In IPL 2024, the match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) was played on March 23 at Eden Gardens. All limits of excitement were exceeded in this match. After batting first in this match, KKR scored 208 runs thanks to Andre Russell’s storming innings. In response, Sunrisers Hyderabad’s score at one point was just 133 runs in 16 overs. In the last four overs, Hyderabad needed to score an average of around 20 runs to win. Nevertheless, Heinrich Klaasen didn’t give up and turned the entire game around single-handedly. Hyderabad had to score just seven runs in the last five balls, but Shahbaz and Klaasen were out. Klaasen played an innings of 63 runs in 29 balls with the help of 8 sixes. However, he could not lead his team to victory.
SRH captain Pat Cummins opted to bowl after winning the toss and his team’s bowlers initially caused problems for the Calcutta batsmen. But due to Andre Russell’s onslaught, the Kolkata team was able to score 208 runs. Sunrisers Hyderabad got off to a good start in the hunt for the target but under the pressure of posting a high score, the team kept losing wickets. In the end, Heinrich Klaasen’s innings gave SRH hope, but in the end they suffered a narrow defeat by 4 runs.
Andre Russell’s storming innings for KKR
Philip Salt and Sunil Narayan started the innings for Kolkata Knight Riders but Narayan returned to the pavilion after scoring just two runs. After that, Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Rana and Venkatesh Iyer also reached the pavilion within 28 runs. The team’s score was 4 wickets for 51 runs. Ramandeep Singh also impressed with 35 runs in 17 balls but his innings paled in front of Andre Russell’s whirlwind spell. Russell had completed his half-century in just 20 balls. He played a storming 64-run innings, hitting three fours and seven sixes in his 25-ball innings. Meanwhile, Rinku Singh also contributed 23 runs in 15 balls.
Klaasen’s hard work was in vain for SRH
Mayank Agarwal and Abhishek Sharma came as the opening act for Sunrisers Hyderabad. This pair had taken the team’s score to 60 before the end of the sixth over, but after Mayank Agarwal’s dismissal, the team faltered. Mayank scored 32 runs in 21 balls and Abhishek scored 32 runs in 19 balls. Rahul Tripathi and Aiden Markram also played innings of 20 and 18 runs respectively but no player was able to play a big innings while taking responsibility. The team continued to lose wickets at intervals of 20 to 30 runs. Heinrich Klaasen definitely tried to hit big shots at the end, but the run rate was very high. Klaasen played an excellent innings of 63 runs in 29 balls, but in the end SRH were defeated by 4 runs.