| 0.0 : TOSS - The coin goes up and lands in favour of Punjab. They will BAT first. |
| Punjab (Playing XI) - Shikhar Dhawan (C), Prabhsimran Singh, Bhanuka Rajapaksa (In for Matthew Short), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Sam Curran, Shahrukh Khan, Harpreet Brar, Rishi Dhawan, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh. |
| Impact Players for Punjab -Â Nathan Ellis, Sikandar Raza, Atharva Taide, Mohit Rathee, Matthew Short. |
| Kolkata (Playing XI) - Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana (C), Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Shardul Thakur, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, Suyash Sharma (In for Jason Roy), Varun Chakaravarthy. |
| Impact Players for Kolkata - Jason Roy, Anukul Roy, Narayan Jagadeesan, Lockie Ferguson and Kulwant Khejroliya. |
| Shikhar Dhawan, the captain of Punjab says that they will bat first as the wicket looks a bit dry and will look to put runs on the board. Adds that the wickets have been good and because of the Impact Player, they have been able to do well with the bat. Informs that Bhanuka comes in for Matthew Short. |
| Nitish Rana, tha captain of Kolkata starts by saying that the wicket looks to be dry, hopes that it does not change a lot. Informs that he is sticking to the same side. Adds that they wanted to bat first, so that spin could come into play later on, although the toss did not go their way. |
| Varun Chakaravarthy is in for a spot interview. He says the plan was simple in the last game and the captain told him to challenge the batters on the longer side of the field and that's what he did. Adds that he is keeping things a bit simple this time and has gone with just three variations this time around. Mentions that the ground here is smaller and it is tougher to defend but that's the challenge and sometimes it comes off, sometimes it doesn't. |
| 0.1 : Vaibhav Arora to Prabhsimran Singh, Arora starts with a dot! The pacer hurls in a full-length ball, swinging in a long way from outside off. Prabhsimran Singh stays inside the crease and taps it out to safety. |
| 0.2 : Vaibhav Arora to Prabhsimran Singh, FOUR! Easy pickings for Prabhsimran Singh. Once again it is full, swinging into the batter. Singh shuffles across a touch and flicks it behind square on the leg side for four runs. |
| 0.3 : Vaibhav Arora to Prabhsimran Singh, Second dot of the over now! Length, on top of off. Singh greets it with a full face this time. |
| 0.4 : Vaibhav Arora to Prabhsimran Singh, Make it three now! A solid start from Arora. This is a touch shorter, in the channel. Singh hops and blocks it out. |
| 0.0 : We are all set for the start of the play and it is Sunil Joshi who rings the bell as is the custom on this ground. The two umpires are out in the middle and so are the players of Kolkata. Skipper, Shikhar Dhawan will open the innings alongside Prabhsimran Singh for Punjab. Vaibhav Arora has been handed the new ball and is raring to go. Let's play... |
| 0.5 : Vaibhav Arora to Prabhsimran Singh, FOUR! Over the leg side. Prabhsimran Singh gets the second boundary. Punjab off to a solid start. It is full, coming into the batter. Singh flicks it off his pads over mid-wicket for four runs. |
| 0.6 : Vaibhav Arora to Prabhsimran Singh, FOUR! Third one for Singh. He has the last laugh here. Kolkata give away 12 runs off the first over. Short one, wide of off. Singh cuts it hard past point. It races away. |
| Harshit Rana to bowl from the other end. |
| 1.2 : Harshit Rana to Shikhar Dhawan, A dot now! Rana serves a length ball, around middle. Dhawan tries to block it out, but gets an inside edge on it. The ball eases past the sticks. |
| 1.1 : Harshit Rana to Shikhar Dhawan, FOUR! Shikhar Dhawan opens his account with a boundary as well. It is very full, angling across, wide of off. Shikhar Dhawan leans in and slaps it through the cover region for a boundrary. |
| 1.3 : Harshit Rana to Shikhar Dhawan, FOUR! Second one for the Punjab skipper. Overpitched, wide outside off. Dhawan frees his arms and flays it over point. One bounce and over the ropes. |
| 1.4 : Harshit Rana to Shikhar Dhawan, Shikhar Dhawan now rotates the strike, as he tucks this length ball towards mid on. |
| 1.5 : Harshit Rana to Prabhsimran Singh, An appeal for lbw but turned down! It is a length ball, that lands outside off and jags back in a long way. Prabhsimran Singh tries to block it away but takes a blow on his pads. It seems to be high and the skipper does not take the review. |
| 1.6 : Bhanuka Rajapaksa is the new man in. |
| 2.1 : Vaibhav Arora to Shikhar Dhawan, Good length, wide of off, shaping further away. Dhawan leaves it alone for the keeper. |
| 2.2 : Vaibhav Arora to Shikhar Dhawan, Two dots in a row now! Much fuller, angled into the batter. Dhawan uses his feet and works it back to the bowler. |
| 2.3 : Vaibhav Arora to Shikhar Dhawan, FOUR! Up and over! Short ball, outside off. Dhawan slices it over short third. It races away to the fence. |
| 2.4 : Vaibhav Arora to Shikhar Dhawan, A good-length ball, in the channel. This one holds its line. Dhawan tries to chase it but misses. |
| 2.5 : Vaibhav Arora to Shikhar Dhawan, Slower length ball, around off. Dhawan steers it down to third man for one. |
| 2.6 : Vaibhav Arora to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, A length ball, angled in on off. Bhanuka Rajapaksa stays inside the crease and takes a blow on the pads. Looks like he nicked this one. Quite fortunate. |
| 3.1 : Harshit Rana to Shikhar Dhawan, NOT OUT! Bhanuka Rajapaksa is safe. They get a leg bye off it. It is a full-length ball, on leg. The ball rolls out of the pads. There is a direct-hit at the striker's end but the Sri Lankan batters is well inside. |
| 3.2 : Harshit Rana to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, LEG BYE! A length ball, around middle and leg. Bhanuka Rajapaksa gets rapped high on his pads. The ball rolls out to the off side. Another leg bye. |
| 1.6 : Is that a run-out? Causal bit of running from Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Kolkata think they have got their man. Rahmanullah Gurbaz chases the ball down to backward square leg and scores a direct hit at the batter's end. The replays roll in and show that Bhanuka is well in. NOT OUT comes up on the big screen! |
| 3.3 : Harshit Rana to Shikhar Dhawan, LEG BYE! Shikhar Dhawan tries to flick this length ball but misses. It deflects to square leg off his thigh pads. They cross for one more leg bye. |
| 1.6 : Harshit Rana to Prabhsimran Singh, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Harshit Rana does not need a review this time. Rahmanullah Gurbaz moves to the wrong side, but does brilliantly well to recover his stance and takes a stunner here. Prabhsimran Singh gets nicked off this time. It is a good-length ball, nipping into the batter. Singh tries to come forward and flick it away but it catches the outside edge. The ball flies to the right of the keeper. Rahmanullah Gurbaz grabs the catch on his second atte |
| 3.4 : Harshit Rana to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Harshit Rana picks up his second wicket in no time. Bhanuka Rajapaksa cannot make an instant impact after coming back into the side. He trudges back on a 3-ball duck. Rana goes full, outside off, angling across. Bhanuka Rajapaksa slashes hard at it but only manages to get a thick outside edge. Rahmanullah Gurbaz makes no mistake behind the sticks and the hosts are elated with this wicket. |
| 3.5 : Harshit Rana to Liam Livingstone, Back of a length, in the channel. Liam Livingstone dabs it out to point and crosses. He gets off the mark. |
| 3.4 : Liam Livingstone is the new man in. |
| 3.6 : Harshit Rana to Shikhar Dhawan, NO BALL! A length ball, around off. Dhawan punches it through covers for one. The umpire signals a no ball as the bowler oversteps. Free Hit coming up. |
| Harshit Rana to Liam Livingstone, Liam Livingstone could not capitalise on the Free Hit. Excellent end by Rana to his wicket-taking over. It is a short ball, outside off, at 136 clicks. Liam Livingstone throws the kitchen sink at it, but only connects with thin air. |
| 4.1 : Andre Russell to Shikhar Dhawan, A length ball, on off. Dhawan punches it through point for one. |
| 4.2 : Andre Russell to Liam Livingstone, Swing and a miss! On a length, wide of off. Liam Livingstone tries to break his shackles but is unable to time his shot. |
| 4.3 : Andre Russell to Liam Livingstone, FOUR! Smacked. Liam Livingstone connects this time and the ball races away to the boundary. It is full, on off. Liam Livingstone slaps it over mid off for a boundary. |
| 4.4 : Andre Russell to Liam Livingstone, NO BALL AND FOUR! Here he goes again. Liam Livingstone is back to his best. Very full, on middle. Liam Livingstone wrists it through mid-wicket for four runs. The siren goes off as Russell oversteps. Free Hit coming up. |
| Andre Russell to Liam Livingstone, FOUR! Third boundary on the trot! Liam Livingstone is on fire. He makes the most of the Free Hit as well. Pitched up, outside off. Liam Livingstone leans in and smashes it through cover-point for four more. |
| 4.5 : Andre Russell to Liam Livingstone, Liam Livingstone stays back and guides this length ball past point. One taken. |
| 4.6 : Andre Russell to Shikhar Dhawan, FOUR! Andre Russell gives away 19 runs off his first over. Back of a length, on off. Shikhar Dhawan goes for the pull shot but top-edges it over short fine. Suyash Sharma runs after it but the ball lands safely. Eventually, it also sneaks into the boundary. 50 up for Punjab. |
| Varun Chakaravarthy is into the attack now. |
| 5.1 : Varun Chakaravarthy to Liam Livingstone, Starts with a flatter one on middle, Liam Livingstone just nudges it in front of mid-wicket and picks up a single. |
| 5.2 : Varun Chakaravarthy to Shikhar Dhawan, Floated up from the around the stumps, full and around off. Shikhar Dhawan punches it off the front foot to mid off for a run. |
| 5.3 : Varun Chakaravarthy to Liam Livingstone, OUT! LBW! A ripper of a delivery from Varun Chakaravarthy and Liam Livingstone has been adjudged out LBW. Livingstone though has a chat with his skipper and reviews it. The UltraEdge is checked first and there's no bat involved. Ball Tracking comes up with the wickets as umpire's call and the on-field decision stands. Coming to the delivery, Varun bowls this one from the back of the hand and angles it in quicker onto off and middle. Livingstone get |
| 5.4 : Varun Chakaravarthy to Jitesh Sharma, Around middle and turning in, Jitesh Sharma pushes tentatively at it and ends up lobbing the ball in front of mid on for a single. |
| 5.3 : Who walks in? It is Jitesh Sharma. There is a slight delay caused due to some issue with the bail. |
| 5.5 : Varun Chakaravarthy to Shikhar Dhawan, NA tad short and wide, Shikhar Dhawan cuts it off the back foot to point. |
| 5.6 : Varun Chakaravarthy to Shikhar Dhawan, FOUR! Nicely played! Angled in flatter and onto middle and leg, Shikhar Dhawan gets down on one knee and gets inside the line to sweep it through backward square leg for a boundary. After the Powerplay, Punjab are 58/3! |
| 6.1 : Suyash Sharma to Jitesh Sharma, Suyash Sharma comes into the attack now and starts with a shortish delivery on off stump. Jitesh Sharma mistimes the pull off the back foot and gets it through mid-wicket for one. |
| 6.2 : Suyash Sharma to Shikhar Dhawan, Lovely delivery! On a nagging length around off and this one turns and bounces, going away from the left-hander. Shikhar Dhawan looks to play at it but is well beaten. |
| 6.3 : Suyash Sharma to Shikhar Dhawan, Beaten! Gives it more air and bowls it fuller around off, the ball grips and turns away sharply. Shikhar Dhawan looks to block but the zips past the outside edge. |
| 6.5 : Suyash Sharma to Shikhar Dhawan, Short and over middle and elg, pulled away off the back foot toward deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 6.4 : Suyash Sharma to Shikhar Dhawan, FOUR BYES! Through everyone! Quicker and fuller around off, turning in this time. Shikhar Dhawan looks to play at it but is beaten on the inside edge and the ball goes through the keeper's legs into the boundary. |
| 6.6 : Suyash Sharma to Jitesh Sharma, Tossed up around off, Jitesh Sharma pushes it out toward cover. |
| 7.1 : Varun Chakaravarthy to Shikhar Dhawan, Nagging length on off stump, Shikhar Dhawan goes back in his crease and flicks it 'round the corner for a run. |
| 7.2 : Varun Chakaravarthy to Jitesh Sharma, Flatter one around off, Jitesh Sharma eases it in front of cover-point and looks for one but is sent back by his partner. |
| 7.3 : Varun Chakaravarthy to Jitesh Sharma, Quicker and flatter on middle, Jitesh Sharma forces it down to long on and picks up a single. |
| 7.4 : Varun Chakaravarthy to Shikhar Dhawan, Bowls it quicker and fuller and throws it wide of the off stump. Shikhar Dhawan looks to drag and sweep but gets a big inside edge onto the back leg. |
| 7.5 : Varun Chakaravarthy to Shikhar Dhawan, A tad shorter around off, punched away onto the off side. |
| 7.6 : Varun Chakaravarthy to Shikhar Dhawan, FOUR! Deft touch from Shikhar Dhawan. Flatter delivery around off, Dhawan hangs back and opens the face of the bat late to guide it past short third man for a boundary. |
| 8.1 : Suyash Sharma to Jitesh Sharma, Almost! Suyash Sharma gives this one some flight and bowls it full around off stump. Jitesh Sharma throws the kitchen sink at it as he looks to clobber it away but gets a big inside edge past the stumps and toward short fine leg. They get a single. |
| 8.2 : Suyash Sharma to Shikhar Dhawan, Turn again! Floated up outside off and Shikhar Dhawan looks to hammer it through cover but is beaten by the huge amount of turn away from him. |
| 8.3 : Suyash Sharma to Shikhar Dhawan, Full and outside off, Shikhar Dhawan reverse-sweeps it well but straight to the man at short third man. |
| 8.4 : Suyash Sharma to Shikhar Dhawan, Short and wide, cut away hard toward deep point for a single. |
| 8.6 : Suyash Sharma to Jitesh Sharma, On the shorter side around middle and leg, pushed away in front of mid-wicket for a run. |
| Strategic break! What a recovery this has been by the hosts! Punjab were off to a flier, with Prabhsimran Singh smacking three boundaries off the very first delivery. Dhawan did not shy away as well and both the openers capitalised on the pace bowling, although Harshit Rana took the matter into his own hands and struck twice in his first two overs to hurt the opposition. Nevertheless, the runs continued to flow for Punjab. Although, the Kolkata spinners now have done well to put a lid over the |
| 9.1 : Sunil Narine to Jitesh Sharma, Sunil Narine tosses this one up down the leg side, Jitesh Sharma looks to sweep it away but seems to have missed it. Rahmanullah Gurbaz makes a sharp grab to his left and there is a noise on it. There is a big appeal for caught behind but it is turned down. Rahmanullah Gurbaz seems convinced and Nitish Rana does review it. Nothing on UltraEdge and the ball clipped the pad, so, the on-field decision of Not Out stands. |
| 9.2 : Sunil Narine to Jitesh Sharma, On the pads, nudged away toward leg gully for a single. |
| 9.3 : Sunil Narine to Shikhar Dhawan, Nicely tossed up, full and outside off, Shikhar Dhawan steps out and looks to go over cover but gets an inside edge onto the pads. |
| 9.4 : Sunil Narine to Shikhar Dhawan, Flatter one outside off, cut away toward point. |
| 9.6 : Sunil Narine to Jitesh Sharma, Slightly shorter and outside off, Jitesh Sharma eases it down to long off for one more. |
| 9.5 : Sunil Narine to Shikhar Dhawan, Flighted delivery around off, Shikhar Dhawan brings out the reverse sweep once again and gets it to the right of short third man. The fielder there gets down and makes a half-stop, keeping it down to just a single. |
| 10.1 : Suyash Sharma to Jitesh Sharma, Floated and full, on off. Sharma pushes it back to the bowler. |
| 10.2 : Suyash Sharma to Jitesh Sharma, SIX! High and handsome! This is what the doctor ordered for Punjab. It is flighted and full, on off. Jitesh Sharma gets low and smokes it over the square leg fence for a maximum. |
| 10.3 : Suyash Sharma to Jitesh Sharma, On off, defended out. |
| 10.4 : Suyash Sharma to Jitesh Sharma, Darted on the pads, Sharma tucks it to mid-wicket for one. |
| 10.5 : Suyash Sharma to Shikhar Dhawan, FOUR! Shikhar Dhawan now joins the party. A low full toss, outside off. Shikhar Dhawan reverse sweeps it over backward point. It races away. |
| 10.6 : Suyash Sharma to Shikhar Dhawan, Swing and a miss! Floated and full, outside off, turning away. Shikhar Dhawan tries to block it away but gets beaten on the outside edge. 11 runs off the over. |
| 11.1 : Sunil Narine to Jitesh Sharma, A single now as Jitesh Sharma uses his feet and whips this full ball to deep mid-wicket. |
| 11.2 : Sunil Narine to Shikhar Dhawan, FOUR! Excellent shot. Shikhar Dhawan moves into his 40s. It is floated and full, outside off. Shikhar Dhawan changes his stance and reverse sweeps it over point. One bounce and over the ropes. |
| 11.3 : Sunil Narine to Shikhar Dhawan, FOUR! Through the gap this time. It is full, outside off. Dhawan gets low and drags his sweep behind square on the leg side for four runs. These two are turning on the heat now for Punjab. |
| 11.4 : Sunil Narine to Shikhar Dhawan, Flatter, on off, blocked out. |
| 11.5 : Sunil Narine to Shikhar Dhawan, Pushed through quicker, on off. Dhawan taps it to point and crosses. |
| 11.6 : Sunil Narine to Jitesh Sharma, WIDE! Sunil Narine has to reload this one as he spills it way outside off, past the tramline. |
| Sunil Narine to Jitesh Sharma, Slower one, full and on off. Sharma pushes it to point. 11 runs come from this over as well. So, 22 off the last two. Punjab are getting back in this game. |
| 12.1 : Varun Chakaravarthy to Shikhar Dhawan, Varun Chakaravarthy comes 'round the wicket and serves an arm ball, around middle. Shikhar Dhawan defends it out solidly. |
| 0.0 : Varun Chakaravarthy (2-0-13-1) is back on. |
| 12.2 : Varun Chakaravarthy to Shikhar Dhawan, WIDE! Very full, sliding down leg. The umpire extends his arms. |
| Varun Chakaravarthy to Shikhar Dhawan, Short and on off. Dhawan pulls it to deep mid-wicket. It meets the fielder on a bounce. One taken. |
| A slight halt in the play as Rahmanullah Gurbaz is hit in the groin area and is down in some pain. The physio comes out and Gurbaz is good to go. |
| 12.3 : Sam Curran is the new batter in. |
| 12.4 : Varun Chakaravarthy to Sam Curran, Sam Curran is off the mark! Full toss, on off. Curran plays it down to long on for one. |
| 12.3 : Varun Chakaravarthy to Jitesh Sharma, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Rahmanullah Gurbaz takes a sharp catch standing up to the stumps. Varun Chakaravarthy gets his second wicket, this time to get rid of a dangerous Jitesh Sharma. It is a leg-breaker, outside off. Jitesh Sharma tries to play it cute, by opening the face of the bat late. Although, he only manages to get a feather on it. Rahmanullah Gurbaz makes an easy work of it. |
| 12.5 : Varun Chakaravarthy to Shikhar Dhawan, Angled in around middle. Dhawan flicks it through the gap at mid-wicket for one. |
| 12.6 : Varun Chakaravarthy to Sam Curran, Very full, outside off. Curran pushes it gently to extra cover. One taken. |
| 13.1 : Sunil Narine to Sam Curran, Fuller, coming in with the arm, on off. Curran defends it out. |
| 13.2 : Sunil Narine to Sam Curran, On leg stump. Curran clips it through mid-wicket for one. |
| 13.3 : Sunil Narine to Shikhar Dhawan, SIX! Fifty up for the Punjab skipper. He gets his half-to in fine fashion. It is tossed up, outside off. Dhawan shuffles, gets low and slogs it over the square leg fence for a maximum. |
| 13.4 : Sunil Narine to Shikhar Dhawan, Shikhar Dhawan tries to go for the reverse sweep but does not time it well this time. He lobs it towards point, although it does not carry. |
| 13.5 : Sunil Narine to Shikhar Dhawan, A single now as Dhawan plays this full ball down the park. |
| 13.6 : Sunil Narine to Sam Curran, Shorter, outside off. Curran punches it to backward point, but could not find the gap. |
| 14.4 : Nitish Rana to Shikhar Dhawan, OUT! CAUGHT! Nitish Rana does the trick for his side. The Kolkata skipper puts his hand up this time and has the final laugh here. He gets rid of a set-batter. Much-needed wicket for his side. It is floated and full, around off. Shikhar Dhawan tries to go downtown but does not get enough power on his shot. The ball flies straight down the throat of Vaibhav Arora at long on, who takes a sharp catch. |
| 14.1 : Nitish Rana to Shikhar Dhawan, Shikhar Dhawan uses his feet and blocks this one back to the bowler. |
| 14.2 : Nitish Rana to Shikhar Dhawan, Floated, on leg. Dhawan sweeps it behind square on the leg side. |
| 14.3 : Nitish Rana to Shikhar Dhawan, Much fuller, on middle and leg. Dhawan inside edges it down to fine leg. They take two runs. |
| Rishi Dhawan walks out to bat now. |
| 14.5 : Nitish Rana to Rishi Dhawan, FOUR! Rishi Dhawan is not here to waste time. He winds up first ball and gets a boundary. Tossed up, on middle. Dhawan flicks it over mid-wicket and finds the fence. |
| 14.6 : Nitish Rana to Rishi Dhawan, Fuller, on off. Rishi Dhawan taps it out to mid off for a single. A successful over from Rana comes to an end. |
| 15.1 : Sunil Narine to Rishi Dhawan, Flatter one close to the off stump, Rishi Dhawan waits for it and just nudges it fine of the man at short third man for a couple of runs. Good running! |
| 15.2 : Sunil Narine to Rishi Dhawan, Bowled fuller and on off stump, Rishi Dhawan pushes it through mid on and collects a single. |
| 15.3 : Sunil Narine to Sam Curran, Nicely tossed up, from around the stumps and outside off, Sam Curran drives it firmly toward extra cover. |
| 15.4 : Sunil Narine to Sam Curran, Drops it a bit short and Sam Curran muscles it away in front of deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 15.5 : Sunil Narine to Rishi Dhawan, Floated up around off, Rishi Dhawan leans on and works it away in front of square on the leg side for a couple of runs more. |
| 15.6 : Sunil Narine to Rishi Dhawan, Shorter one over off stump, this is guided off the back foot and wide of the man at short third man for a run. |
| 16.1 : Varun Chakaravarthy to Rishi Dhawan, SIX! BANG! Rishi Dhawan is playing a bit of a blinder here. This is short on leg stump, Dhawan picks up the length early and pulls it flat over the square leg fence for a maximum. |
| 16.2 : Varun Chakaravarthy to Rishi Dhawan, Goes full and quick now around off, Rishi Dhawan drives it nicely but the man at extra cover makes a sharp stop down to his right. |
| 16.3 : Varun Chakaravarthy to Rishi Dhawan, A tad short and wide, Rishi Dhawan goes after it but hits it straight toward backward point. |
| 0.0 : Strategic break! Punjab have lost 5 wickets, and find themselves with two new batters at the crease. Although, we are already in the death overs and Punjab cannot afford to waste any more time here. They need boundaries and that too aplenty. For Kolkata, their spinners have done extremely well to take the momentum away from the opposition. It is all about mantaining the pressure. |
| 16.4 : Varun Chakaravarthy to Rishi Dhawan, A bit of a drag down and well outside off, Rishi Dhawan drags it without much timing and through mid-wicket before racing back for the second run. There is a check for a short run but its fine. |
| 16.5 : Varun Chakaravarthy to Rishi Dhawan, OUT! TIMBER! Varun Chakaravarthy with a great comeback and he gives Rishi Dhawan a bit of a stare as well. This is pushed through quicker, at 101 clicks and a touch fuller on off stump. Dhawan gets down on one knee and looks for the slog sweep but is beaten on length as well as for pace. The ball sneaks through before castling into the stumps and Dhawan departs after a decent cameo. |
| Shahrukh Khan is the new batter in. |
| 16.6 : Varun Chakaravarthy to Shahrukh Khan, Drifted in full and around off, Shahrukh Khan pushes it to the right of the bowler who makes a diving stop. |
| 17.1 : Suyash Sharma to Sam Curran, Lovely delivery! Nice bit of flight on this time, bowled fuller and just around off. Sam Curran leans on to make a block but the ball turns away and just goes past the outside edge. |
| 17.2 : Suyash Sharma to Sam Curran, OUT! TAKEN! Another one bites the dust and its yet another catch for Rahmanullah Gurbaz with the gloves on. Suyash Sharma tosses this one up on a length and on middle and leg. Sam Curran gets down on one knee and looks to slog it away but mistimes it completely. The ball takes the top edge and goes high toward short mid-wicket. The bowler runs toward it but the keeper calls for it and takes a brilliant catch. |
| 17.3 : Suyash Sharma to Harpreet Brar, Shorter and around off, pushed away through wide mid off for a single. |
| 17.2 : Harpreet Brar is the new batter at the crease. |
| 17.4 : Suyash Sharma to Shahrukh Khan, WIDE! Dragged down a bit and angled down the leg side. Shahrukh Khan misses the tuck and a wide is called. |
| Suyash Sharma to Shahrukh Khan, Flatter on middle and leg, this is turned away through square leg for a run. |
| 17.5 : Suyash Sharma to Harpreet Brar, Big turn! Shorter and around off, Harpreet Brar looks to rock back and cut but the ball grips and stops before turning a long way away from the batter. Brar is beaten on the inside edge. |
| 17.6 : Suyash Sharma to Harpreet Brar, Another googly, short and turning away from around off, Harpreet Brar reaches out and gets it down to long off for a single. |
| Change. Vaibhav Arora now comes back into the attack. |
| 18.1 : Vaibhav Arora to Harpreet Brar, FOUR! Streaky but will do nicely! Pitched up around off, angling away. Harpreet Brar backs away and looks to open up the off side but gets it off the outer half of the bat over short third man and into the fence for a boundary. |
| 18.2 : Vaibhav Arora to Harpreet Brar, A good short ball, over leg stump and Harpreet Brar just about manages to hook it past backward square leg for a run. |
| 18.4 : Vaibhav Arora to Shahrukh Khan, Full and wide, gets it in the blockhole. Shahrukh Khan squeezes it away down to third man and picks up a single. |
| 18.5 : Vaibhav Arora to Harpreet Brar, Well bowled! Harpreet Brar pre-meditates a bit as he shuffles past the leg stump and tries to step out. Vaibhav Arora sees him coming and follows him with aa full one. Brar misses and Rahmanullah Gurbaz under-arms the throw onto the stumps as well, Brar is well in though. |
| 18.6 : Vaibhav Arora to Harpreet Brar, WIDE! Full again but spilled well down the leg side for a wide. |
| Vaibhav Arora to Harpreet Brar, FOUR! A third boundary in the over and 15 runs come off it, a good one for Punjab. Just misses the yorker and serves a low full toss outside off. Harpreet Brar gets under it and thumps it over mid off for a boundary. |
| 19.1 : Harshit Rana to Shahrukh Khan, SIX! BOOM! Harshit Rana serves it in the slot around off, Shahrukh Khan gets under it and gets a hold of it as well, launching it right back over the bowler's head for a biggie. Also, Kolkata have an additional fielder inside the ring for the final over due to a slow over rate. |
| 19.2 : Harshit Rana to Shahrukh Khan, FOUR! Short and wide, there to be hit. Shahrukh Khan stands tall and slaps it away wide of point and picks up a boundary. 10 off the first two deliveries! |
| 19.3 : Harshit Rana to Shahrukh Khan, FOUR! Another boundary and all of a sudden, Punjab inching close to the 180 mark. This is on a good length and around off, nothing wrong with the delivery, Shahrukh Khan throws his hands at it and gets a thick outside edge over short third man for a boundary. |
| 19.4 : Harshit Rana to Shahrukh Khan, Top delivery! nails the inswinging yorker at 144.4 clicks and gets it around middle. Shahrukh Khan jams it out on the off side for a single. |
| 19.5 : Harshit Rana to Harpreet Brar, SIX! That is into the crowd! A length ball, right in the slot around middle and leg. Harpreet Brar gets the front leg out of the way and smokes it a long way over the mid-wicket fence for a biggie. |
| 19.6 : Harshit Rana to Harpreet Brar, Ends with a dot but 21 runs come off the final over and Punjab take a bit of momentum into the chase. Oh, wait! There is a review for a wide call. Harshit Rana bowls it full and wide, Harpreet Brar moves leg side and tries to slap it over point but misses. The replays show that Brar moved and the ball is also within the tramline and hence, it will be a dot ball. Punjab finish with 179/7 on the board! |
| Punjab are able to get 179 runs on the board, thanks to the onslaught by Shahrukh Khan and Harpreet Brar in the final two overs. They racked up 36 runs off the final 12 balls of the inning to head back into the break with the momentum on their side. Kolkata though would be gutted with their performance in the death overs. |
| Punjab were off to a promising start, Prabhsimran Singh made his intent clear from the get go, but could not continue for long. The visitors lost two wickets inside the first 4 overs. Liam Livingstone came at the crease, hit a few lusty blows but slipped out eventually. Only, Shikhar Dhawan stood out with the bat with his fifty but he lost his wicket at the brink of death overs. Nevertheless, their lower-middle order flexed their muscles and put a commanding total on the scoreboard. |
| Off the 20 overs, 13 overs well bowled by the spinners. The spin trio of Sunil Narine, Suyash Sharma and Varun Chakaravarthy did extremely well to keep things under control in the middle over. They even put a lid over the run rate. Nitish Rana then surprised us all, when he got himself into the attack and got rid of the opposition skipper at a crucial juncture of the game. Although, the fast-bowlers could not keep things tight with the ball and leaked aplenty. |
| Varun Chakaravarthy is in for a chat. He says that taking pace off the ball was working well in the first half but after the 12th over, it didn't turn much and the wicket is getting more flatter. Adds that it was a good decision to bowl first and ends by saying that he is confident that their batters will chase it down. |
| Okay then, Kolkata bowlers have done their job. The onus now is on their batters to chase this target down on this batting paradise and walk back home with two crucial points by the end of it. Punjab though have some incredible bowlers in their rank, and would be aiming to pick a couple of early wickets here. Do join us for the second essay shortly. |
| 8.5 : Suyash Sharma to Jitesh Sharma, SIX! Jitesh Sharma has had enough and frees his arms now. A real drag down by Suyash Sharma outside off, Jitesh rocks back and bludgeons it over the long on fence for a biggie. |
| 18.3 : Vaibhav Arora to Shahrukh Khan, FOUR! Short and bowled into the pitch outside off, Shahrukh Khan gets on top of the bounce and pulls it brilliantly past square leg for a boundary. The 150 is now up for Punjab. |
| 19.6 : ... The Run Chase ... |
| We are back for Kolkata's reply. |
| 0.1 : Rishi Dhawan to Jason Roy, Off the mark right away! Rishi Dhawan starts with a good-length ball around middle, Jason Roy pushes it gently in front of mid on and gets across for a quick single. Kolkata are underway! |
| 0.2 : Rishi Dhawan to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Just a fraction short and outside off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz stays back and taps it in front of point. |
| 0.3 : Rishi Dhawan to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, A bit of movement off the deck! On the shorter side and outside off, seaming further away. Rahmanullah Gurbaz slashes hard at it but misses. |
| 0.4 : Rishi Dhawan to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, On a good length over middle, Rahmanullah Gurbaz steps out and heaves it over the mid-wicket region. There's not much timing on it and the fielder from inside the ring chases it down and saves a run for his side. |
| 0.5 : Rishi Dhawan to Jason Roy, Length again, in that channel around off and shaping away, Jason Roy watchfully eases it toward cover-point. |
| 0.6 : Rishi Dhawan to Jason Roy, Hard length outside off, Jason Roy swings hard at it but gets an inside edge toward short mid-wicket. The batters scamper through for one. |
| 1.1 : Arshdeep Singh to Jason Roy, FOUR! Good swing but an even better shot from Jason Roy. This is a bit fuller on leg stump and swinging back in, Roy just flicks it away in front of mid-wicket and pierces the gap for the first boundary of the chase. |
| 0.6 : Arshdeep Singh to share the new ball. |
| 1.2 : Arshdeep Singh to Jason Roy, A bit of zip on that one! Hard length angled across the right-hander and getting some additional bounce off the deck. Jason Roy looks to play at it but is beaten. |
| 1.3 : Arshdeep Singh to Jason Roy, Fraction shorter and angling across the off stump, Jason Roy slashes at it but fails to connect. |
| 1.4 : Arshdeep Singh to Jason Roy, Back of a length and close to the off stump, Jason Roy looks to cut close from the body but gets an inside edge to the left of the keeper and picks up a single. |
| 1.5 : Arshdeep Singh to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Nicely bowled! Pitches this one up right around the off stump and gets it to move away just a touch. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is drawn forward to block but is beaten on the outside edge. |
| 1.6 : Arshdeep Singh to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Good length around off and angling away, Rahmanullah Gurbaz swats it away in front of mid on and looks for one but doesn't get it. |
| 2.1 : Rishi Dhawan to Jason Roy, FOUR! Jason Roy comes forward and picks the slower one before playing a controlled pull shot well in front of mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 2.2 : Rishi Dhawan to Jason Roy, Swing and a miss! Back of a length and around off, angling in. Jason Roy comes down the track and looks to hammer it over long on but is well beaten. Jitesh Sharma under-arms the ball back onto the stumps but Roy manages to get back with ease. |
| 2.3 : Rishi Dhawan to Jason Roy, A bit of frustration from Jason Roy as he fails to connect again. A touch slower and shorter, close to the off stump, Roy looks to guide it off the back foot but misses. |
| 2.4 : Rishi Dhawan to Jason Roy, FOUR! Easy pickings! Length ball on the pads, Jason Roy helps it away wide of the man at short fine leg for a boundary. |
| 2.5 : Rishi Dhawan to Jason Roy, Back of a length around off and nipping away, Jason Roy firms it away off the back foot and to the right of the man at cover. The fielder there gets a hand on it and keeps it down to a single. |
| 2.6 : Rishi Dhawan to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Bowls this one right in the blockhole around off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz digs it out in front of mid on and gets across for a run. |
| 3.1 : Arshdeep Singh to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, SIX! Wow, what a shot! On a good length and angling across the off stump. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is quick to shuffle across and get inside the line before whipping it over the backward square leg fence for a maximum. |
| 3.2 : Arshdeep Singh to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, FOUR! Hammered away! Arshdeep Singh bowls a good full ball on off stump and gets it to swing back in but Rahmanullah Gurbaz plays a solid straight drive past his partner at the other end and picks up a boundary. |
| 3.3 : Arshdeep Singh to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, WIDE! A quick bumper now, around leg stump and Rahmanullah Gurbaz misses the hook shot. A wide is called though. |
| Arshdeep Singh to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Shorter and outside off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz gets across and slaps it away over cover-point and on the bounce to the fielder in the deep for a single. |
| 3.4 : Arshdeep Singh to Jason Roy, A very full delivery on off stump, Jason Roy leans on and drives it on the full to the right of mid off where Shikhar Dhawan makes a sharp stop. |
| 3.5 : Arshdeep Singh to Jason Roy, Bowls it slower and shorter and also pushes it well outside the off stump. Jason Roy has to reach for it and toe ends it to mid off. |
| 3.6 : Arshdeep Singh to Jason Roy, FOUR! Swatted away! Another slower short ball well outside the off stump. Jason Roy doesn't move his feet and has to reach for it but manages to get it uppishly and through extra cover for a boundary. |
| 4.1 : Nathan Ellis to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Nathan Ellis comes into the attack now and starts off with a good-length delivery on middle. Rahmanullah Gurbaz tentatively blocks it out. |
| 4.2 : Nathan Ellis to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Leg bye! Full and angling on the pads, Rahmanullah Gurbaz misses the flick and the ball goes off his pads toward backward square leg. They get a leg bye. |
| 4.3 : Nathan Ellis to Jason Roy, Slower one, around the top of off, Jason Roy has to wait for it a bit before easing it through cover for a single. |
| 4.4 : Nathan Ellis to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, OUT! LBW! A loud appeal for LBW from Nathan Ellis and the finger goes up. Rahmanullah Gurbaz though opts for the review. Brilliant change of pace from Ellis as he bowls it at just 110 clicks and gets it full and straight as well. Gurbaz comes forward and tries to flick it away but misses and gets struck right in front. UltraEdge shows that there's no bat on it and Ball Tracking comes up with three reds. The on-field decision stands and Ellis picks up a |
| Nitish Rana is the new man at the crease. |
| 4.5 : Nathan Ellis to Nitish Rana, Hard length, angles it across the left-hander. Nitish Rana stands tall and taps it toward cover-point. |
| 4.6 : Nathan Ellis to Nitish Rana, Pace on this time, full and on the stumps, this is worked away through mid-wicket for one. |
| 5.1 : Sam Curran to Nitish Rana, A length ball, in the channel. Rana shuffles and tucks it to the leg side. |
| 5.2 : Sam Curran to Nitish Rana, FOUR! Up and over! Rana gets his first boundary of the chase. Back of a length, on off. Rana swivels and pulls it towards cow corner. There is no man there in the deep and it easily crosses the ropes. |
| 5.3 : Sam Curran to Nitish Rana, Very full, on off. Rana dabs it to backward point. There is an overthrow and the batters sneak a single. |
| 5.4 : Sam Curran to Jason Roy, On a length, angled across. Roy slashes it to point, but could not find the gap. |
| 5.5 : Sam Curran to Jason Roy, FOUR! Freebie really for Roy. It is a length ball, on the pads. Roy stays back and flicks it behind square on the leg side. He finds the gap this time and the boundary as well. |
| 5.6 : Sam Curran to Jason Roy, FOUR! Jason Roy is having a lot of fun at his home venue. He is loving life in Eden Gardens. Back of a length, on middle. Roy gets on top of it and pulls it powerfully through mid-wicket for four runs. |
| 6.1 : Liam Livingstone to Nitish Rana, A single now as Rana pushes this into covers. |
| 6.2 : Liam Livingstone to Jason Roy, Looped up, full and on middle. Roy gets the reverse hit out but could not time it at all. |
| 6.3 : Liam Livingstone to Jason Roy, Short one, outside off. Roy backs away and slaps it through cover-point. One taken. |
| 6.4 : Liam Livingstone to Nitish Rana, On the pads, Rana nudges it into mid-wicket for one. |
| 6.5 : Liam Livingstone to Jason Roy, FOUR! Roy races away to 34 runs now. A full toss, way outside leg. Jason Roy gets low and helps it down to fine leg for four runs. |
| 6.6 : Liam Livingstone to Jason Roy, FOUR! Consecutive boundaries to end the over with! Liam Livingstone gives away 11 runs in his first over. Back of a length, outside off. Jason Roy stays back and crunches it through cover-point for a cracking boundary. |
| 7.1 : Harpreet Brar to Nitish Rana, Nitish Rana pushes this full ball into covers and rotates the strike. |
| 0.0 : Harpreet Brar comes into the attack now. |
| 7.2 : Venkatesh Iyer walks out at number 4. |
| 7.3 : Harpreet Brar to Venkatesh Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer is off the mark straightaway. Full, wide of off. Iyer slices it over covers for one. |
| 7.4 : Harpreet Brar to Nitish Rana, Nitish Rana now rotates the strike as he nudges this full one to mid on. |
| 7.2 : Harpreet Brar to Jason Roy, OUT! CAUGHT! Harpreet Brar comes into the attack and makes an instant impact as he gets rid of Jason Roy who was looking to be in incredible form. It is tossed up, around off. Jason Roy gets down on one knee and slog sweeps it to deep mid-wicket. Although, he does not get the desired distance on it. Shahrukh Khan in the deep completes the catch and spreads some kind of discomfort amongst the home fans. |
| 7.5 : Harpreet Brar to Venkatesh Iyer, Iyer now pushes this full ball into covers for another single. |
| 7.6 : Harpreet Brar to Nitish Rana, Very full, outside off. Rana tries to chase it but only manages to get an inside edge on it. A wicket-taking over from Harpreet Brar comes to an end. |
| Strategic break! This game is very well-contested thus far and neither side has a clear advantage at the moment. Kolkata have managed to stay in and around the required rate but have lost a couple of wickets and need to do a bit of rebuilding. Punjab will be hoping their spinners make a big impact in the middle phase and strangle the opposition batters. A crucial phase of play awaits and it will be interesting to see which side gets ahead in the game. |
| 8.1 : Nathan Ellis to Venkatesh Iyer, On a length, around off. Iyer punches it to sweeper cover for one. |
| 8.2 : Nathan Ellis to Nitish Rana, Good length, on the pads. Rana nudges it to mid-wicket and crosses for one. |
| 8.3 : Nathan Ellis to Venkatesh Iyer, Much fuller, on off. Iyer pushes it into covers for one more. |
| 8.4 : Nathan Ellis to Nitish Rana, Good length, angling across, outside off. Rana guides it through backward point. The batters take a sinlge. This has been a solid over from Ellis so far. |
| 8.5 : Nathan Ellis to Venkatesh Iyer, Nathan Ellis continues to keep things tight. Only 5 singles off the 5 balls. A length ball, on off. Iyer knocks it through the gap at covers for a single. |
| 8.6 : Nathan Ellis to Nitish Rana, Rana cuts this short one to sweeper cover and takes another single. A tidy over from Ellis comes to an end. |
| 9.1 : Rahul Chahar to Nitish Rana, Loopy ball, on middle, Rana flicks it to mid-wicket for one. |
| 9.2 : Rahul Chahar to Venkatesh Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer now rotates the strike as he nudges this full ball into the leg side. |
| 9.3 : Rahul Chahar to Nitish Rana, Full, on leg. Rana drags his sweep to square leg. |
| 9.4 : Rahul Chahar to Nitish Rana, Fuller, on middle. Rana does not read it on time and mistimes his shot. |
| 9.5 : Rahul Chahar to Nitish Rana, On leg, swept to backward square leg. |
| 9.6 : Rahul Chahar to Nitish Rana, A single to end the over. Short and on off. Rana knocks it down to long off for a single. |
| 10.1 : Liam Livingstone to Nitish Rana, FOUR! This is tossed up on off stump, Nitish Rana leans on and hits through the line of the ball over the bowler's head for a boundary. |
| 10.2 : Liam Livingstone to Nitish Rana, FOUR! Top shot! Drifted in from around off, Nitish Rana skips down the track and lofts it inside-out over extra cover to make it two boundaries in a row. |
| 10.3 : Liam Livingstone to Nitish Rana, SIX! Crunched! Drops it short now does Liam Livingstone and bowls it around off. Nitish Rana muscles it off the back foot and gets it over the cow corner fence for a maximum. 14 off the over already. |
| 10.4 : Liam Livingstone to Nitish Rana, Much better from Liam Livingstone. Flights this one up, on a nagging length and around off. Nitish Rana is drawn forward but the ball grips and turns past the outside edge. |
| 10.5 : Liam Livingstone to Nitish Rana, Around middle and leg, nudged away in front of mid-wicket for a single. |
| 10.6 : Liam Livingstone to Venkatesh Iyer, Nicely floated up on off and middle, Liam Livingstone strokes it down to long on for a single. |
| 11.1 : Rahul Chahar to Venkatesh Iyer, Quicker and flatter outside off, dabbed away down toward short third man. |
| 11.2 : Rahul Chahar to Venkatesh Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer steps out and looks to flick away a fuller delivery but gets a leading edge through extra cover for one. |
| 11.3 : Rahul Chahar to Nitish Rana, On the pads, Nitish Rana works it away nicely in the gap at mid-wicket and races back for the second run. |
| 11.4 : Rahul Chahar to Nitish Rana, A wrong'un now, on a nagging length around middle and turning away. Nitish Rana stays back and nudges it in front of mid-wicket for a single. |
| 11.5 : Rahul Chahar to Venkatesh Iyer, Pushed through a bit quicker and flatter on middle, Venkatesh Iyer awkwardly fends it away toward wide mid off and rotates the strike. |
| 11.6 : Rahul Chahar to Nitish Rana, Around middle and leg, this is worked away off the back foot to deep mid-wicket for one more. |
| 12.1 : Sam Curran to Nitish Rana, FOUR! Edged away! Full and outside off, Nitish Rana with a flashy drive but the ball takes the outside edge and races away into the third man fence. |
| 12.2 : Sam Curran to Nitish Rana, A slower one now, on a good length and pushed well outside off. Nitish Rana tries to go after it but misses and no wide is called. Rana seems displeased with the call but doesn't review it. |
| 12.3 : Sam Curran to Nitish Rana, WIDE! A bit fuller and just spilled beyond the tramline outside off, Nitish Rana leaves it alone and now a wide is called. |
| Sam Curran to Nitish Rana, Very full, a low full toss infact and outside off, Nitish Rana leans on and drives it to sweeper cover for a single. |
| 12.4 : Sam Curran to Venkatesh Iyer, Full and pushed well wide of the off stump, Venkatesh Iyer reaches out and gets it away in front of covers for a quick single. |
| 12.5 : Sam Curran to Nitish Rana, Gets it full and wide, on a perfect length as well. Nitish Rana jams the cover drive straight to the fielder at extra cover. |
| 12.6 : Sam Curran to Nitish Rana, FOUR! Full and wide again, Nitish Rana drives it firmly and square of the wicket toward the cover-point fence. Nathan Ellis from deep cover runs to his right and slides in to save a couple of runs for his side. It seems like Ellis touched the ropes while getting up and the replays confirm the same, so, it will be a boundary. |
| 13.1 : Rahul Chahar to Venkatesh Iyer, Good running! Quicker and pushed through fuller on the legs, Venkatesh Iyer sweeps it down to short fine leg and scampers across for one. |
| 13.2 : Rahul Chahar to Nitish Rana, FOUR! Punished! Short and just a bit wide, Nitish Rana picks up the length early and rocks back before cutting it hard in front of point for a boundary. |
| 13.3 : Rahul Chahar to Nitish Rana, Slows it up a touch and bowls it around leg stump, Nitish Rana sweeps it toward square leg for a single. |
| 13.5 : Rahul Chahar to Andre Russell, Short and wide outside off, cut away straight toward point. |
| 13.6 : Rahul Chahar to Andre Russell, Way too short and well outside off, Andre Russell throws his hands at it but gets an under edge toward short third man. Just the single then. |
| 13.4 : Andre Russell is the new man in. |
| 14.1 : Nathan Ellis to Andre Russell, On a fullish length and angled into middle and leg, Andre Russell stays back and tucks it away through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 13.4 : Rahul Chahar to Venkatesh Iyer, OUT! CAUGHT! A half-hearted attempt from Venkatesh Iyer to break the shackles but it doesn't come off. This is nicely bowled though by Rahul Chahar as he tosses it up and it is the googly as well. This is flighted around off and Iyer skips down the track trying to lift it over long off. Iyer gets beaten in the flight and by the turn as well and ends up slicing it high toward long off. Liam Livingstone there takes a solid catch and Kolkata lose their third |
| 14.2 : Nathan Ellis to Nitish Rana, Slower one, on a length and outside off. Nitish Rana backs away but then has to reach for it a bit and taps it in front of covers. |
| 14.3 : Nathan Ellis to Nitish Rana, Full and wide, right in the blockhole, Nitish Rana drives it firmly but straight to extra cover. |
| 14.4 : Nathan Ellis to Nitish Rana, Full and outside off again, Nitish Rana stays back but can't get under it. Rana drills it down to long off for just a single. |
| 14.5 : Nathan Ellis to Andre Russell, Brings out the bouncer now and bowls it outside off, Andre Russell backs away and tries to uppercut it but misses. |
| 14.6 : Nathan Ellis to Andre Russell, FOUR! Manages to get it away! A good slower bumper by Nathan Ellis, right around the batter's helmet. Andre Russell crouches a bit and just goes after it. The ball takes the top edge and just goes over the keeper and into the fine leg fence. 58 required now off 20 balls. |
| 15.1 : Rahul Chahar to Nitish Rana, A couple of runs to Nitish Rana and that will be a FIFTY for the Kolkata skipper, another top knock from him. This is tossed up, full and on the legs, Rana flicks it away in front of square leg and gets back for two. He will now look to guide his side over the line. |
| 15.2 : Rahul Chahar to Nitish Rana, OUT! CAUGHT! Nitish Rana could not complete the job for his side. He holes out after making his half-century. Liam Livingstone with a stunning sliding catch. Kolkata now are in a spot of bother. Poor, poor decision making from the Kolkata skipper. He only has himself to blame for his wicket. It is tossed up, around middle. Nitish Rana switches his stance and goes for the reverse hit. The ball though lobs over wide mid off. Liam Livingstone rushes to his rig |
| 15.3 : Rahul Chahar to Rinku Singh, Rinku Singh is off the mark! Flatter, on off. Singh nudges it through the leg side for one. |
| 15.2 : Strategic break! Right then, Kolkata were going along nicely but have lost a couple of quick wickets and this has handed the advantage to Punjab. 56 runs are needed off 28 balls but Andre Russell is out in the middle and with Rinku Singh still to come, Kolkata aren't out of it at all but will have to take an over or so to rebuild. Punjab will feel they are one more breakthrough away from getting a firm grip on the game and will look to get it at the earliest. Also, Rinku Singh walks out to ba |
| 15.4 : Rahul Chahar to Andre Russell, WIDE! Rahul Chahar has to reload this one as this ball spins sharply and goes past the tramline outside off. |
| Rahul Chahar to Andre Russell, Shorter, outside off, turning away slightly. Andre Russell tries to pull the trigger but get no bat on it. |
| 15.5 : Rahul Chahar to Andre Russell, Andre Russell now punches this full ball through the off side for a brace. |
| 15.6 : Rahul Chahar to Andre Russell, Short one, outside off. Andre Russell cuts it hard to deep point but only for a single. |
| Nathan Ellis (3-0-14-1) to bowl out... |
| 16.2 : Nathan Ellis to Andre Russell, Short one, on middle. Andre Russell mistimes his pull to wide of long on for a single. |
| 16.1 : Nathan Ellis to Andre Russell, FOUR! The crowd has come back to life with this boundary. Nathan Ellis follows Andre Russell down the leg side with a slower ball. Andre Russell reads it early and flicks it over square leg for four runs. Exceptional shot. |
| 16.3 : Nathan Ellis to Rinku Singh, SIX! BANG! Rinku Singh does what he does best. He finds the boundary at will. It is full, on leg. Rinku Singh gets low and smokes it over the square leg fence for a biggie. |
| 16.4 : Nathan Ellis to Rinku Singh, Short ball, Rinku Singh shuffles and pulls this to deep mid-wicket from outside off. One taken. |
| 16.5 : Nathan Ellis to Andre Russell, Very full, on leg. Andre Russell whips it down to long on for just a single. |
| 16.6 : Nathan Ellis to Rinku Singh, Back of a length, outside off. Rinku Singh cuts it hard to deep point for a brace. Kolkata are still in it, if these two get going. |
| Arshdeep Singh (2-0-21-0) is back on. |
| 17.1 : Arshdeep Singh to Andre Russell, Arshdeep Singh fires in a wide yorker, right on the money. Andre Russell throws the kitchen sink at it but gets nowhere near the ball. |
| 17.2 : Arshdeep Singh to Andre Russell, FOUR! The big man connects this time and the ball is going in only one direction, and that is the boundary. It is very full, sliding down leg. Andre Russell uses the angle and tickles it down to square leg. It races away to the fence. |
| 17.3 : Arshdeep Singh to Andre Russell, Andre Russell now slaps this length ball to deep point. It meets the fielder on a bounce. One taken. |
| 17.4 : Arshdeep Singh to Rinku Singh, FOUR! Rinku Singh doing the talking with the bat, with some rub of the green. He moves to 14 off just 5 balls. Arshdeep Singh follows the batter outside leg with a full ball. Rinku Singh gets an inside edge on it. The ball runs down to the fine leg fence. |
| 17.5 : Arshdeep Singh to Rinku Singh, The crowd at the Eden Gardens go silent. Arshdeep Singh bends his back hard and serves a bumper, on the bodyline. Rinku Singh tries to play the ramp shot but misses it completely. |
| 17.6 : Arshdeep Singh to Rinku Singh, Excellent end to the over by Arshdeep Singh. It is full, outside off. Rinku Singh flicks it along the ground through mid-wicket. One taken. |
| 18.1 : Sam Curran to Rinku Singh, Sam Curran fires in a yorker, outside off. Rinku Singh pushes it to covers and crosses for one. |
| 18.2 : Sam Curran to Andre Russell, SIX! Andre Russell puts this one in the stands. He says it is game on. It is very full, on the pads. Andre Russell just needed his wrists here to send it way back into the stands past the square leg fence. |
| 18.3 : Sam Curran to Andre Russell, SIX! BANG! DRE RUSS IS BACK! It is very full, on leg stump. Andre Russell clears his front leg and tonks it over the square leg fence. 13 now needed in 9 balls. |
| 18.4 : Sam Curran to Andre Russell, A dot! Rare one in this over! Back of a length, outside off. Andre Russell tries to play the upper cut but only connects with thin air. The big man thinks it should've been a wide but he does not challenge the decision. |
| 18.5 : Sam Curran to Andre Russell, SIX! ALL THE WAY! Flat and hard! Dre Russ you beauty. Back of a length ball, outside off. Andre Russell waits for it and slots it home for a biggie over the point fence. Sam Curran has been taken to the cleaners here. One more delivery to go. |
| 18.6 : Sam Curran to Andre Russell, Short one, outside off. Russell slaps it hard over covers. They take one as the ball meets the fielder on a bounce. |
| 19.1 : Arshdeep Singh to Andre Russell, Arshdeep Singh starts with a dot ball. It is a sharp bumper, on middle. Andre Russell ducks under this one. |
| 19.2 : Arshdeep Singh to Andre Russell, A single now! It is a low full toss, outside off. Andre Russell gets it through the gap at backward point for one. |
| 19.3 : Arshdeep Singh to Rinku Singh, Rinku Singh now rotates the strike with a single. Arshdeep Singh with three great deliveries so far. Arshdeep Singh follows the batter outside leg. It is a full toss, but Rinku Singh could not punish it. |
| 19.1 : Arshdeep Singh has shown his trump card, 'the bouncer,' first ball and this means Andre Russell will be ready for the fuller deliveries now. Can Arshdeep hold his nerve? |
| 19.4 : Arshdeep Singh to Andre Russell, It is very full, wide of off. Andre Russell has big enough hands to reach the ball, he lofts it over extra cover. The man in the deep comes across and keeps it down to two runs. |
| 19.5 : Arshdeep Singh to Andre Russell, OUT! RUN OUT! OH NO! What has happened here. It is a slower bouncer, outside off. Andre Russell slashes hard at it but misses it completely. The ball goes straight to the keep but Rinku Singh still calls for a single. Andre Russell is late to react and Arshdeep Singh collects the ball and takes the bails off. The replays confirm that Andre Russell is short of the crease. |
| 19.4 : Is that a run-out? What drama in the middle! The keeper delays the throw but finally throws it to the bowler. Andre Russell tries to scamper through and puts in the dive but Arshdeep Singh gets the direct hit in at the bowler's end. It is sent upstairs and the replays show that Russell is short of his crease. OUT is the decision on the big screen. |
| 19.5 : Shardul Thakur is the new man in but he will be at the non-striker's end. |
| 19.6 : Kolkata left it a bit too late and needed a big lift toward the end from Andre Russell and Rinku Singh to get them over the line. They got off to a solid start with the bat as Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Jason Roy came out with intent and the latter just blew away the opposition bowlers. Roy looked good but got out and then it was a steady stand of 51 runs between skipper Nitish Rana and Venkatesh Iyer that kept Kolkata in the game. Iyer, hampered a bit by his injury just couldn't keep going an |
| Absolute heartbreak for Punjab as it is that man - Rinku Singh yet again who finishes things off and gets Kolkata over the line. An Andre Russell special has blown away Punjab and has given new life to Kolkata's challenge for a playoff spot. Dre Russ was certainly due for a special knock and boy, didn't he get it at a vital time for his side. |
| Arshdeep Singh to Rinku Singh, FOUR! HERE ARE THE WINNING RUNS! Rinku Singh, you beauty! It is a full toss, down the leg side. Rinku Singh picks it up nice and early, and whips it down to fine leg. One bounce and into the ropes. The party has started in Kolkata. The hosts win the game by 5 wickets. |
| Punjab will be deflated with that loss and it is a big blow to their chances of making it through to the playoffs now. They didn't have an ideal start with the ball but Nathan Ellis came on and got the wicket that allowed them to get back in the game and dictate the middle overs. Ellis and Rahul Chahar bowled brilliantly through the middle phase and got wickets as well. Harpreet Brar bowled just the one over and got a wicket as well but with a lot of left-handers in the opposition, he wasn't |
| Earlier in the game, Shikhar Dhawan won the toss and opted to bat first on a wicket that looked a bit dry and a bit slow as well. Punjab started off well with the bat but yet again, Prabhsimran Singh simply couldn't stay on the crease for long and Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who came back in the side after a long absence couldn't even open his mark. Dhawan notched up yet another half-century and valuable contributions throughout the middle order, especially from Shahrukh Khan ensured that they got to |
| The Punjab skipper, Shikhar Dhawan starts by saying he is not feeling great as they lost the match. Mentions that it wasn't an easy track to bat on, but in the end the opposition played really well. He then praises Arshdeep Singh for his effort in the final over. Tells that he feels they are missing an offspinner in the side. Adds that when a left-hander comes out to bat, they are operating with a leg-spinner from one end, while a left-arm spinner from the other one, and that's where they end |
| Rinku Singh, the man who hit the winning runs for Kolkata is down for a quick chat. Singh says that after winning a match like this one, more and more people get to know about him. Informs that he did not think at all about the last ball. On the run-out, he adds that he only thought that changing the strike will just make the game tight, but they were late to react. Mentions that he is getting used to these high-pressure situations as he comes out to bat between numbers 5-7, so he keeps practi |
| The Presentation ceremony... |
| Nitish Rana, the captain of Kolkata says that when he was batting, the plan was to hold one end. Adds that Venkatesh Iyer was struggling a bit with his injury and they had a chat about trying to take a big over from here or there. Goes on to applaud Andre Russell for his knock and mentions that it has been 10 matches or so and he kept telling Russell that he will get them a big win and that's what happened in this game. Says that he was a bit unhappy toward the end during the bowling as they c |
| Andre Russell is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his brilliant game-changing knock of 42 runs off 23 balls. He starts by saying yes he was waiting for the pace bowlers to show up. Adds that it was only going to be pressure on the bowlers, and they just backed themselves. Informs that he flicked one surprisingly in the stands. Mentions the consecutive sixes helped them to swing the momentum on their side. Adds that when you have Rinku Singh at the other end, he does not worry at all. He is very con |
| That is it then from this game and also from another Manic Monday in the Indian T20 League. The action continues on Tuesday, the 9th of May with a big clash between Mumbai and Bangalore at the Wankhede Stadium. That clash will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). But, as usual, our build-up will begin a lot sooner, so, do join us then. Cheers! |
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