Dinesh Karthik, Andre Russell blitz takes KKR to record total against KXIP

Skipper Dinesh Karthik and Andre Russell stitched together a brilliant partnership as Kolkata Knight Riders posted 245/6 - the highest total in this year’s Indian Premier League - against Kings XI Punjab at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Saturday. (HIGHLIGHTS)

This was also KKR’s highest score in IPL history surpassing their previous best of 222/3 against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the first edition of the tournament. (SCORECARD)

After Sunil Narine’s fifty had given the visitors a great start, Karthik and Russell carried on the good work as KXIP’s bowlers, except Andrew Tye, were left clueless.

Coming into bat in the 12th over, Karthik hit a boundary off just his second ball, smacking a flighted delivery from Axar Patel past the fielder at the short third-man.

Russell joined the party with a six off Mohit Sharma in the 14th over.

READ | Sunil Narine scores 2nd half century in IPL 2018 for Kolkata Knight Riders

In the very next over, both batsmen targeted Axar, smashing him for two maximums and a boundary. While Karthik swept one to the deep square leg boundary, the West Indies all-rounder cleared the square leg and the deep mid-wicket boundary.

The next 12 balls yielded 36 runs, taking KKR’s score past 200.

Russell, who looked set for a half-century, fell to Tye, who had earlier removed Chris Lynn (27) and Narine (75). The duo put on a 76-run partnership off just 31 balls.

Karthik held one end and brought up his half-century off 22 balls.