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... THE RUN CHASE ...

Right then, the bowlers have set the final up for Kolkata nicely and it is now up to the batters to gun down the modest total. 129 is theÂ lowest total ever defended in the history of the Indian T20 League final and it was defended by Mumbai against the then-Pune franchise in 2017. Hyderabad have their backs against the wall but cricket is a funny old game and if Pat CumminsÂ and Co. get early inroads with the new ball, it will set the cat amongst the pigeons in the Kolkata camp. Back in a bit f

Andre RussellÂ is in for a chat. He says that he is very happy and they all know how important this game is and all the big players have stood up tonight. Mentions that mentally he is in a better place and at the end of the day, the strong players need to back themselves and he feels very good and happy and wants to keep going for a few more years. Reckons that they aren't going to take it lightly as the opposition is going to come hard at them and their batters need to get the job done now.

As for Hyderabad, they could only manage 113, the lowest totalÂ in the history of the Indian T20 League final. They have only themselves to blame, though, as there were a lot of shots where, when they look back, they will be utterly disappointed.Â After Pat Cummins called it right and opted to put runs on the board, Hyderabad were rocked early, losing both openers inside the first two overs. While Rahul Tripathi had a scratchy short at the crease, Nitish Kumar Reddy looked good but could not kic

As clinical as it can get! A sensational bowling performance from Kolkata on the night of the final. They have rolled Hyderabad over for 113 and will feel that they have one hand on that covetedÂ trophy. It all started with Mitchell Starc puttingÂ on an exhibition with the new ball to putÂ Hyderabad on the back foot through his opening spell. Vaibhav Arora struck in his opening over, and just when it seemed that Hyderabad were starting to get a bit of momentum into their innings, Harshit RanaÂ g

Andre Russell to Pat Cummins, ! CAUGHT! Straight to the man and what a way to round off a fine effort in the field for Kolkata.

Andre Russell to Pat Cummins, Slower and shorter again over the stumps, Pat CumminsÂ slogs it down to long on and denies the single.

Andre Russell to Pat Cummins, No run.

Sunil Narine to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Bowled back of a length and around off stump, Bhuvneshwar KumarÂ goes on the back foot and punches it to covers.

Bhuvneshwar KumarÂ is the last man in.

Sunil Narine to Jaydev Unadkat, ! LBW! Everyday, we see something rare on a cricket field and this was one of those occasions.

Oh, what happened there?

Sunil Narine to Pat Cummins, Carrom ball around off stump, Pat CumminsÂ waits and hits it through cover-point for a single.

Sunil Narine to Pat Cummins, Keeps it short on the stumps, Pat CumminsÂ walks across the off stump and hoicks it away to the right of deep backward square leg for a couple of more runs.

Sunil Narine to Jaydev Unadkat, Flighted up a bit full and around off stump, Jaydev UnadkatÂ goesÂ for the reverse sweep and gets it off the edge towards short third. The fielder there dives to his left and picks up a single.

Sunil Narine to Pat Cummins, Shorter in length and turning in from off stump, Pat CumminsÂ stays back and works it through mid-wicket looking for two but has to settle for the single.

Harshit Rana to Pat Cummins, Back of a length and outside off, guided down to third man for a single.

Harshit Rana to Pat Cummins, ! What an effort from Andre RussellÂ but goes all in vain. Quick and banged into the deck outside off, Pat CumminsÂ throws his hands at it and lifts it high up towards the cover fence. Russell sprints towards the ball from then inner ring and dives to grab the catch but his body slides into the ropes and it is signalled as a maximum.

Harshit Rana to Pat Cummins, Short of a length and outside off, Pat CumminsÂ stays back and pats it away wide of sweeper covers for a couple of runs.

Harshit Rana to Pat Cummins, The ball is certainly gripping! A tad short and outside off, this one grips and turns back in with a bit of an extra bounce as well. Pat CumminsÂ is taken aback but manages to fend it on the off side.

Strategic break! It has been a woeful batting effort from Hyderabad so far and the dejected faces in their dugout say it all. It would have been even worse for them had Mitchell StarcÂ managed to hold onto the catch of Pat Cummins. Having gotten a second life,Â the onus is on skipper, Pat CumminsÂ to make it count and take his side to a respectable total. As for Kolkata, they have not done much wrong and have chipped away at the wickets at regular intervals. It has been a collective effort and t

Harshit Rana to Pat Cummins, Nagging length on the fifth stump line, holds in the pitch, Pat CumminsÂ checks his shot and jams it on the off side.

Harshit Rana to Jaydev Unadkat, Slower delivery, on a good length and around off, Jaydev UnadkatÂ waits on it well and plays it towards cover for a single.

Sunil Narine to Jaydev Unadkat, 1 run.

Sunil Narine to Pat Cummins, ! Too casual from Mitchell StarcÂ and that could have been it for Kolkata.

Sunil Narine to Jaydev Unadkat, A bit of cat and mouse going on between the batter and bowler.

Sunil Narine to Jaydev Unadkat, Half an appeal for LBW and nothing more.

Sunil Narine to Pat Cummins, Slows it up a bit and bowls it a tad shorter on the pads, the ball turns in and Pat CumminsÂ turns it away past square leg for a single.

Sunil Narine to Pat Cummins, BYES! That's gone past everyone! Quicker one angled down the leg side and skids off the surface, Pat CumminsÂ attempts a reverse-dab but misses and the ball beats the keeper, running away into the fence. No wide called though.

Harshit Rana to Jaydev Unadkat, No run.

Harshit Rana to Jaydev Unadkat, An optimistic shout for LBW but turned down.

Harshit Rana to Jaydev Unadkat, No run.

Jaydev UnadkatÂ is the next batter in.

Harshit Rana to Heinrich Klaasen, ! b Harshit Rana.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Pat Cummins, No run.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Heinrich Klaasen, Spinning away, short and on off, Heinrich KlaasenÂ makes room and slaps it down to wide long off for one.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Heinrich Klaasen, 2 runs.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Heinrich Klaasen, No run.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Pat Cummins, Bye! Risky and Pat CumminsÂ is lucky to get away with it.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Pat Cummins, ! Clever shot! Varun ChakaravarthyÂ slips in the googly, on a good length, outside off, Pat CumminsÂ premeditates as he walks across his stumps to play the scoop. The line isn't there to play the scoop on the leg sideÂ and he angles the face of his bat to ramp it past short third for a boundary.

Andre Russell to Pat Cummins, Takes pace off and digs it into the deck, on off, Pat CumminsÂ pushes it wide of cover and takes a single.

Andre Russell to Pat Cummins, ! Nicely done and Pat CumminsÂ is up and running! Russell bowls it on a back of a length, on off, Pat CumminsÂ waits on the back foot and uses the pace by gliding it past backward point. Beats deep third to his right for a boundary.

Skipper, Pat CumminsÂ comes in with his side under immense pressure.

Andre Russell to Abdul Samad, ! CAUGHT BEHIND! Top catch from Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The Impact Player goes without creating any impact as Hyderabad slip further.

Andre Russell to Abdul Samad, WIDE! An attempted slower delivery but Andre RussellÂ gets it all wrong and this is spilled full and well down the leg side.

Andre Russell to Heinrich Klaasen, Hard length bowled over middle, Heinrich KlaasenÂ stays put and knocks the ball down to long on for another single.

Andre Russell to Abdul Samad, Bowled full again and at the stumps, Abdul SamadÂ leans ahead and just pushes it wide of the mid on region for a single.

Andre Russell to Abdul Samad, Good, positive running!

Varun Chakaravarthy to Abdul Samad, 1 run.

Hyderabad are forced to use the Impact Sub and nows Abdul SamadÂ comes in to replace Travis Head.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Shahbaz Ahmed, ! CAUGHT! Varun ChakaravarthyÂ gets in on the act now in the final.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Shahbaz Ahmed, Slower and the length is pulled back a touch, on off, Shahbaz AhmedÂ waits on the back foot and works it with the turn in front of point.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Shahbaz Ahmed, No run.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Heinrich Klaasen, Closer to the off stump and on a nagging length, Heinrich KlaasenÂ springs on the back foot quickly and knocks it along the ground to long off for one.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Heinrich Klaasen, Turning away, short and around off, Heinrich KlaasenÂ backs away and hits it with the turn to cover.

Bowling change.

Andre Russell to Shahbaz Ahmed, Six!

Andre Russell to Shahbaz Ahmed, Angling away, short of a good length, on off, Shahbaz AhmedÂ throws his hands at it but connects with thin air.

Andre Russell to Shahbaz Ahmed, Dishes out a sharp and quick bumper, Shahbaz AhmedÂ drops his wrists and sways away from the line of the ball and lets it go.

Shahbaz AhmedÂ is the new batter in.Â

Andre Russell to Shahbaz Ahmed, 2 runs.

Andre Russell to Aiden Markram, ! c Mitchell Starc b Andre Russell.

Andre Russell to Heinrich Klaasen, Russell bangs it on a hard length first up, at the batter, Heinrich KlaasenÂ hurriedly jabs it in front of square on the leg side for a single.

Sunil Narine to Aiden Markram, Shorter and around off, Aiden MarkramÂ cuts it away but finds the fielder inside the ring and only three singles come off that over.

Sunil Narine to Aiden Markram, No run.

Sunil Narine to Heinrich Klaasen, On a good length on middle and sliding on, Heinrich KlaasenÂ stays put and punches it through mid on to make it three singles in three balls.

Sunil Narine to Aiden Markram, Drags the length back now and bowls it a bit quicker and shorter around off, Aiden MarkramÂ makes room and gets it through point for one more.

Sunil Narine to Heinrich Klaasen, Nicely flighted, a tad fuller and on off stump, Heinrich KlaasenÂ knocks it down to long on and collects a single.

Harshit Rana to Heinrich Klaasen, A double-bluff this time from Harshit RanaÂ as he grunts in and serves another off-pace delivery, short of a length and outside off, Heinrich KlaasenÂ cuts it off the back foot to deep cover-point for a run.

Harshit Rana to Heinrich Klaasen, Another slower ball, just back of a length and on off stump, Heinrich KlaasenÂ stays in his crease and just bunts it out onto the deck.

Harshit Rana to Heinrich Klaasen, No run.

Harshit Rana to Aiden Markram, Pace off and into the pitch outside off, Aiden MarkramÂ waits well and taps it with an open stance through the cover region for another single.

Harshit Rana to Heinrich Klaasen, Hard length around the top of off stump, jammed out in front of the point region for a single.

Harshit Rana to Heinrich Klaasen, EDGED AND !

Sunil Narine to Heinrich Klaasen, 1 run.

Sunil Narine to Aiden Markram, Quick and flat on off stump, Aiden MarkramÂ shows all his stumps and cuts it away through cover-point for one more.

Strategic break! It has been an eventful start to the final, with Kolkata taking the Powerplay honours. Having finished the Powerplay with a 17-run over, Hyderabad were hopeful of building on it, but Nitish Kumar Reddy's departure has pegged them back again. As for Kolkata, Mitchell Starc has risen to the occasion yet again for them, and he has been complemented well by Harshit RanaÂ and Vaibhav Arora. Heinrich KlaasenÂ joins Aiden Markram out in the middle, and Hyderabad's hopes rest on the sho

Sunil Narine to Aiden Markram, No run.

Sunil Narine to Heinrich Klaasen, 1 run.

Sunil Narine to Aiden Markram, Bowls it short again but there's a bit more room outside off, Aiden MarkramÂ backs away and cuts it behind point for a run.

Sunil Narine to Aiden Markram, Starts on the shorter side and bowls it around off stump, Aiden MarkramÂ rocks back and cuts it straight to backward point.

Harshit Rana to Nitish Kumar Reddy, ! EDGED AND GONE! A ripper of a delivery from Harshit Rana!

Harshit Rana to Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pace off yet again and bowled on a hard length outside off, Nitish Kumar ReddyÂ hits it straight to covers.

Harshit Rana to Aiden Markram, 1 run.

Harshit Rana to Aiden Markram, Nicely bowled this time around. Tad fuller and around off, this one grips after pitching, Aiden MarkramÂ looks to cut but the ball comes in and sneaks past the willow.

Harshit Rana to Aiden Markram, WIDE! Another off-paced delivery, bowled well into the pitch and well outside off as well, Aiden MarkramÂ fails to reach it and a wide is called.

Harshit Rana to Nitish Kumar Reddy, 1 run.

Harshit Rana to Nitish Kumar Reddy, ! That has been crunched away! Begins with a short and wide one, loose delivery, Nitish Kumar ReddyÂ waits on the back foot and cuts it hard behind point for a boundary.

Vaibhav Arora to Nitish Kumar Reddy, A single to end but 17 runs come off the final over of the Powerplay and Hyderabad finally have a bit of positive momentum. Pitched up around off stump, pushed straight to mid off for one.

Vaibhav Arora to Nitish Kumar Reddy, ! That's bread and butter for any top order batter. This is bowled short again but the line is down the leg side, Nitish Kumar ReddyÂ gets inside the line and slam-dunks it over fine leg for a maximum.

Vaibhav Arora to Nitish Kumar Reddy, A slower bumper, bowled a fair bit outside off and this is left alone by Nitish Kumar Reddy.

A halt in play as Aiden MarkramÂ has asked for a fresh pair of gloves after putting the dive on the previous ball.

Vaibhav Arora to Aiden Markram, Oh, that's risky!

Vaibhav Arora to Aiden Markram, ! And again! Dug in quick and short outside off, Aiden MarkramÂ goes on the back foot this time and plays a lovely shot standing upright and swats it just on the half-volley and into the ropes over the cover region.

Vaibhav Arora to Aiden Markram, ! Up and away to the fence! Banged in well short but offering width as well, Aiden MarkramÂ stands tall and latches onto the width, slapping it over covers for a boundary.

Vaibhav Arora to Aiden Markram, WIDE! Vaibhav AroraÂ goes for the change up and takes pace off but spills it well outside the off stump for another wide.

Mitchell Starc to Nitish Kumar Reddy, Nitish Kumar ReddyÂ watchfully lets it go and that ends another successful over from Mitchell Starc.

Mitchell Starc to Nitish Kumar Reddy, Nails the fullish length, outside off, Nitish Kumar ReddyÂ has to reach out to squeeze it away on the off side but gets beaten for pace as the ball scoots under the bat.

Mitchell Starc to Aiden Markram, 1 run.

Mitchell Starc to Nitish Kumar Reddy, Hurls it on a back of a length, on off, Nitish Kumar ReddyÂ gets on top of the bounce and steers it down to deep third for a single to open his account.

Nitish Kumar ReddyÂ walks in with Hyderabad in heaps of trouble.

Mitchell Starc to Rahul Tripathi, ! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Not the best of options by Rahul Tripathi,Â and he pays the ultimate price.

Mitchell Starc to Rahul Tripathi, Beaten! At 144 kph, slanting away from over the wicket, on a good length, near the tramline on off, Rahul TripathiÂ looks to play at it but gets beaten on the outside edge and the ball carries at shoulder height to Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

Vaibhav Arora to Aiden Markram, There's that sharp inward movement from Arora again, on a back of a length, on middle, Aiden MarkramÂ gets on his toes and blocks it out solidly.

Vaibhav Arora to Rahul Tripathi, 1 run.

Vaibhav Arora to Rahul Tripathi, WIDE! Errs in line for the third time in the over does Arora. Angling down leg, Rahul TripathiÂ fails to help it away. Wide givem.

Vaibhav Arora to Rahul Tripathi, Oh...close! The ball wasn't too far from the off stump. Shaping in just outside off, on a good length, Rahul TripathiÂ premeditates as he gives the bowler the charge and looks to force it through the off side. The ball sneaks under the angled bat and goes just past the off pole.

Vaibhav Arora to Aiden Markram, Lands it on a hard length, angling into the pads, Aiden MarkramÂ turns this one away with the angle to the left of mid-wicket for a single.

Vaibhav Arora to Aiden Markram, At 133.2 kph, honing in at the stumps, on a good length, Aiden MarkramÂ rather than going on the front foot, opts to play this off the back foot and pats it to mid off.

Vaibhav Arora to Rahul Tripathi, Much better from Arora as this is on a back of a length, on off, Rahul TripathiÂ rides the bounce well and pushes it in front of cover for a single.

Vaibhav Arora to Rahul Tripathi, Wide!

Vaibhav Arora to Rahul Tripathi, WIDE! Slips it down leg, on a length, Rahul TripathiÂ walks inside the line of the ball to scoop it past the keeper but misses out. Wide given.

Mitchell Starc to Aiden Markram, Bowls it on a good length, on off and middle, Aiden MarkramÂ punches it with a straight bat to mid on.

Mitchell Starc to Aiden Markram, Nearly sneaked through!

Mitchell Starc to Aiden Markram, ! Aiden MarkramÂ slashes and slashes hard! Gets the ball to angle across the right-hander, on a length, Aiden Markram's eyes light up as he sees the width on offer. Tries to flay it away on the off side and gets an outside edge that flies past first slip and races down to deep third for a boundary.

Mitchell Starc to Aiden Markram, Drags the length back ever so slightly does Starc and bowls it on off, Aiden MarkramÂ covers the line of the ball and stabs it down onto the deck with a straight bat.

Mitchell Starc to Rahul Tripathi, 1 run.

Mitchell Starc to Rahul Tripathi, ! Too straight and these are easy pickings for Rahul Tripathi. Starc goes searching for the magical delivery but misses his mark this time as he drifts on the pads, full in length, Rahul TripathiÂ calmly ticklesÂ it fine off his pads down to the fine leg fence for the first boundary of the final.

Vaibhav Arora to Travis Head, ! EDGED AND GONE! First Mitchell StarcÂ and now Vaibhav Arora! Two superb deliveries from the Kolkata pacers. Travis HeadÂ goes for a duck, yet again and Hyderabad have been rocked early in the final.

Who comes in next?

Vaibhav Arora to Rahul Tripathi, Slanting into the right-hander, on a back of a length, at the hips, Rahul TripathiÂ glances it away down to fine leg for a single.

A slight halt in play as Rahmanullah GurbazÂ got his knee stuck in the outfield while chasing the previous ball. The physio is out to have a look and hopefully, Gurbaz is fine.

Vaibhav Arora to Rahul Tripathi, 2 Leg byes.

Vaibhav Arora to Rahul Tripathi, No run.

Vaibhav Arora to Rahul Tripathi, Oh..edged but it falls short! Starts from over the wicket and bowls it on a good length, on off, Rahul TripathiÂ opts to defend it from the crease but the extra bounce results in the ball coming off the gloves and drops in front of the keeper, Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

Who will bowl now?

Rahul TripathiÂ walks in at number 3.

Mitchell Starc to Rahul Tripathi, Gets the ball to come back into the right-hander, around the off-stump line, on a good length, Rahul TripathiÂ gets half-forward and taps it with soft hands in front of cover for a quick single.

Mitchell Starc to Abhishek Sharma, ! b Mitchell Starc.

Mitchell Starc to Abhishek Sharma, Oh, dear! Abhishek SharmaÂ would have had his heart in his mouth for a moment there.

Mitchell Starc to Abhishek Sharma, Missed out!

Mitchell Starc to Abhishek Sharma, And again! Keeps it in the channel on off but it is much closer to the batter this time, on a good length, Abhishek SharmaÂ has a loose poke at the delivery away from his body and he is lucky not to nick this one behind.

Mitchell Starc to Abhishek Sharma, Play and a miss straight away! Starc steams in from over the wicket and hurls it on a good length, shaping away, outside off. Abhishek SharmaÂ sees the width on offer and throws his hands at it but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Done with the pre-match proceedings and it is now time to get play underway. The two umpires are out in the middle and the players of Kolkata are taking their places on the field as well. Then, the fiery southpaw duo of Travis HeadÂ and Abhishek SharmaÂ walks out to the middle and will open the innings for Hyderabad. Mitchell Starc, another left-hander has the new ball in hand and is raring to go. The crowd builds up the first ball and here we go...

The two sets of players are already out in the middle and will now lineup for the Indian National Anthem.

As the wait continues for the Grand Finale to start, we've got an interesting piece of trivia for you guys. Since 2018, the winner of Qualifier 1 has gone on to lift the trophy. The last team to win the Indian T20 League having featured in Qualifier 2 was Mumbai. Can Hyderabad emulate them? Or will Kolkata keep the trend going? We shall find out in a few hours time and the action is just a few minutes away.

The skipper of Kolkata, Shreyas Iyer says that they were looking to bowl first so they got what they wanted. Feels that it is better to have a fair idea of how the wicket will play. Adds that they chased in Qualifier 1 and wanted to do the same here in the final. Shares that it is important to stick to the present and see to it that they tick all boxes in terms of execution. Mentions that they have backed each other when they have been put under pressure and it has been pleasing to see. Tells th

Kolkata (Unchanged Playing XI) - Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer (C), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Mitchell Starc, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy.

Impact players nominated by Kolkata - Anukul Roy, Manish Pandey, Nitish Rana, KS Bharat and Sherfane Rutherford.

Hyderabad (Playing XI) - Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (WK), Shahbaz Ahmed (In for Abdul Samad), Pat Cummins (C), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, T Natarajan.

Impact players nominated by Hyderabad - Umran Malik, Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Mayank Markande and Abdul Samad.

Pat Cummins, the captain of Hyderabad wins the toss and elects to bat first. Adds that the wicket looks good but seems a bit different from the last one and there might not be much dew either. Mentions that they play a particular style which doesn't bear fruits every time but hopes that it does tonight. Ends by informing that it is pretty much the same side with Shahbaz AhmedÂ coming in for Abdul Samad.

TOSS - Pat CumminsÂ calls 'heads' and heads it is. Hyderabad have won the toss and they have opted to BAT first.