KKR defeats Punjab Kings by six wickets in IPL 2022: Umesh Yadav and Andre Russell lead the way

Kolkata Knight Riders beat Punjab Kings by six wickets at Wankhede Stadium on Friday for their second win in three games this IPL season. KKR bowled out PBKS for 137 and chased down the target with 33 balls remaining thanks to Umesh Yadav’s 4/23 and Andre Russell’s unbeaten 70 off 31.

KKR took control just as it appeared the match would go down to the wire. The two-time IPL champions, at No 4 and No 6, were helped to two points by an unbeaten partnership of 90 runs from 49 balls between Sam Billings and Russell. Russell displayed his full range as a batter with a world-class hit in his 24* off 23. Billings was smart and rotated well in his 24* off 23. He took his time and played out Chahar after he got his eye in. As soon as he got set, he started hitting sixes and fours. In the 12th overall, he had two sixes and a four against his fellow countryman Odean Smith. When Punjab Kings were asked to bat first, Mayank Agarwal was run out in the first over as Umesh took over the innings.

The top score for PBKS came from Sri Lanka’s Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who made 31 off nine deliveries. His cameo in the first game was also impressive as he hit three sixes and as many fours. From that point on, Punjab kept losing wickets at regular intervals as Kolkata’s Umesh led the charge with the ball. Umesh has been in superb form this season. With 25 off 16, Kagiso Rabada was PBKS’ second-highest scorer. In the end, Shah Rukh Khan fell for a duck, but Shikhar Dhawan, Liam Livingstone, and Raj Angad Bawa could not convert. In the end, Punjab lost with 10 balls to spare, with the dangerous Odean Smith still unbeaten.