IPL 2019, Match 2, KKR vs SRH : 3 key reasons why KKR beat SRH

Fambeat
KKR won their opening game
KKR won their opening game

#3. Andre Russell’s onslaught

Russell's brutal hitting got KKR home
Russell's brutal hitting got KKR home

KKR were progressing well at one stage with 9 wickets in hand and well set batsmen at the crease. However, Sunrisers came back into the game and removed 3 quick wickets, thus leaving Kolkata in a spot of bother. The run rate had also started to increase at an exponential rate.

53 runs were required off last 3 overs. Siddarth Kaul was entrusted with the responsibility to bowl the 18th over. However, it was not to be his day as Andre Russell smashed 2 sixes and a four in the over which included 3 singles too. 19 runs came off that over. Although the momentum had totally shifted in the favour of Kolkata, the job was yet to be done.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned for the penultimate over when Kolkata required 34 runs off last two overs. Russell was struggling a bit in the 17th over when he faced Bhuvneshwar. But to everyone's surprise, he smashed 2 sixes and 2 fours in the 19th over, thus killing any competition left in the game.

With 13 runs required off the last over, young lad Shubman Gill hit two huge sixes to seal the game for the home team. Russell thus turned out to be the game changer for KKR. The all-rounder hit 49 runs off 19 balls with the help of 4 fours and 4 sixes.

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