Andre Russell slammed an unbeaten 40-ball 80 to power Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to 232/2 — highest total of the season — against the Mumbai Indians at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday.
Promoted up the order, Russell brought the roof down with a blitzkrieg innings which comprised eight sixes and six fours, in the process completed 50 maximums in this edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The West Indies all-rounder, striking at over 200, smacked 51 off just 19 balls farming the strike at the death. He began by smashing three sixes off Hardik Pandya’s 18th over before taking Mumbai’s best bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, to the cleaners in the 19th enroute to his eighth IPL fifty. Bumrah conceded 15 off his last.
Russell then shifted his focus to Malinga, scything 20 with the rundown reading 6,4,4,0,0,6.
Earlier, KKR were off to a flying start riding on Chris Lynn (54; 29 balls, 4×8, 6×2) and Shubman Gill’s (76; 45 balls, 4×6, 6×4) 96-run opening stand which came off just 57 deliveries. Gill’s chanceless knock was also his highest T20 score.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Carnage is too ordinary. We need a new term for what Andre Russell does at the crease! #IPL2019 #KKRvMI
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) April 28, 2019
Massive total put up thanks to some fantastic batting by @RealShubmanGill, @lynny50 and @Russell12A. However, with a beautiful surface to bat on and a lightning quick outfield, this could turn out to be a very close game. What do you think guys? 😊 #KKRvMI
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) April 28, 2019
Finishing the innings with a MASSIVE SIX – courtesy DRE RUSS 💪💪 pic.twitter.com/ZVm91qpuae
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 28, 2019
There should be a statutory warning when #AndreRussell is batting. "These actions are carried out by a Russell and viewers are warned not to try them"
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 28, 2019
The state of this shot by Andre Russell. Shot of the IPL, the commentators reckon. Goes to 50 sixes in the tournament pic.twitter.com/fqRT4K5Vum
— Paul Radley (@PaulRadley) April 28, 2019
All superheroes accumulating in one film – Avengers
All superheroes accumulating in one human being – Andre Russell
What an insanely belligerent power-hitter !!! #KKRvMI #IPL2019 #AvengersEndgame #Avengers
— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) April 28, 2019
I feel a massive score for KKR coming on !!! MI need to try hard to contain them in the remaining overs !! KKR seem to be cutting loose ! #KKRvMI
— Ranveer Singh (@RanveerOfficial) April 28, 2019
Andre Russell and other KKR batsmen decimate Mumbai Indians bowling attack!https://t.co/cRMNk1elbj#IPL2019 #AndreRussell #KKRvMI pic.twitter.com/YQYnldd3NC
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) April 28, 2019
Thanos hasn’t collected all the infinity stones. Andre Russell is still out there… #AvengersEndGame #KKRvMI
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) April 28, 2019
50* Sixes Completed By Andre MONSTER Russell In #IPL2019 .
WOW WHAT A BLINDER 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Congratulations 👏👏👏#KKRvMI #MIvKKR #IPL @KKRiders #KKR pic.twitter.com/fqj4xcKhVx— Kangkan Sarma🇮🇳(কংকন শৰ্মা) (@imKangkanSarma) April 28, 2019
Andre Russell becomes the second player after Gayle to hit 50-plus sixes in an IPL season after Gayle (59 in 2012 and 51 in 2013).#KKRvMI
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) April 28, 2019
This says all about the presence of Andre Russell. #KKRvMI pic.twitter.com/Llf0PAanAb
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 28, 2019
For reasons of personal safety, shouldn’t the bowler & the fielders be advised to wear helmets when #AndreRussell is batting?
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) April 28, 2019
MI bowlers have hardly erred in their plans against Russell. Still he is scoring at a strike rate of 200 #KKRvMI
— Amol Karhadkar (@karhacter) April 28, 2019
Reaction of The Match 🧐🤣🤣🤣🤒 Russell Musall #KKRvMI #MIvKKR #Gill pic.twitter.com/LRCeSWVgaz
— बिगडेल देशभक्त 17K 💯 FB 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳 (@HITENDRA_SINH) April 28, 2019
Jassym Lora enjoying the Russell show! #IPL2019 pic.twitter.com/1azQGjgh8m
— CricBoll (@mycricboll) April 28, 2019
