Andre Russell’s blitzkrieg fashioned Kolkata Knight Riders’ stunning comeback win against Chennai Super Kings in the Oppo Champions League T20 at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Wednesday.
Chasing a target of 158, Knight Riders was tottering at 51 for five in the ninth over, with captain Gautam Gambhir, Manish Pandey and Yusuf Pathan among those back in the pavilion.
In walked Russell and changed the complexion of the game.
The Jamaican was in terrific touch and carted the Super Kings bowlers — both pacers and spinners — while reviving the innings in the company of Dutchman Ryan ten Doeschate. The two added 80 off 45 deliveries.
When Russell (58, 25b, 4x4, 5x6) was yorked by Ashish Nehra, easily the best Super Kings bowler on view, Knight Riders needed 27 for victory. ten Doeschate (51 not out, 41b, 3x4, 2x6), however, guided the side home. Piyush Chawla sent Ravichandran Ashwin to the ropes off the first ball he faced, as the Kolkata side won with an over to spare.
Earlier, Nehra rocked the Knight Riders top-order, sending back Gambhir (6) and Pandey off successive deliveries but Yusuf prevented a hat-trick. The left-armer’s first spell read 3-0-7-3.
Dhoni, Bravo come good
For Super Kings, an unbroken 71-run stand off 45 balls for the fifth wicket between captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Dwayne Bravo took the side to 157 after it was 108 for four in 15 overs.
It was a typical onslaught from the two flamboyant batsmen who took a heavy toll on speedsters Pat Cummins and Umesh Yadav, the two conceding 92 in eight overs.
While the pacers struggled, the spin bowlers — Sunil Narine, Chawla and Yusuf — ensured that Super Kings, asked to bat first, did not make an imposing score.
The West Indian, in particular, had remarkable figures of 4-0-9-1.
