Sunrisers Hyderabad’s impact spinner Rashid Khan said no total is defendable against a “special knock” like the one played by Kolkata Knight Riders’ all-rounder Andre Russell here on Sunday.
“Russell played a great knock and took the game away from us in the last three overs. Our bowlers did not bowl bad deliveries but he just smashed them,” Rashid said of Russell’s 19-ball 49 that turned the match on its head.
Costly overs
“When you play special knocks like these, it brings lots of changes. We just could not finish well and that happens,” said the Afghanistan leg-spinner.
The 18th and 19th overs, bowled by Siddarth Kaul and Sunrisers captain Bhuvneshwar Kumar, saw Russell score 38 runs off just 10 balls.
Knight Riders opener Nitish Rana, too, heaped praise on the West Indian.
“It was unbelievable batting. In 18 balls we needed 53 runs and we won the match with two balls to spare.
“That’s how capable he is. The game plan was whatever be the target, we leave it to Russell and that worked,” said Rana.
“I will take on Rashid and Russell will go after the fast bowlers... that was the gameplan.”
