium, Pune on Saturday.

KXIP have won only one of their three matches so far - defeating Mumbai Indians while suffering defeats against Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Daredevils.

KKR are back in action after a six-day break after their loss against RCB being blown away by by Chris Gayle’s 96.

Kolkata have a 9-6 win-loss record against Punjab.

Squads:

Kings XI Punjab: GJ Bailey, Anureet Singh, P Awana, R Dhawan, YA Golwalkar, Gurkeerat Singh, BE Hendricks, MG Johnson, Karanveer Singh, SE Marsh, GJ Maxwell, DA Miller, NS Naik, AR Patel, NLTC Perera, WP Saha, Sandeep Sharma, V Sehwag, Shivam Sharma, SN Thakur, M Vijay, M Vohra

Kolkata Knight Riders: G Gambhir, Azhar Mahmood, J Botha, KC Cariappa, PP Chawla, PJ Cummins, AN Garhwal, GB Hogg, SP Jackson, Kuldeep Yadav, M Morkel, SP Narine, S Narwal, MK Pandey, YK Pathan, V Pratap Singh, VP Rawal, AD Russell, Shakib Al Hasan, RN ten Doeschate, RV Uthappa, SA Yadav, UT Yadav

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