It was Glenn Maxwell who looked most likely to be the Kings XI match winner with a fine fifty but he and his team couldn’t see out the run chase as they fell 7 runs short of Kolkata.
For them, as you will see further down this page, it was Andre Russell who ended up stealing the show with a fine spell of bowling.
Earlier on in proceedings Kolkata openers Robin Uthappa and Gautam Gambhir got their team off to a flyer with a stand of 101 for the first wicket.
A solid partnership by the opening pair. #AmiKKR #KKRvKXIP pic.twitter.com/jSLYoHxPhl
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 4, 2016
It helped their side to set a target of 165 for Kings XI to win, a total that looked a little short of par despite the brilliant foundation set by their openers.
165 is the target for us to win today's encounter. Let's get them Sheron! #KKRvKXIP #LivePunjabiPlayPunjabi pic.twitter.com/POlJ941nVS
— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) May 4, 2016
But after early inroads, Kings XI were left struggling in their reply until Maxwell took up the charge and fired a second consecutive half-century for his side.
Maxwell brings up his 2nd fifty in 3 games. He along with Miller is keeping #KXIP in the hunt #IPL2016 #KKRvKXIP pic.twitter.com/P6F6amFNPY
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) May 4, 2016
Single to bring up the fifty for @Gmaxi_32! Keep going Champ. Do more damage! #LivePunjabiPlayPunjabi #KKRvKXIP
— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) May 4, 2016
Maxwell finding his touch was always the fear for Kolkata. What remains to be seen is if he can finish it from here for Punjab
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 4, 2016
Four more for @Gmaxi_32. 'The Big Show' has started to hit it all over the park. #LivePunjabiPlayPunjabi #KKRvKXIP
— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) May 4, 2016
However, just as Maxwell looked to be taking the game away from the Knight Riders there was a rather inevitable end to his innings as he missed a wild reverse sweep and was trapped lbw.
A much needed wicket. Glenn Maxwell is trapped with an LBW and walks after scoring 68 from 42 balls. #KKRvKXIP pic.twitter.com/LSgLIZ7M4l
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 4, 2016
That was absolutely plumb - no idea why Maxwell unhappy with it
— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) May 4, 2016
Glenn Maxwell's probability of dismissals to unnecessary shots in any given situation will be 99.9 percent. #IPL
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) May 4, 2016
It looked to have left Kings XI dead and buried but some late hitting from Gurkeerat Singh and Akshar Patel left them needing 12 from the final over for a famous win.
Single off the first ball. @gurkeeratmann22 on strike. 11 needed from 5. #LivePunjabiPlayPunjabi #KKRvKXIP
— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) May 4, 2016
.@Russell12A what a champion! Quick thinking and lightning reflexes nets us the wicket of Patel. #AmiKKR #KKRvKXIP pic.twitter.com/Ats8PSqVKH
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 4, 2016
Out! @gurkeeratmann22 has been run out. 10 runs needed from 3 balls with 2 new batsmen at the crease. #KKRvKXIP
— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) May 4, 2016
Out! Swapnil Singh is out on a duck. #KKRvKXIP
— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) May 4, 2016
We fought hard but it was not meant to be. @KKRiders have won it by 7 runs. Congrats #KKR. It was a tight match. #KKRvKXIP
— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) May 4, 2016
Punjab brilliant in the middle but mucked up the run chase at the start and more disastrously the end. Superb comeback by KKR
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 4, 2016
It was then Russell’s turn to take the plaudits after a superb piece of death bowling that saw his side over the line.
This Andre Russell is a complete player. Just made for T20s.#KKRvKXIP #IPL
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) May 4, 2016
Andre Russell is the hottest property in T20 cricket at the moment. Nothing seems beyond him #IPL2016
— Ajit Vijaykumar (@ajvk1984) May 4, 2016
This is @Russell12A's best bowling figures in IPL. 4/20 in 4 overs. #AmiKKR #KKRvKXIP #KKRStats
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 4, 2016
