IPL 2016: Andre Russell tears separated Punjab (KXIP) batting request for 7-run win, KKR Top position

Andre Russell came back with a four-wicket pull to guide Kolkata Knight Riders to a seven-run win over Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) and go on the focuses table in their arrival to home in the Indian Premier League T20 cricket competition here today.

Put into bat, Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa impacted half-hundreds of years to give Kolkata Knight Riders an impeccable launchpad however Kings XI Punjab welled to limit them to a humble 164/3.

Andre Russell tears separated Punjab (KXIP) batting request for 7-run win

The hosts then came back to limit Punjab to 157-9 in their stipulated 20 overs, regardless of a strokeful 68 off 42 balls by Australia's Glenn Maxwell and a 7-ball 21-run cameo by Axar Patel down the request.

Put into bat, the two-time previous champions Kolkata at the end of the day got off to strong begin with Gambhir (54 from 45 balls; 6x4, 1x6) and Uthappa (70 from 49 balls; 6x4, 2x6) setting up a firm establishment in a 101-run organization from 13.3 overs.

It was their most elevated opening wicket stand this season, and third general century organization, that place them in right stead yet their star team of Yusuf Pathan and Andre Russell neglected to raise their last match's heroics to be content with an aggregate which could have been much greater.

In answer, KXIP were decreased to 13/3 in 19 balls with Russell's twin blows in his initial two overs and Morne Morkel rejecting captain Murali Vijay (6) efficiently.

In Wriddhiman Saha (24 from 20 balls; 3x4), the Punjab establishment got some trust yet the nearby fellow got out to a poor shot dragging a wide conveyance to his stumps.

At 53/4 in 9 overs, the Kings were gazing at their 6th misfortune this season yet Maxwell held the post with his wonderful innings which was bound with six fours and four sixes to keep them in the chase in an urgent 67-run association from 40 balls with David Miller (13).

Be that as it may, Piyush Chawla (2/27) caught the Aussie with a wrong one to swing the fortunes for KKR in the sixteenth over.

There was more dramatization in store when the Patel smacked Russell to two progressive sixes as KXIP required 12 keeps running from the last overs however Russell ran out the lefthander in the second ball to seal the issue.