Russell trumps Klaasen as KKR hold on for win
Harshit Rana successfully defends 12 off the final over to hand the home side a thrilling four-run victory against Sunrisers
Harshit Rana successfully defends 12 off the final over to hand the home side a thrilling four-run victory against Sunrisers
Scorer: @Thilak_Rama | Commentator: @himanshu_a30
A game which could have gone anywhere. In what was typical modern hitting, Russell hammered 64* off 25 balls, and Klaasen hit back with 63 from 29. KKR were 51 for 4 at one stage, before going on to post 208; SRH required 60 in the last three overs, but fell just four short. Exceptional T20 batting from both sides! And with this thriller, we wrap the double-header Saturday up. Join us for another two games tomorrow, as this is Himanshu signing off on behalf of Raghav and Alan. Good night!
Andre Russell is the Player of the Match: "Sometimes I realise how I'm striking the ball... I just try to react to whatever comes my way. Over the last year or two, bowlers have been exceptionally good to me. I'm still figuring out how to score. I realise everyone is coming to me with a plan. I've been a permanent fixture in the XI [since making it there]. What I did tonight is just to say 'keep supporting'. I am happy to contribute with this jersey on. Harshit's body language was on point in the last over; he wanted the ball. If he was shying away from it, it could have gone their way. With the first ball gone for six, he still got the job done."
Shreyas Iyer, KKR captain: "Right from the 17th over I had butterflies in the stomach! To be honest, I thought anything can happen in the last over. Harshit was a bit nervous when he was coming to bowl [the last over]. I told him, 'Even if we lose, it's fine'. I tried to calm him down as much as possible. Narine and Russell have got such experience. Elated to see how Russell performed with bat and ball. Sunny executed well. It is a luxury to have them in the team. Whenever you start with a win, it gives you motivation. There are areas we need to improve on as a team - fielding is one of them!"
Time for the presentations
Afeef: "This game boiled down to Russell vs Klaasen, the two most destructive batsmen from both the squads today"
Ramandeep Singh: "I was really enjoying my time in the middle. Trying to play with intent. All thanks to Gauti paaji and Abhishek Nayar sir. I was striking pretty well in domestic cricket. The way these guys have backed me is tremendous. I really want to play like that (like Russell!). Maybe one day I will play like that! The plan was that Klaasen was really hitting the pace ball. So the message was to take pace off. I really loved the atmosphere at the ground."
Pat Cummins, SRH captain: "Close game in the end. Wonderful game of cricket; unfortunately didn't go our way. Dre Russ did what he does best. You do your planning, and you try to execute your plans. But he's a pretty tough guy to bowl to. Tough job in cricket to bowl to someone like him. It's one of those ones which goes one way or the other. Who would have thought we would have got that close? Unfortunately, a bit too much. Lots to be encouraged by. A couple of points to work on also."
Joel Mick: "There's something that even Cummins can't do!"
Karthik: "Jailbreak :)"
11.25pm The heart rates rose and fell in the final over, which started with SRH requiring 13. The first ball went for six, and thereafter, it was all KKR, as Harshit got Shahbaz, who was playing second fiddle, and Klaasen, who threatened to do the impossible. Before the last over began, Klaasen and Shahbaz had pumped 63 off the three overs just before that. It seemed like KKR were running out of ideas, but just then, Harshit came out with his magical slower balls to deny a rampaging Klaasen, who continues his dream run in this part of the world. Hang around for the presentations.
Cummins
H Klaasen c Suyash Sharma b Harshit Rana 63 (45m 29b 0x4 8x6) SR: 217.24
S Kishore: "Super Over anyone?" --- Not me...
Jansen in, with 6 required off 3. Remember, he can hit it big too!
Shahbaz Ahmed c SS Iyer b Harshit Rana 16 (15m 5b 1x4 2x6) SR: 320.00
Shahbaz on 16 off 4 balls
7 off 5
The last five overs have gone for 81. SRH need another 13 from six balls. Harshit will bowl.
After a quiet 2023 season, the allrounder began IPL 2024 with a bang, thumping an unbeaten 64 off 25 and picking up two wickets
Russell praises fast bowler for not shying away from the responsibility of bowling the last over
Harshit Rana successfully defends 12 off the final over to hand the home side a thrilling four-run victory against Sunrisers
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