IPL 2022 KKR vs PBKS: I feared for my life, says Sam Billings raving about Andre Russell's special knock
India Today
IPL 2022, KKR vs PBKS: Sam Billings said Andre Russell's calm approach rubbed off on him as the two batters stitched a match-winning 90-run stand in just 45 balls to help Kolkata pick up a table-topping victory on Friday.
Kolkata Knight Riders' new-recruit Sam Billings relished the opportunity to have the best seat in the house when Andre Russell unleashed his big-hitting prowess, smashing a 31-ball 70 out in their 6-wicket win over Punjab Kings in an IPL 2022 match on Friday. However, the England wicketkeeper-batter said he feared for his life at times while being in the direct line of fire.
Andre Russell proved naysayers wrong with a vintage big-hitting display as KKR chased down a 138-run target with 33 balls to spare. Russell changed the game on its head as he not only helped Kolkata recover from Rahul Chahar's twin strikes but made light work of the target, hitting as many as 8 sixes.
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It was power-hitting of the highest order as Russell, who seemed to have picked up a niggle in KKR's defeat to Royal Challengers Bangalore on Wednesday. However, Russell showed no signs of any discomfort when he was hitting them into the night sky.
Russell stitched an unbeaten 90-stun stand with Billings in just 45 balls as KKR returned to winning ways, picking up their 2nd victory in 3 games in IPL 2022.
"Yeah, he's pretty relaxed. He rubbed off on me nicely, that's nice. Yeah, it's just great. As you said, you had the best seat in the house and what a performance by the big man. So I was very lucky to be stood where I....I feared for my life a couple of times as we saw. But yeah, special, special from him," Billings said of Rusell.
Heaping praise on Tim Southee's stunning catch that got rid of Punjab Kings' Kagiso Rabada just when the Souh Africa pacer was looking to add some crucial runs to the total, Sam Billings said the effort from the veteran New Zealand pacer helped swing the momentum in KKR's favour.
