Form of Gambhir was the best news that came out for KKR tonight. His form as batsman is crucial for KKR's success this season
KOLKATA, India, CMC – West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell hurt Delhi Daredevils with a three-wicket haul, as Carlos Brathwaite tasted defeat on debut in a nine-wicket loss to Kolkata Knight Riders in their opening game of the Indian Premier League here Sunday.
Seamer Russell grabbed three for 24 from three overs as KKR, opting to bowl first, bundled Delhi out for a paltry 98 off 17.4 overs at Eden Gardens.
Left-arm spinner Brad Hogg claimed three for 19 while pacer John Hastings (2-6) and leg-spinner Piyush Chawla (2-21) supported with two wickets apiece.
Not a single Delhi batsman made it into the 20s and South African Quinton de Kock was their top-scorer with 17.
In reply, KKR cruised to their target in the 15th over with captain and opener Gautam Gambhir stroking an unbeaten 38 and Robin Uthappa getting 35.
The pair put on 69 for the first wicket.
It was Russell who crippled the Delhi innings early on, removing de Kock to a catch mid-off in the third over and trapping Shreyas Iyer lbw without scoring four balls later in the same over, to leave Delhi on 25 for two
In his next over, Russell knocked over opener Mayank Agarwal for nine, caught at third man with the score on 31 for three.
Brathwaite, batting at number seven, looked to be continuing from where he left off in the Twenty20 World Cup when he blasted Chawla for a massive six off the second ball he faced.
But he perished two balls later when he missed a googly and was lbw for six.
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