KKR vs SRH Review: Kolkata hold nerves in an Eden Gardens nail-biter
Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad exchanged blows in the Match 3 of the Indian Premier League 2024. SRH were taken in by the tinge of green grass on the pitch covered by brown one, and they decided to bowl first at Eden Gardens. T Natarajan struck two wickets in an over as KKR were four down in eight overs. Phil Salt’s calculated 50 in 40 balls steadied the ship while Ramandeep Singh’s 35 off 17 and Rinku Singh’s 23 off 13 deliveries added vigour. But it was Andre Russell who caused mayhem at death and led KKR to a formidable total of 208 runs with his typical slam-bang batting.
Chasing a challenging target of 209, SRH looked in total control during the powerplay. Mayank Agarwal (32) and Abhishek Sharma (32) put them on the pedestal while contributions from Aiden Markram (18) and Rahul Tripathi (20) weren’t enough as the required run rate soared. Though Shahbaz Ahmed chipped in with 16, Heinrich Klaasen (63 off 29) could not stay till the last ball and KKR clinched a thriller by four runs as Harshit Rana defended 13 off his double-wicket last over after KKR leaked aplenty in the previous three.
Top Performers of the Match
Andre Russell (64 off 25)
Andre Russel did what he does best at Eden Gardens. KKR were in desperate need of a miraculous finish to their huffed and puffed innings. Russell showed no remorse in punishing the SRH bowlers who bowled in his arc. He smoked seven sixes and smashed three boundaries and gave his team a solid total to place their bets upon. He constructed his innings so well, that only his strike rate of 256 can do justice in describing the onslaught.
Harshit Rana (3 for 33)
Rana provided KKR with their first breakthrough as he dismissed Mayank Agarwal. With 13 needed off the last over, skipper Iyer tasked him to contain a marauding Klaasen and Shahbaz and the youngster repaid the faith by dismissing the set batters to snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat.
What’s next for both teams?
Kolkata Knight Riders will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru on March 29 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru whereas Sunrisers Hyderabad will collide with the five-time champions Mumbai Indians on March 27 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
