Umesh Yadav’s four-wicket haul followed by Andre Russell’s quick-fire unbeaten 70 powered Kolkata Knight Riders to a six-wicket win over Punjab Kings with 33 balls to spare in the IPL 2022 match. 

Yadav picked four for 23 off his four overs and Tim Southee scalped two for 26 as Punjab Kings were bowled out for 137 after being asked to bat first. Bhanuka Rajapaksa blasted 31 off nine deliveries but once he got out, PBKS collapsed.

Despite chasing a below-par total, The Knight Riders were looking in trouble at 51/4 with Ajinkya Rahane (12), Venkatesh Iyer (3), skipper Shreyas Iyer (26) and Nitesh Rana (0) back in the dugout. 

Russell came to their rescue, hitting sixes at will as he and Sam Billings guided them through to victory and on the top of the IPL points table with four points. 

Russell, dealing mostly in sixes, blasted eight hits over the boundary rope and two fours as he remained unbeaten on 70 runs off 31 deliveries. He and Sam Billings (24 not out) raised 90 runs for the unfinished fifth wicket partnership as KKR reached 141/4 in 14.3 overs.