Punjab Kings were blown away by an Andre Russell special in Match 8 of Indian Premier League 2022 against Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday as chasing teams continued to reign supreme in the new season of the T20 league. Russell single-handedly changed the course of the match, hitting 70 not out from just 31 balls as Kolkata overcame a mid-innings wobble to comfortably gun down a paltry 138-run target with 33 balls to spare.

Russell, who was under pressure after a string of ordinary outings for KKR in the recent past, was at this brutal best, hitting 8 sixes as he took down the Punjab Kings bowlers. When Russell joined wicketkeeper-batter Sam Billings in the middle, KKR were in a spot of bother at 51/4, losing captain Shreyas Iyer and Nitish Rana in the same over bowled by Rahul Chahar.

IPL 2022 Full Coverage

However, Russell took his time, fending off the spin threat before beginning his six-hitting mania. Russell got the game done with 2 huge sixes in the 15th over as Kolkata returned to winning ways.

ANDRE RUSSELL. That’s it. That’s the tweet. #AndreRussell #KKRHaiTaiyaar #KKRvPBKS #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/nNOcYYhyrR

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 1, 2022

MUSCLE RUSSEL SPECIAL

It was power-hitting of the highest order as Russell, who seemed to have picked up a niggle in KKR’s defeat to Royal Challengers Bangalore on Wednesday. However, Russell showed no signs of any discomfort when he was hitting them into the night sky.

Russell sent 8 deliveries into the orbit out of which he middle only one, the Jamaican star said.

“Feeling awesome, this is the reason why we play the game. In that position, I know what I can do,” he said.

“I am going to say only one, he added when asked how many he had hit from the middle of the bat.

Russell was ably supported by Sam Billings, who was happy to play second fiddle on Friday. The wicketkeeper-batter, who remained unbeaten, hit 24 from 23, stitching a 90-run stand with Russell.

AGGRESSIVE IYER TACTICS

Before chipping in with a crucial 15-ball 26 after KKR lost their openers early, Shreyas Iyer was brave with his bowling changes. He used his 4 main bowlers — Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, Varun Chakravartthy and Sunil Narine, inside the 17th over.

Iyer’s tactics might have helped raise a few eyebrows but he got he job done as the quartet picked up 7 wickets out of the 8 that fell inside the 17th over.

“We got early wickets after the Powerplay so my mindset was if I get wickets as much as possible… my plan was to get the best bowlers when they had hard-hitters coming in,” Iyer said, explaining his tactics.

UMESH ON FIRE

Punjab, who had successfully chased 200 plus in their opening game, enjoyed a good powerplay that yielded 62 for 3 in six overs.

Veteran pacer Umesh (4/23 in 4 overs), who had played only two games over the past two seasons due to his inconsistent run in shortest format, has been proving his critics wrong this season.

He once again provided the breakthrough early in the game, removing opposition skipper Mayank Agarwal, who was found plumb in front after missing a rather straight and full delivery in the first over of the match.

RAJAPAKSA LONE BRIGHT SPOT

Sri Lankan Bhanuka Rajapaksa (31 off 9) who had produced a match-winning knock in the first game, looked in sensational touch at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday.

In his brief stay in the middle, the top-order batter hammered three fours and as many sixes, mostly towards the mid-wicket region, leaving the spectators in awe.

His breathtaking effort was perhaps the lone bright in an otherwise underwhelming innings.