Twitter Reactions: Shubman Gill and Andre Russell take KKR to a formidable 178 against DC
Gill scored his second IPL half-century after being sent to open the batting.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) lost their previous match against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Chepauk and would’ve wanted to make a comeback in the game against the Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The Knights, captained by Dinesh Karthik, didn’t do badly and they ended with a substantial score of 178 for seven in 20 overs courtesy of blistering knocks from Andre Russell and Shubman Gill.
KKR recovers from the early jolt
The Knights have an impressive record versus the Capitals, having lost only one match way back in 2012. The hosts lost the toss and elected to field first. KKR made three changes, all of them being overseas recruits. Sunil Narine, Chris Lynn and Harry Gurney missed out and Joe Denly, Carlos Brathwaite and Lockie Ferguson made their way into the eleven. However, the start wasn’t good.
In the very first ball, Ishant Sharma castled Deny after which Shubman Gill and Robin Uthappa steadied the ship for KKR. The duo put on a second-wicket stand of 63 runs from 51 deliveries. Robbie strained a little and scored 28 runs from 30 balls. Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada accounted for his important wicket in the ninth over. At the other end, Gill played stupendously.
Gill and Russell star for the Knights
He didn’t look ruffled after being sent to open for the maiden time in this edition’s IPL. The Young Turk notched his second fifty in his IPL career off a mere 34 balls. The Fazilka-born batsman notched 65 runs from 39 balls with seven fours and a couple of sixes. Keemo Paul got his prized wicket in the 15th over. Nitish Rana hit a six but was nipped out by Chris Morris, courtesy of a stupendous Yorker.
Thereafter, Andre Russell took charge and went hammer and tongs to score 45 runs from 21 deliveries with three fours and four sixes. He wasn’t at his brutal best, yet got the runs for the Knights. Morris got rid of the big fish, much to DC’s relief. Carlos Brathwaite couldn’t make an impact. In the end, it was a cameo of 14 runs from six balls from Piyush Chawla that took KKR to a formidable score.
Here is how Twitter praised the Knights
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