IPL11: Russell rocks @ MAC

Chennai: Kolkata Knight Riders set a formidable target of 203 for Chennai Super Kings at the M.A Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday. The visitors rode on the heroics of West Indian Andre Russell who smashed an unbeaten 88 off 36 balls with the help of 11 sixes as the visitors cantered past 200 for the loss of six wickets.

Kolkata got off to a flying start, hitting CSK pacer Deepak Chahar for 18 runs in the first over in which Sunil Narine hit two out of the park. 

Skipper M.S. Dhoni threw the ball to his most experienced player on the field, Harbhajan Singh. The West Indian who sought to treat the off-spinner in similar fashion, was sent back to the dugout after his shot caught the leading edge and found the hands of Suresh Raina at short mid-off.

Robin Uthappa who walked in next to join Chris Lynn approached the next few overs with caution, rotating the strike and hitting the odd-ball out of the park. The partnership which cost Chennai 32 runs was brought to a halt after part-time spinner Ravindra Jadeja went through the defence of Lynn (22).

The match was stopped in the eighth over when a pair of shoes from the crowd landed near Jadeja who was standing near the boundary line. Protesters seeking the cancellation of the match over the Cauvery issue had created a ruckus outside the stadium in the evening. South Africans Faf du Plessis and Lungi Ngidi who were patrolling the boundary line near Jadeja were shocked by the flying footwear. The people responsible were immediately taken away by the police.

The home team needed something outstanding to dismiss Uthappa who looked in fine touch through the course of his innings. The KKR player who tried to sneak in a quick single after pushing the ball to cover was run out by a brilliant piece of fielding by Raina who wiped out the stumps with a direct hit.

The loss of quick wickets for KKR made their captain Dinesh Karthik take a guarded approach. Along with Russell who was willing to take risk, the pair made some quick runs. The two players steadied the visitors’ innings, with the West Indian hitting Shardul Thakur into the stands a few times. Their partnership of 76 ended when Shane Watson trapped Karthik leg-before. Russell continued to whack the CSK bowlers, as he completed his half century to set a monumental target for the home side.

Scorecard

Kolkata Knight Riders: C.A. Lynn b Jadeja 22, S. Narine c Raina b Harbhajan Singh 12, R. Uthappa run out (Raina) 29, N. Rana c Dhoni b Watson 16, K.D. Karthik lbw b Watson 26, R.K. Singh c Bravo b Thakur 2, A.D. Russell (not out) 88, T.K. Curran (not out) 2. Extras: 5 (b1, lb1, w3) Total: (for 6 wkts, in 20 overs ) 202.
FoW: 1-19, 2-51, 3-80, 4-81, 5-89, 6-165. 
Bowling: Chahar 1-0-18-0 (1w); Harbhajan 2-0-11-1; Watson 4-0-39-2 (2w); Jadeja 2-0-19-1; Tahir 4-0-26-0; Thakur 4-0-37-1; DJ Bravo 3-0-50-0.