IPL 8: 'Gayle Power' helps RCB clinch three-wicket thriller against KKR
Chris Gayle's amazing 96 powers RCB to thrilling three-wicket win
Chris Gayle's amazing 96 has helped RCB clinch a humdinger of a tie by three-wickets.
The big West Indian's lofty hits around the ground was the highlight of RCB's innings and it helped that tail-enders Harshal Patel and Abu Nechim held their nerves and saw the game off.
It is Gayle Power for RCB tonight!
Quite predictably the Man-of-the-Match is Chris Gayle for his outstanding effort which swung the game in RCB's favor.
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Over 19
RCB - 179 for 7 win the game by 3 wickets
GAYLE STORM HITS KKR!
FOUR! RCB clinch a thriller here...Nachim hits the winning boundary to third-man!
Single..3 off 7..whadda cracker!
CLOSE! Patel somehow scrambles his way in...escapes being run-out!
4 off 9 needed.
Patel at crease!
Can RCB's tail-enders win this one for Gayle?
7 from 10 needed.
RCB - 171 for 7
8 from 11 needed.
Why did Gayle opt for two when it was not needed?
Southee had earlier saved a beauty at the boundary...that was a sure-fire six!
RUN-OUT! Gayle is out...whadda wicket...he goes for 96.
FULL ON!
SIX! Gayle has slammed that into the stands..whadda hit!
Over 18
RCB - 164 for 6
14 to win off 12!
SIX! Harshal Patel has slammed that down the ground!
Gayle has played a terrific knock tonight!
THRILLER HERE!
TWO RUNS! 21 off 15 needed.
Gayle is on 86...Narine is shattered!
Whadda player!
23 from 16 needed!
FOUR AGAIN! GAYLE STORM!
FOUR! Hammered away by Gayle!
Over 17
RCB - 147 for 6
End of Over.
32 from 19 needed.
101 meters!
SIX AGAIN! Gayle is ripping Shakib apart!
GAYLE POWER!
SIX! WHADDA HIT! That has disappeared into the stands...Shakib is left gaping!
Gayle is on 65..can he clinch this one for RCB?
RCB - 133 for 6
WICKET! Abbott is run-out for 1...but KKR still have to contend with Gayle!
Over 15
DROPPED! Gayle is dropped by Morkel..will that prove costly for KKR?
Gayle is on 63.
48 from 27 needed.
GAYLE STORM! A four and a six off Pathan...way to go Chris!
Over 14
Who will clinch this one?
RCB - 119 for 5
Dot ball.
Sean Abbott walks in.
RCB - 119 for 5
He goes for 7.
WICKET! Sammy is stumped off Shakib's fine leg-break.
Incidentally Gayle is on 51 too!
51 off 35 needed.
Over 13
Gayle storm expected in the final overs?
RCB - 117 for 4.
End of Over.
Whadda match!
63 from 38 needed.
Narine in the attack.
Over 12
Can Gayle pull this off for RCB?
RCB - 113 for 4
End of Over.
68 from 45 needed.
SIX! Gayle is going ballistic! Big one of Chawla!
Over 11
Gayle on fire!
RCB - 103 for 4
SIX! Gayle powers that down the ground!
Darren Sammy is in to bat.
Over 10
RCB - 93 for 4
He goes for 28.
De Villers charged to one that spun in.
WICKET! De Villiers is stumped...Cariappa gets the big man!
16 off the over!
96 meters!
BIGGIE! De Villiers has sent that into orbit..whaada hit!
FOUR AGAIN! De Villiers in red-hot form...that one flies away to long-off!
95 from 57 needed.
FOUR! Smacked away by De Villiers of Cariappa..fine shot!
Over 9
RCB - 77 for 3
End of Over.
SIX! De Villiers dispatches that over the leg-side....104 meters lonest IPL six!
Quick blows by KKR...Pathan came in handy!
RCB - 66 for 3
End of Over.
141.5 km/hr...GOOD BALL!
FOUR! Hit through the covers for a boundary by De Villiers..fine shot!
He has to play a gem now!
AB De Viiliers up next!
Over 8
RCB - 56 for 3
Mandeep goes for 6.
PATHAN POWER!
WICKET! Mandeep Singh plays an audacious reverse sweep and is bowled!
RCB- 50 for 2
Karthik is out for 6.
GREAT BALL!
WICKET! Karthik is cleaned up by a sizzling off-break.
10.11 required run-rate.
CLOSE! Escapes a leg-before appeal.
Pathan to Gayle.
Over 7
RCB - 47 for 1
End of Over.
Single.
145 km/hr delivery..Russell on fire!
FOUR! Great hook by Karthik..flies towards fine-leg.
Russell is the new bowler.
Over 6
Gayle on fire!
RCB - 41 for 1
End of Over.
Cariappa is taking the treatment here!
FOUR! Another one down the ground...nice shot!
SIX! Gayle clobbers a big one over Cariappa's head..great shot!
Over 5
RCB - 29 for 1
Dot ball.
Dinesh Karthik is in to bat.
RCB - 29 for 1
Kohli is out for 13.
WICKET! Kohli goes..swings and edges one to wicket-keeper Uthappa.
Gayle looks well set here
6.44 the run-rate for RCB.
BRING IT ON!
GREAT SHOT! Gayle on fire...hammers one down the track off Morkel!
Over 4
RCB - 23 for 0
End of Over.
GOOD BALL! Narine's response is a fine leg-break.
FOUR LEG-BYES! Gayle swings and it runs behind to the boundary.
Narine is back.
Over 3
RCB - 14 for 0
End of Over.
FOUR! And Gayle replies with a hit down the track...good shot!
SCREAMER AGAIN! Morkel's delivery whizzes past Gayle!
Kohli is taking the game to Morkel..aggressive batsmanship!
143.1 km/hr...screamer from Morkel!
GREAT SHOT!
SIX! First big one by Kohli..flies into the deep-square leg fence.
Morkel to bowl this one.
Over 2
RCB - 5 for 0
End of Over.
Slow start by RCB so far.
Dot ball.
Sunil Narine is brought in.
Over 1
RCB - 1 for 0
One off the over.
Both batsmen need to fire for RCB...the total is competitive.
Dot ball to Virat.
Single.
Morkel to Gayle.
Morne Morkel to start off the first over.
And Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli walk in for RCB.
Highlights of KKR's knock were of course Gambhir-Uthappa's opening wicket stand and Andre Russell's late pyro-techniques.
Gambhir's 58 and Russell's unbeaten 41 were the pillars of KKR's innings and Uthappa played his role to perfection with a fine 35.
With KKR posting a competitive 177 on board, let us wait and watch if RCB can hunt it down and clinch a fine win.
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Over 20
KKR - 177 for 6 (20 ovrs)
Russell remains unbeaten on 41.
FOUR! Last ball is slammed by Russell for a boundary.
Shakib goes for a duck.
KKR - 173 for 6.
WIDE BALL and RUN OUT! Shakib sacrifices his wicket for a non-existent single.
GREAT STOP! Iqbal Abdullah effects a fine fielding effort..saves a certain boundary!
FOUR AGAIN! Full toss and hit straight down the track...Russell on fire!
FOUR! Russell slams a first ball boundary of Aaron.
KKR - 163 for 5
WICKET! Aaron gets Pathan for 3...caught by Kohli at deep-mid off.
Over 19
Last over drama to follow!
KKR - 163 for 4
End of Over.
FOUR! Full-toss and flicked to fine-leg by Russell.
SIX ! Patel is thrashed first ball into the stands by Russell...awesome shot!
Over 18
They need to step it up now..more such hits needed!
KKR - 149 for 4
12 off the over.
GREAT SHOT! Russell hammers that into the stands near deep-cover..awesome hit!
8.04 is the run-rate now.
FOUR! Russell powers that to long-off for a fine boundary!
And he is getting treated for a sprained calf.
Nechim's last over.
Over 17
KKR - 137 for 4
End of Over.
FOUR! Russell opens his account with a fine hit.
KKR - 131 for 4
Pandey goes for 23...Direct hit by Kohli!
RUN OUT! Absolue chaos here...Pandey and Pathan have a mis-communication issue.
Yusuf Pathan is the new batsman.
KKR - 131 for 3
Yadav is out for 11.
His flick flies into Mandeep's hands at deep-fine leg.
WICKET! Patel nabs up Yadav.
Over 16
KKR - 131 for 2
End of Over.
BEAUTY! Yadav glides that through covers for a boundary...nice shot!
Chahal runs in.
Over 15
KKR - 122 for 2
FOUR! Slapped to deep-mid wicket for another boundary by Pandey.
FOUR! Pandey joins the party...nice cut to square-leg!
FOUR! Yadav ramps that to third-man..nice shot!
Abbott is back.
Over 14
KKR - 108 for 2
End of Over.
FOUR! Pandey's hit flies over Chahal's head to the fence...good shot!
KKR - 103 for 2
Gambhir goes for 58.
BIG WICKET for RCB.
WICKET! Gambhir's shot flies into Mandeep Singh's hands at the leg-side boundary.
Over 13
KKR - 101 for 1
Single.
KKR reach 100...can they score hundred more?
AWESOME SHOT! Gambhir cuts that beautifully through square...it races to the fence!
FOUR! Pandey smacks that down the track..fine shot!
Gambhir reaches his fifty..second of the tournament...aye aye cap!
Aaron to bowl the over.
Over 12
KKR - 87 for 1
Five off the over.
Gambhir is on 47.
Single.
Chahal to Gambhir.
Over 11
KKR - 82 for 1
End of Over.
Manish Pandey is the new batsman.
KKR - 81 for 1
Uthappa is out for 35
WICKET! Uthappa's adventure ends..holes out to Sammy at deep-mid wicket.
Gambhir is on 44.
Gambhir-Uthappa are going after him!
Nechim runs in.
Over 10
KKR - 77 for 0
AND FOUR! Gambhir retaliates with one slapped to long-on..great shot!
GOOGLY! Chahal beats Gambhir with the wrong 'un.
Y Chahal is in..spin trick?
Over 9
KKR - 70 for 0
End of Over.
FOUR! Gambhir lashes one down the track..great shot!
GOOD BALL! Almost traps Uthappa leg-before...swung in sharply!
Uthappa is on 30 and Gambhir is on 34.
Can the smiling West Indian break this partnership?
Darren Sammy is the new bowler.
Over 8
Great guns for KKR!
KKR - 62 for 0
Four off the over.
Nechim is introduced once more.
Gambhir-Uthappa look well set to put KKR in the drivers seat.
Over 7
KKR - 58 for 0
End of Over.
FOUR! That one speeds over Gambhir's head... he just edges it behind to the boundary.
Aaron needs to get either of the two out early.
144.0 km/hr...speed gun!
Aaron is back in the attack.
Over 6
KKR - 53 for 0
End of Over.
The fifty partnership is already up...way to go!
The skipper looks well set for a big one tonight!
FOUR! Gambhir flicks that to third-man...good timing!
Nechim to bowl this over.
Over 5
KKR - 46 for 0
End of Over.
BOUNCER!
FOUR! Gambhir connects that well and it flies through mid-wicket..good shot!
And Danny Morrison as usual regales with some terrific commentary!
Single.
Varun Aaron to Gambhir.
Over 4
KKR - 40 for 0
End of Over.
FOUR! Awesome cut-shot by Uthappa towards square again
STINGER! That one flew past Uthappa's face...nice ball!
A strike rate of 190 for Uthappa..pretty awesome!
NICE SHOT! Uthappa punches that through square for a boundary...he looks good here!
WIDE BALL.
Patel to Gambhir.
Over 3
KKR - 28 for 0
Single off the last ball.
A 144.5 km/hr delivery...way to go Abbott!
Uthappa is looking to hook Abbott out of the ground.
Abbott has gone for 19 so far...expensive!
AMAZING SHOT!
WHADDA SHOT! Gambhir's flick flies over mid-wicket..Abbott gets hit for a six!
Over 2
KKR - 19 for 0
Single off the last ball.
BOUNCER! Patel hist back with one that flies over Gambhir!
10.80 the run-rate as for now.
KKR have got off to a flier here!
CRACKING! That flies through covers for a four...amazing shot!
Harshal Patel to Uthappa.
Over 1
Great start!
KKR - 13 for 0
Single off the last ball by Uthappa.
12 off the over so far.
Single by Gambhir.
Can Gambhir replicate his opening game heroics tonight?
NICE SHOT!
FOUR! Fantastic flick off the pads by Gambhir..the ball races away to deep-extra cover.
Gambhir on strike.
Single by Uthappa.
FOUR! A mis-field gives KKR a first ball boundary!
Abbotr to Uthappa.
Sean Abbotr to bowl the first over.
Robin Uthappa and Gautam Gambhir have come in to bat.
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Here are the starting XI
KKR - Robin Uthappa, Gautam Gambhir (C), Manish Pandey, Suryakumar Yadav, Yusuf Pathan, Shakib Al Hasan, Andre Russell, Piyush Chawla, Sunil Narine, Morne Morkel, KC Cariappa.
RCB - Chris Gayle, Mandeep Singh, Virat Kohli (C), Dinesh Karthik (W), AB de Villiers, Darren Sammy, Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sean Abbott, Varun Aaron, Abu Nechim
TOSS TIME - Virat Kohli has won the toss and choses to bowl first....RCB's bowlers need to fire here!
Welcome to Live coverage of Match Five of IPL 8 which has Kolkata Knight Riders hosting Royal Challengers Bangalore at Eden Gardens on Saturday at 20:00 IST.
Kolkata are high post their opening game win over Mumbai, which had skipper Gautam Gambhir shining with a fine 57.
Here is the Match-Preview for the big game.
RCB will have to be wary of KKR's spin-heavy bowling attack and the onus will be on skipper Virat Kohli to stand up and deliver.
Other key players will be Morne Morkel (KKR), who shined in the win over Mumbai, and of course the big-hitting Chris Gayle (RCB), who is expected to shine once more.
Meanwhile KKR's Sunil Narine may be a definite starter and it will be interesting to see how he copes with RCB's massively talented batting line-up.
Do expect a thriller on cards at Eden, for both teams are equally matched in both the batting as well as bowling department.
To follow IPL 8 LIVE, click here.