Match Details
Andre Russell | Orange Cap holder: "Feeling nice, I knew what I can do. Was good to have someone like Sam at the other end who could rotate the strike and hang around. Very happy I could do a job for the team. And once am set I could get going. Am only thinking about bowling in the death, we have quite a few good bowlers. I can at least bowl two overs in some games and be a part of it. We were wickets down when I came in and after me it was Sunil and the bowlers. We planned to build a partnership first. I noticed that that ball was not spinning at one end, so we decided to attack that end and rotate the strike at the other where Chahar was bowling really well it was gripping. And I knew it will get easier once the pacers came on."
Rahane started with 3 boundaries but lost his wicket to Rabada and departed for 14 off 12. Venky was dismissed on just 3 off 7. Shreyas and Billings took on the Punjab bowling and started attacking them because they knew they need a good powerplay score first up! Shreyas scored 26 off 15 with 5 fours before gifting his wicket to Rahul Chahar in the process of slog sweeping him. Kkr were in a spot of bother at 51/4. Russell came in and showed why he is called Russell Muscle!! He scored 70 off just 31 deliveries, 2 fours, and 8 SIXES and took the game away from the Punjab team. Billings held one end very well and played a brilliant responsible knock of 24 runs off 23 balls.
Rahul Chahar was the most impressive Punjab bowler out there, giving away just 13 runs in 4 overs and taking 2 crucial wickets of Shreyas and Rana! Odean Smith was smashed all over the park today, giving away 39 runs in his 2 overs. Rabada gave 23 runs in his 3 overs and took the opening wicket of Rahane. Arshdeep was expensive too, giving away 32 runs in 3 overs. Punjab needs to recover from this match as soon as they can and focus on the next match.