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 Garden♈s 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 e♈dition 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 focus𓃲 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:
Carnag🥀e is too ordinary. We need a new term for what Andre Russ🧸ell does at the crease!
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula)
Massive total put up thanks to some fantastic batti♒ng by @RealShubmanGill, and . 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? 😊
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt)
Finishing the innings with a MASSIVE SIX – courtesy DRE RUSS 💪💪
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL)
There should be a statutory 😼warning when is batting. "Thes❀e actions are carried out by a Russell and viewers are warned not to try them"
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
The state of this shot by Andre Russell. Shot of💫 the IPL, the commentators reckon. Goes to 50 sixes in the tournament
— Paul Radley (@PaulRadley)
All superheroes accumulating in one film – Avengers
All superheroes accumulating in one human being – Andre Russell
What an insanely belligerent power-hitter !!!
— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra)
I feel a massive score for KKR coming on !!! MI need to try h🎃ard to coꦓntain them in the remaining overs !! KKR seem to be cutting loose !
— Ranveer Singh (@RanveerOfficial)
Andre Russell and other KKR batsmen ဣdecim🃏ate Mumbai Indians bowling attack!
— betvisa68.com (@CricketTimesHQ)
Thanos hasn’t collected all the infinity stones. Andre Russell is still out there…
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru)
50* Sixes Completed By Andre MONSTER R🐽ussell In .
WOW WHAT A BLINDER 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Congratulations 👏👏👏☂— Kangkan Sarma🇮🇳(কংকন শৰ্মা𒆙) (@imKangkanSarma)
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).
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman)
This says all about the presence of Andre🌟 Russell.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra)
For reasons of personal safety, shouldn’t the bowleꦫr &🍰amp; the fielders be advised to wear helmets when is batting?
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra)
MI bowlꦦers have hardly erred in their plans against Russ𝓡ell. Still he is scoring at a strike rate of 200
— Amol Karhadkar (@karhacter)
R☂eaction of The Match 🧐��🤣🤣🤒 Russell Musall
— बिगडेल देशभक्त 17K 💯 FB �🎀�🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳 (@HITENDRA_SINH)
Jassym Lora enjoying the Russell show!
— CricBoll (@mycricboll)