BANGALORE, India, CMC – West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell smashed a scintillating cameo but then sent down a poor final over to gift Chris Gayle’s Royal Challengers Bangalore an exciting seven-wicket win in the Indian Premier League here yesterday.
In a rain-affected game reduced to ten overs per side at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Kolkata Knight Riders rattled up 111 for four, with Russell gathering a whirlwind 45 off a mere 17 balls.
The right-hander counted five fours and three sixes and put on 38 for the second wicket with opener Robin Uthappa who scored 23 from 21 balls.
Russell started quietly before ripping into pacer Varun Aaron, smashing two sixes and a four in the sixth over which cost 17 runs and then struck two boundaries – on either side of the wicket – in the following over by leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chalal.
He was eventually run out with eight balls left in the innings, attempting to steal a bye in order to get on strike.
In reply, RCB were handed a flying start by Gayle who hit 21 off nine balls with three sixes, in a 48-run opening stand off 23 balls with captain Virat Kohli who got 34 from 20 deliveries.
The left-handed Gayle fell in the same over in which he clobbered two sixes off Hogg, well taken at long on by Russell in the fourth over.
When RCB slipped to 81 for three in the eighth over, Mandeep Singh produced a blinder with an unbeaten 45 off 18 balls, including four fours and three sixes.
Needing 12 off the last over, RCB managed just three runs off the first two deliveries before Mandeep slashed Russell’s third delivery over point for six and the fourth over the ropes at backward square leg, to end the game emphatically.
