Russell's six-hitting frenzy seals victory

Kolkata Knight Riders banked their third Indian Premier League win of the campaign as a swashbuckling innings from Andre Russell powered them to a five-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore in Bengaluru.

West Indies' star Russell smashed seven sixes in his stunning 13-ball 48 not out to steer Kolkata home, following earlier good work by Australian opener Chris Lynn, who cracked a fine 31-ball 43, including four fours.

Russell blasted Kiwi quick Tim Southee for 29 runs in the penultimate over of the match, hitting four sixes and a four in five balls to seal the victory with almost an over to spare.

Robin Uthappa (33) and Nitish Rana (37) also added useful contributions as the Knight Riders chased down the Challengers’ score of 3-205.

Australia allrounder Marcus Stoinis had earlier chipped in with an unbeaten 28 for the hosts, adding to a century partnership between Virat Kohli (84 from 49 balls) - which saw the India captain overhaul Chennai's Suresh Raina to become the leading run-scorer in IPL history with 5110 runs in 160 innings - and South African veteran AB de Villiers (63).

But that total ultimately proved insufficient as the Knight Riders, sparked by Russell's stunning 27-minute cameo with the bat, chalked off the runs they needed with five balls to spare to leave Bangalore winless after five matches.

Kohli’s side are now approaching the IPL's most dismal record held by Delhi Capitals (earlier Delhi Daredevils) of six straight losses at the start of the 2013 edition.

"The last four overs, the way we bowled, we deserve to lose. If you bowl with not enough bravery in the crunch overs, then you will always struggle against power-hitters like Russell," said Kohli.

"We cracked a bit under pressure, and that's the only story. Had we got 20-25 more, maybe it would have helped. But if you can't defend 75 in the last four overs, then I don't know if you can defend 100.

"It's been a disappointing season, but we have to believe we can turn things around."

With KKR needing 66 from the last four overs, Russell hit the ball to all parts of the ground to take apart the Bangalore bowling.

After managing just one run from his first four deliveries, Russell got moving thanks to a full toss from Mohammad Siraj, which the West Indian clubbed over the rope and saw the Indian quick removed from the attack.

With Stoinis rushed into the attack to replace Siraj, Russell welcomed him with two more sixes and a single before he unleashed on Southee in the penultimate over.

Overall, his innings read: .1..666166646

"I am always confident. When I went out, DK (skipper Dinesh Karthik) was saying we need to watch a few balls. I was watching on the telly, and I wasn't thinking too much," said Russell.

"We just had to put our bodies on the line. That's the nature of T20 cricket."

Kohli, who is under fire for the lacklustre showing of his team that has never won an IPL title, earlier took the attack to the opposition with nine fours and two big sixes.

He reached his 35th IPL fifty with a boundary off leg-spinner Piyush Chawla as the home crowd erupted with applause.

De Villiers also joined the party with some impressive hitting to bring up his fifty with a boundary off paceman Prasidh Krishna. His blitz was studded with five fours and four sixes.

Kohli was caught and bowled by left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav before Sunil Narine had De Villiers trudging back to the pavilion.