PBKS vs KKR encounter at DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai was a low scoring game that Kolkata Knight Riders easily won with Andre Russell’s blazing inning.
Fresh off a successful 210 run chase, Punjab Kings had a dismal batting display against Knight Riders to finish their innings on 137 runs.
In reply, Kolkata Knight Riders eclipsed the target within 15 overs on the back of Andre Russell’s 70 off 31, comprising 8 massive sixes.
At the Toss:
Shreyas Iyer won the toss and decided that KKR would bowl first and also revealed that Shivam Mavi was included in playing XI in place of Sheldon Jackson. Punjab Kings captain too announced that they had made a change in their team to bring Kagiso Rabada into the playing XI.
PBKS Innings:
Punjab Kings had a horrible start with their skipper Mayank Aggarwal being sent back into the pavilion by Umesh Yadav on only 1 run. Bhankua Rajapaksa replaced Mayank on the crease to play a momentum-shifting inning of 31 runs in just 9 deliveries. Rajapaksa was sent back into the pavilion by young Shivam Mavi.
Shikhar Dhawan followed Rajapaksa in the dugout after his difficult stay in the middle was ended by Tim Southee. Livingstone and Raj Bawa did try to consolidate the innings, but Umesh Yadav was on fire. Yadav dismissed both Libinstone and Bawa in quick succession to put KKR on the front foot against PBKS.
Following Bawa’s dismissal, no batter showed any application except Kagiso Rabada in the death overs. Rabada played an enterprising knock of 25 off 16 to help his team propel to 137/10 in 18.2 overs. For KKR, Umesh Yadav registered his career-best performance in IPL with 4 wickets for 23 runs in his quota of 4 overs at the PBKS vs KKR battle.
KKR Innings:
Chasing a paltry 137, Kolkata had a patchy start, with Ajinkya Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer failing to provide a solid start. Iyer could only manage 3 off 7, while Rahane scored 12 off 11. Iyer was removed by Odean Smith, while Rabada sent back the dogged Ajinkya Rahane.
Shreyas Iyer, the KKR captain, was, however, unphased with the dismissal of the openers and played a fiery but short inning of 26 off 15. Rahul Chahar removed Shreyas and Nitish Rana in quick succession to give some hope to Punjab fans.
With 4 wickets down, KKR needed a partnership to take them over the finish line. Andre Russell and Sam Billings combined to form an unbeaten stand of 90 runs for the 5th wicket to win the match for their team. Russell, in particular, was destructive as he deposited Punjab bowlers for 8 huge sixes in his inning of 70* not out in 31 balls at PBKS vs KKR clash.
KKR easily won the match in 14.3 overs to register 2 more points in Tata IPL 2022.
Also read: IPL 2022, LSG VS CSK: Lucknow Successfully Chased 211 for First Win