IPL 2019: Match 2, KKR vs SRH, Review – Andre Russell's carnage helps hosts avenge for the Qualifier-2 defeat in 2018

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) hosted the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Eden Gardens for the 2nd game of IPL 2019. In what turned out to be a high-scoring affair, the KKR won the match by 6 wickets. David Warner looked good for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in this match.

Nitish Rana and Robin Uthappa made valuable contributions in the chase for the home team. Yet, the team seemed to be under pressure with the required run rate going over 15 at one stage. However, Andre Russell ended up destroying the opposition in the second innings. It was an absolute carnage from the Caribbean cricketer as he scored runs 49 off 19 balls.

David Warner announces his comeback

Sunrisers Hyderabad lost the toss and were put into bat first in the game. Since there was no Kane Williamson in the eleven, David Warner opened the innings along with debutant Jonny Bairstow. The openers got the team off to a flyer in the match. It never seemed as if Warner was away from the mainstream action for all this while. He looked to be an extremely confident individual and was hitting the ball sweetly.

The left-hander went hard at the bowlers and gave Bairstow some time to settle in. After putting up 118 runs together, the English cricketer was dismissed for 39 runs. Warner took the onus and registered a comeback fifty. He was all set and had a wonderful opportunity to reach the triple-figures. But, he ended up hitting a ball straight to the fielder when he was on 85 bringing curtains on his terrific knock.

Vijay Shankar, who came in at number three scored an unbeaten 40 off 24. Yet, SRH failed to end the innings on a high. It seemed as if they’d go past 200 at one stage. But, KKR pulled things back beautifully in the last few overs. Only 37 runs came off the last four overs on a good batting track as the visitors finished with 181/3 in 20 overs.

Nitish Rana

Skipper Bhuvneshwar Kumar opened the bowling for SRH and conceded just one run off the first over. Therefore, there was pressure built and Chris Lynn tried to go after Shakib Al Hasan in the next over. He smashed one six but he ended up miscuing the ball when he tried to go it again. His opening partner Nitish Rana, though, held the other together.

He combined aggression with watchful cricket and built a good partnership with Robin Uthappa. The latter batted brilliantly as he scored 35 off 27 balls before he was cleaned up by Siddarth Kaul. Soon, Dinesh Karthik also got out for two as he was deceived by a knuckleball from Sandeep Sharma. With the failure of floodlights, there was a brief interruption in between. Nitish Rana was out as soon as the play resumed. He mustered a terrific 68 from 47 balls.

The game, though, seemed to be drifting away from KKR. Under an immense pressure situation, Andre Russell took over the charge. He tonked the best of bowlers to all parts of the ground and was just unbelievable. Along with Shubman Gill, he added 65 runs off 26 balls. Shubman Gill finished the game for the hosts with two back-to-back sixes as KKR finished the match with 2 balls to spare.

Brief Scores:

SRH: 181/3 in 20 overs (David Warner 85, Vijay Shankar 40*, Andre Russell 3/32)

KKR: 183/4 in 19.4 overs (Nitish Rana 68, Andre Russell 49*, Rashid Khan 1/26)

Result: KKR won the match by 6 wickets.

Man of the Match: Andre Russell

Points Table:

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