After Chris Gayle lighted up the IPL yesterday, it was the turn of his compatriot Andre Russell tonight who once again showed his big-hitting skills and muscled to 41 runs off 12 balls. Nitish Rana played a wonderful inning from one end and kept the momentum going for the Knight Riders. The final total of 200/9 looks extremely impressive on the home ground for Kolkata. Here is the analysis of the first innings

Powerplay Overs (1-6) – KKR 50/1

The start from the Delhi Daredevils bowlers was phenomenal. Trent Boult shocked the world as he started with the maiden against Chris Lynn. This is was the first maiden over of the IPL 2018. The fact that it came against Chris Lynn made it more appalling.

Boult did not concede a run till his tenth ball in the match. In addition, he knocked out Sunil Narine on the 9th ball. Uthappa and Lynn got together now. After scoring only 19 from the first four overs, both unleashed to make the full use of powerplay and scored 13 and 18 respectively from Boult’s and Nadeem’s overs.

Middle Overs (7-16) – KKR 157/4

Robin Uthappa survived one chance where his catch was not taken by anyone, he was not so lucky second time and got out in the 8th over for well made 35(19). Nitish Rana and Chris Lynn carried the momentum of the last two overs in the powerplay ahead and collected regular boundaries. After Lynn’s fall for 31(29), Captain Karthik kept navigating the ship.

But it was Andre Russell’s entry into the 14th over that sped the KKR team in the top gear. This is how Andre Russell batted out the 12 balls that he faced – 1, 6, 2, 6, 6, 0, 1, 6, 1, 6, 6, Wkt.

Before the death overs began, KKR already had 157 runs on the board thanks to the consistent attack from Kolkatan batting.

Death Overs (17-20) – KKR 200/9

Andre Russell took 20 runs from the 17th over bowled by Mohammad Shami. Andre carted Shami for three sixes to end Shami’s spell with unforgettable bowling figures of 1/53 in four overs. Trent Boult pegged the batting side back by taking out Russell. The innings speed slowed down from there on.

Shubman Gill tried his best in keeping up with the rate and Kolkata took 11 runs each from the 18th and 19th over. Last over bowled by the leggie Rahul Tewatia was a shocker for KKR as it went for only one run and took three wickets in return.

Delhi once again is facing a high-score to be chased. They did it against Mumbai, can they do it against Kolkata?