Twitter Reactions: Nitish, Russell propel Kolkata Knight Riders total to 200

The iconic Eden Gardens was all set to host the match 13 of the 2018 edition of the IPL. The match was going to be an emotional affair of sorts for the fans at the venue. Their home side, the Kolkata Knight Riders, were ready to take on the Delhi Daredevils – a team that was going to be led by the former KKR captain, Gautam Gambhir. Certainly, the moment was quite nostalgic for Gambhir who stepped on to the very familiar field, albeit as the opposition skipper.

He received a very warm reception from the KKR camp and the fans present at the venue. The toss went in his favor too, and Gambhir had no hesitation in bowling first. The Chris Lynn-Sunil Narine opening duo was back for the Kolkata Knight Riders. However, neither of the two power strikers lived up to the expectations. Trent Boult bowled a fiery spell up front that saw Narine getting dismissed on a duck.

He bowled a maiden over to set things right for the visitors. Robin Uthappa and Chris Lynn rallied along after that. While Uthappa’s 35 came off just 19 deliveries, Lynn played a rather uncharacteristic knock on the day. He could only muster 31 runs during his 29-ball stay at the crease. Skipper Dinesh Karthik and Nitish Rana took the baton forward from thereon.

Karthik played well for his cameo of 19 runs and his dismissal meant the arrival of the Jamaican beast Andre Russell at the crease. What perspired was absolute carnage from thereon. Russell’s 12-ball stay yielded 41 runs that included 6 maximums. It was sheer power display from Russell, who hit all the sixes to Mohammed Shami across the last two overs of the pacer.

Russell looked like scoring the fastest fifty but Boult rattled his stumps in the 18th over. While Russell missed out on his fifty, Rana reached his fifty in 30 deliveries. Rana’s handy knock of 59 off 35 deliveries ended in the penultimate over. His efforts were good enough to see the Kolkata Knight Riders post a total of 200/9 in 20 overs. The last over of the innings yielded just 1 run and saw three wickets falling down. Will that make a difference? Only time will tell.

Here is how the fans reacted to the KKR innings:

Batsmen really bringing about their best when injured. We saw it with Rahane and then with Dhoni . And today Russell. DD began with a maiden and gave just 1 in the final over but 199 in the 18 overs in between. #KKRvDD

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) April 16, 2018

Very impressive…..Nitish Rana. #KKR rate him very high and he has delivered today. That partnership with the merciless Russell means we are looking at a second big run chase for #DD

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 16, 2018

Hope KKR take better care of Shubman Gill than what they are doing now.

— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) April 16, 2018

Shubhman Gill's in IPL so far.

1. Faced Rashid Khan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in IPL debut match.

2. Facing Trent Boult in 2nd match.#KKRvDD

— Sunil- The Cricketer (@1sInto2s) April 16, 2018

How impressive has Rahul Tewatia been so far? What a fantastic last over – a run & three wickets. Excellent stuff by the leggie! ?? #KKRvDD

— Arjun Ashok (@arj_90) April 16, 2018

1 run and 3 wickets in last over

So KKR scored 0 in first and 1 in last over, still managed 200#KKRvDD

— Abhijeet (@TheYorkerBall) April 16, 2018

Two players to watch out for the future, Nitish Rana and Washington Sunder. #IPL2018

— Dibyaranjan Mekap (@Dib_Mekap) April 16, 2018

Nitish Rana has played the innings strongly in almost every game now. Lethal batsman for us #PlayUnited

— Musthaqueem (@lr_musthaqueem) April 16, 2018

This #NitishRana is a mighty fine player . Not just a tonker, plays proper cricket shots. Could b a decent option at the middle order for Team India . A left handed option too! Bowls a bit too.

— Sayan The VIRATIAN (@KohliWorshiper) April 16, 2018

Love the way Nitish Rana is holding the innings together in relatively every amusement now. Vital batsman for us #PlayUnited

— Dazzling Divya (@DARE_DIVYA) April 16, 2018

Another score of over 200 for @KKRiders. Outstanding innings from Nitish Rana today. Played with great confidence. And how can we forget @Russell12A's magic. This guy has some muscles! #KKRvDD #IPL2018

— R P Singh (@rpsingh) April 16, 2018

Lesson of power hitting on display by DrayRuss @KKRiders Power, bat speed, body position and weight all moving at 156grams of leather

— Matthew Hayden AM (@HaydosTweets) April 16, 2018

Dre Russ ….. #IPL2018 ….. raining white balls in #Kolkata

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) April 16, 2018

#KKRvDD match is homecoming for Gautam Gambhir and Jason ROY #VIVOIPL

— Yo Yo Tester (@noise_segar) April 16, 2018

KKR today:

First 10 overs – 85/2 (RR – 8.50)
Next 7 overs – 92/2 (RR – 13.14)
Last 3 overs – 23/5 (RR – 7.67) #KKRvDD

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) April 16, 2018

KKR’s inns:

1st over – 0 runs
20th over – 1 run

Still they have posted 200 runs on board!#KKRvDD

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) April 16, 2018

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