Twitter Reactions: Andre Russell, Robin Uthappa and Rana help KKR breeze past the Kings XI Punjab

The 'R' factor worked for the Knight Riders.

Published - 27 Mar 2019, 23:42 IST | Updated - 27 Mar 2019, 23:42 IST

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The City of Joy was dancing to the tunes of Andre Russell in the game against the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) on Wednesday. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) went past the KXIP easily in the end in a high-scoring affair at the Eden Gardens. Chasing a total of 219 runs, the visitors could only reach 190 runs after the end of 20 overs as even the David Miller show couldn’t take them to the victory.

KL Rahul failed for the second consecutive time as he was flummoxed by Lockie Ferguson in the second over of the innings. Chris Gayle threatened a bit but his Windies teammate Andre Russell got the better of him with a bouncer. Sarfaraz Khan also couldn’t make the most of the chance and at 60/3, things looked tough for the Punjab side. But Mayank Agarwal and David Miller got together to stitch a vital stand.

They added 74 runs for the fourth wicket even as the required rate soared with every passing over. Agarwal looked extremely impressive in his stroke-making and also scored a half-century. But he was undone with a beauty of a delivery from Piyush Chawla on 58. Miller, on the other hand, was hitting the ball cleanly but it was too much for him in the end to win the game.

Moreover, the KKR bowlers varied their pace well to keep the batsmen guessing. In the end, despite scoring a half-century, the left-handed South African had to end up on the losing side.

‘R’ factor works for KKR

Earlier in the day, the KKR were put in to bat first and they didn’t disappoint the jam-packed Eden crowd. Sunil Narine started the fireworks amidst the dismissal of Chris Lynn. The hitting was then continued sensationally by Nitish Rana and Robin Uthappa. The former was in brilliant touch on the day as he was timing the ball straight into the stands.

He smashed 63 off just 34 balls and his innings was laced with two fours and seven massive sixes. Andre Russell arrived to the scene then and everything changed in a matter of minutes. The Kings XI had a set plan for him to bowl around the wicket and in the blockhole. The plan was executed brilliantly by Mohammed Shami and castled him in the 17th over. But only three fielders were there in the circle which led to the umpires calling it a no-ball and this is where Punjab lost the game.

Carnage followed thereafter as the KKR scored 55 runs in the last three overs. Russell ended up with 48 runs to his name of just 17 balls as the KKR ended up scoring 218 runs for the loss of four wickets after 20 overs and it proved more than enough for them.

Here’s how Twitter reacted during the match:

KKR have exposed KXIP's lack of balance today. KKR's brilliant attacking batting opened up KXIP's bowling, forcing them to bowl Mandeep & in the run chase Miller's reluctance to accelerate betrayed an understandable lack of faith KXIP's shallow batting order. #IPL #KKRvKXIP
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) March 27, 2019

Andre Russell clearly the difference between the two sides. His was the knock that actually took the game out of Kings XI's hands. Also few wickets added icing to the cake. #IPL #KKRvKXIP #KKR
— Anmol Mohta (@anmolmohta24) March 27, 2019

Kolkata Knight Riders beat Kings XI Punjab by 28 runs. Great batting by Andre Russell and Nitish Rana. Congrats KKR, Better luck next time Ashwin 🤪 #KKRvKXIP
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) March 27, 2019

This match is a perfect example of how captaincy can cost you a game.
If Ashwin was bit more proactive to take 4 fielders inside the circle , things could have been a lot different for KXIP.
Fielding lapse costed them the match. #KKRvKXIP
— Siddharth Jha (@jha_siddhus91) March 27, 2019

Ashwin: we lost cuz I didn’t get to Mankad anyone 🤘🏻🤘🏻
— Anjana (@anjanaann) March 27, 2019

So no ball (wrong field setting) did cost the match for Punjab, but it was Ashwin's fault not Shami's fault, because of Ashwin's poor captaincy @lionsdenkxip lost the match #KKRvKXIP
— Amar Rana 🇮🇳 (@amar_tilakrana) March 27, 2019

The crucial mistake from Ashwin has to be the game-changing moment, Ashwin forgot his rulebook today, good that he took blame to himself. But that Shami's precise firey yorker was majestic #KKRvsKXIP #SaddaPunjab
— amey guthe (@amey_guthe) March 27, 2019

#Ashwin can be a good bowler but can't be a good captain. Why did he send Sarfaraz Khan before Mandeep Singh and David Miller? #KKRvKXIP
— krishnakant raj (@krishnakant_raj) March 27, 2019

Karma is a Bitch, Ashwin got it back from in the form Russel #IPL2019 #KKRvKXIP
— Sivaram✌️ (@sivaram501) March 27, 2019

Ashwin deserves MoM for the no ball that let off Russel 😂 #KKRvsKXIP
— Sтυριd Lαdкα #KKR 🔥 (@tomnjerrytwo) March 27, 2019

Such a shameful captainship #Ashwin @ashwinravi99 #KKRvKXIP
— VISHWAJEET KUMBHAR (@vishwajeet8482) March 27, 2019

Kings XI losing thanks to Ashwin’s captaincy masterclass 😂 #IPL2019
— Vivek (@CFC_Vivek) March 27, 2019

Ashwin gully cricket ka wo bachcha hai jisko aas Paas ke mohalle wale cheater bulaate the#KKRvKXIP
— ∂αяκ ѕουℓ ° ᴷᴷᴿ (@i_Ninjaa) March 27, 2019

Captain Ashwin Is The Culprit Here.😑#IPL2019 #KKRvKXIP
— Chetan MUFC (@chetan_mufc) March 27, 2019

Ashwin Captaincy Cost Punjab one Match.
Unpredictable Captain 🤷‍♂️#Ashwin
— Cricket Freak🤷‍♂️ (@naveensurana06) March 27, 2019

Ashwin ne dead ball pe 4 run dilwaye team ko phir bhi naa jeet saki
That that L Ashwin 😂#KKRvKXIP
— Mitul (@Eme2ul) March 27, 2019

Best pick of the day :
Mandeep Singh : 1 -18-0.
Batting : By the time he came, match was over.
👏👏👏👏👏👏 Ashwin. 😂😍#KKRvKXIP
— RCBian BitterSweetSymphony (@PluviophilePoet) March 27, 2019