In a thrilling IPL match on Saturday, Kolkata Knight Riders secured a narrow four-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad, thanks to an outstanding all-round performance by Andre Russell and last-over heroics by Harshit Rana.
Heinrich Klaasen’s aggressive 63 off 29 balls posed a challenge for Kolkata as Hyderabad chased a target of 209 runs at Eden Gardens.
Needing 13 runs off the final over, Harshit Rana faced pressure but remained composed. Despite conceding a six on the first ball, he managed to dismiss Shahbaz Ahmed and Klaasen in quick succession, sealing the win for Kolkata as Pat Cummins faced a dot ball on the final delivery.
Andre Russell played a pivotal role for Kolkata, scoring an unbeaten 64 off just 25 balls and forming a crucial 81-run partnership with Rinku Singh after Phil Salt’s initial contribution of 54 runs.
Despite a strong start by Hyderabad’s openers Mayank Agarwal and Abhishek Sharma, Kolkata’s bowlers, particularly Harshit and Russell, made crucial breakthroughs to keep the pressure on.
While Kolkata’s Mitchell Starc had a forgettable day, conceding 53 runs off his four overs, it was Russell who stole the show with his explosive batting display, hitting seven sixes and three fours.
Although Hyderabad showed resilience, with Klaasen and Ahmed putting up a strong fight, Harshit’s unexpected heroics in the final over secured Kolkata’s victory.
The match was a disappointing start for Pat Cummins, who captained Hyderabad after being bought for a significant amount in the IPL auction, along with Mitchell Starc, who also failed to make an impact with the ball.
Despite the challenges faced, Kolkata’s spinners, Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine, contributed crucial wickets, further denting Hyderabad’s chase until Klaasen’s onslaught in the penultimate over.
Overall, Kolkata’s thrilling victory showcased their resilience and determination, making it an exciting encounter in the IPL tournament.