Umesh Yadav and Andre Russell star as KKR brush aside Punjab Kings

The pace bowler recorded figures of 4 for 23 as Punjab Kings were bowled out for 137, a total KKR chased down with 33 balls to spare thanks to Russell’s 31-ball 70

Mumbai: Punjab Kings 137, Kolkata Knight Riders 141-4 - Kolkata Knight Riders won by six wickets

Scorecard

Umesh Yadav and Andre Russell were the stars as Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Punjab Kings by six wickets in Mumbai.

The pace bowler recorded figures of 4 for 23 as the Kings for bowled out for 137, a total KKR chased down with 33 balls to spare thanks to Russell's 31-ball 70.

Punjab Kings started promisingly with the bat, with wicketkeeper Bhanuka Rajapaksa smashing 31 runs off just nine balls to help his side to 62 for 3 at the end of the powerplay.

However, the next 10 overs yielded just 42 runs as Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine wrestled back control.

^{Andre Russell moments before hitting one of his eight sixes}

Five wickets also fell during this period, with Yadav removing Liam Livingstone for 19 in the ninth over to collect his second of the day and Narine snaring Raj Bawa just three balls later. Tim Southee and Nitish Rana then combined to dismiss M Shahrukh Khan before Yadav struck twice in three balls in the 15th over to reduce Punjab Kings to 102 for 8.

However, Kagiso Rabada and Odean Smith fought back, dispatching the next two overs for 33 runs before Russell brought the innings to a close in the penultimate over.

In reply, KKR motored steadily through the powerplay, emerging from the opening six overs on 51 for 2, before two quick wickets from Rahul Chahar – to remove Shreyas Iyer (26 off 15) and Rana – briefly had the 2021 finalists wobbling.

But not for long, as the experienced pairing of Russell and Sam Billings opted to finish the match sooner rather than later. Together, they added 90 runs off just 47 balls, with Russell finishing unbeaten on 70, including eight sixes, and Billings scoring a steady 23-ball 24.

Chahar (2 for 13) and Rabada (1 for 23) were the only bowlers to emerge with a sub-10 economy.