| 0.0 : Hello, folks! It's time for the clash between Kolkata and Punjab at the iconic Eden Gardens. One team won due to the muscular knock from Andre Russell while the other team won courtesy a smart yet controversial 'Mankading' move from Ravichandran Ashwin. Both have tasted success early and would be eyeing to build momentum. Plenty of power-packed entertainers to take the field this evening and we are expecting a mouth-watering contest. Stay tuned for updates... |
| PITCH REPORT - Michael Clarke says this seems to be a very good surface. Further adds there is even covering of grass. Reckons the pacers should get some good carry and the deliveries from the spinners may slide on. Ends by saying the limelight will be on the two West Indians, Andre Russell and Chris Gayle. |
| TOSS - Punjab win the toss and they elect to field first! |
| Ravichandran Ashwin starts off by saying they wanted to bowl first. Reckons the wicket might do a little upfront and ease off as the game progresses. Feels dew also might come into play later on. Informs they have quite a few changes as David Miller comes back in, Varun Chakravarthy is making his debut, Hardus Viljoen and Andrew Tye also come in. On the other hand, Dinesh Karthik also wanted to bowl first. He informs they are playing the same eleven. |
| We are all set for the action to begin. Andre Russell rings the bell and then, the umpires make their way out. The Punjab players are in a huddle. Now they make their way out to the middle. Behind them walk the Kolkata openers, Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine who is back at the top of the order. Mohammed Shami will start the proceedings for the visitors. Here we go... |
| 0.1 : M Shami to C Lynn, Starts off with a ball on the pads, Lynn misses out on a scoring opportunity as he tries to flick but does not connect. It hits him on the pads. |
| 0.2 : M Shami to C Lynn, Another scoring opportunity goes abegging! Down the leg side and Lynn for the second time in a row fails to put bat on ball. It brushes the pads and goes to the keeper who does not collect it cleanly but does not concede an extra run. |
| 0.3 : M Shami to C Lynn, Gets bat to ball this time but finds the man at covers with a drive. |
| 0.4 : M Shami to C Lynn, A good delivery there! This one pitches around middle and then jags back in. Lynn looks to drive but ends up getting an inside edge onto his pads. |
| 0.5 : M Shami to C Lynn, Kolkata and Lynn are underway! Another length ball and on middle, Lynn looks to go downtown but only manages an inside edge towards fine leg for a single. |
| 0.6 : M Shami to S Narine, A dot to end a very good first over by Shami. He bowls a rib-tickler to Narine. Sunil works it towards mid-wicket, wants a run but is sent back. |
| Debutant Varun Chakravarthy to bowl from the other end. |
| 1.1 : V Chakravarthy to C Lynn, Lynn shuffles right across and then works it through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 1.2 : V Chakravarthy to S Narine, SIX! All the way! Narine does not want a sighter against the debutant. He straightaway goes after him, Varun is guilty of bowling it too full. Narine thumps it over the long off fence for a biggie. First for the game and Narine is off the mark in style. |
| 1.3 : V Chakravarthy to S Narine, DROPPED! A very, very difficult chance that! Another flighted delivery and it is full again. Narine this time looks to go to the left of the bowler. He hits it uppishly and powerfully. Varun sticks his hands out but fails to hang on. It goes wide of long on and the batters take two. That needed to stick and this time it did not. |
| 1.4 : V Chakravarthy to S Narine, FOUR! Poor ball and put away! Short and on middle, Narine rocks back and pulls it all along the ground through mid-wicket. Long on runs to his left, dives but fails to stop it. 13 from the first 4 balls. Pressure on the debutant. |
| 1.5 : V Chakravarthy to S Narine, SIX! He has picked the bones out of that one. That is colossal. Goes down on one knee and slog sweeps it. It is right off the middle and it sails into the mid-wicket stand. |
| 1.6 : V Chakravarthy to S Narine, SIX! Consecutive maximums! 25 from Varun's first over. Welcome to the Indian T20 League. Another delivery which is asking to be hit. Down the leg side, Narine whips it over the square leg fence for another biggie. |
| 2.1 : M Shami to C Lynn, FOUR! Lynn joining the fun! A little bit of width on offer outside off, the Aussie latches onto it and slams it over cover-point for a boundary. |
| 2.2 : M Shami to C Lynn, Good line this time. Back of a length ball on off, not much width and Chris goes back to play it towards mid off. |
| 2.3 : M Shami to C Lynn, FOUR! Clubbed away! Nearly took the head of his partner at the other end. Shami goes short and wide outside off, Lynn packs a punch and powers it over Narine for a boundary at long on. |
| 2.4 : M Shami to C Lynn, OUT! Shami gets his revenge! It's a brilliant catch from David Miller. A shortish ball again, it's around off, Lynn sticks back to power it across the line again but it catches the top edge and goes high up in the air. Miller calls for it from extra cover and completes the catch almost next to the pitch, to be precise. A big breakthrough, this. |
| Robin Uthappa is the new man in. |
| 2.5 : M Shami to S Narine, Dropped! A really tough one for the bowler. Short and on off, Narine stays back to flat-bat it down the ground but fails to connect properly. Still he hits it with a lot of power and Shami drops it in his followthrough. Would have been a great catch and even greater moment for Punjab to get both the danger men within two balls. |
| 2.6 : M Shami to S Narine, Play and a miss! Short and wide outside off, at 138.6 kph, Narine backs away to slap it through the line but misses. 8 runs and a wicket from the over. |
| Hardus Viljoen is on now. |
| 3.1 : H Viljoen to R Uthappa, Hits the length hard first up and it is outside off, Uthappa goes after it but misses. |
| 3.2 : H Viljoen to R Uthappa, Top fielding but can't stop the run! Uthappa just uses the pace and guides it towards cover-point. Karun Nair, the substitute there, dives to his left and stops it. The batsmen take a run though. |
| Mohammed Shami is off the field and is replaced by Karun Nair. He seems to have hurt his fingers while attempting the return catch in his last over. Hoping, everything is fine with him. |
| 3.3 : H Viljoen to S Narine, Slower ball but it comes out wrong. It is down the leg side and it has been wided. |
| H Viljoen to S Narine, OUT! In the air... taken! Both the openers are now back in the hut. Another skier has been pouched, this time by KL Rahul. Suddenly now, Kolkata are in a spot of bother. It is once again the short ball which does the trick. It is on the body. Narine looks to pull but only manages a top edge. It goes behind Rahul who turns and runs across to his right, initially he seems to misjudge it but then takes it by stretching out his hands near short fine leg. Viljoen makes an |
| Nitish Rana is in next. |
| 3.4 : H Viljoen to R Uthappa, That stayed low! Length and outside off, Uthappa looks to force it through the off side but misses. |
| 3.5 : H Viljoen to R Uthappa, Closer to the off pole this time and Uthappa strokes it to cover. |
| 3.6 : H Viljoen to R Uthappa, SIX! A flat maximum! What a shot! Slightly short and width on offer outside off. Uthappa pounces onto it as he slaps it hard over cover-point. The connection is such that it carries all the way. A biggie to end a successful over for Punjab. |
| Here comes Andrew Tye. |
| 4.1 : A Tye to N Rana, Starts off with a short ball outside off, Rana evades it nicely. |
| 4.2 : A Tye to N Rana, Some extra bounce there! Bends his back on this one. Rana is surprised by the extra bounce. He takes one hand off the handle as he tries to defend. It goes off the inner half and towards square leg for a run. |
| 4.3 : A Tye to R Uthappa, A change up by Tye. It is on middle, Uthappa looks to pull it hard but it does not bounce as much as he expected it to. It goes off the inner half to fine leg. |
| 4.4 : A Tye to R Uthappa, Another dot! Uthappa drops this towards point and wants a run but is sent back. |
| 4.5 : A Tye to R Uthappa, A quick single there! Fuller delivery on off, Uthappa leans into it and strokes it towards mid off for a single. |
| 4.6 : A Tye to N Rana, Just short! A good slower one to end. It is on a driving length. Rana is a touch early into the stroke. He hits it uppishly but short of Gayle at covers. An excellent first over by Tye, just two from it. |
| Ravichandran Ashwin to bowl the last over of the Powerplay. Keep an eye on the non-striker! |
| 5.1 : R Ashwin to R Uthappa, Goes on the back foot and punches a shortish ball down to long on for a run. |
| 5.2 : R Ashwin to N Rana, Full and flighted on off, Rana flicks it through mid-wicket and takes another run. |
| 5.3 : R Ashwin to R Uthappa, Beaten! A good delivery. This one goes straight on after landing wide outside off, Uthappa throws his bat at it and misses. |
| 5.4 : R Ashwin to R Uthappa, SIX! Uthappa has belted this one out of the park! He goes down on one knee to a full ball, fetches it from outside off and powers it over mid-wicket for a maximum. |
| 5.5 : R Ashwin to R Uthappa, Flatter and on middle, stroked off the back foot to long on for a run. |
| 5.6 : R Ashwin to N Rana, Shout for an lbw! Not given. Ashwin hurls a flighted full ball just outside off, it skids back in after landing, Rana tries sweeping but misses. Ashwin appeals but the impact appears to be outside the line. Done with the Powerplay, Kolkata have got 53/2! |
| Change in bowling! Debutant Varun Chakravarthy is back on. He conceded 25 in his first over, will he make a comeback? |
| 6.1 : V Chakravarthy to R Uthappa, FOUR! 29 from his first 7 balls. Poor start for the debutant. Another poor delivery this. It is short and outside off, Uthappa rocks back and cuts it past point. It races away to the fence. |
| 6.2 : V Chakravarthy to R Uthappa, Flights this one and bowls it fuller. Uthappa looks to drive but it goes off the inner half back to the bowler. |
| 6.3 : V Chakravarthy to R Uthappa, FOUR! Second boundary in the over. This time through the right of point. Short and wide again, Uthappa says thank you very much as he cuts it for another boundary. |
| 6.4 : V Chakravarthy to R Uthappa, A low full toss this time, Uthappa is happy to push it down to long off for a run. |
| 6.5 : V Chakravarthy to N Rana, Good delivery! This is flatter and on middle, Rana defends it out. |
| 6.6 : V Chakravarthy to N Rana, Two dots to end! Tosses this up on off, Rana drives it square on the off side but finds the fielder. So despite going for a couple of boundaries, only 9 from it. |
| 7.1 : R Ashwin to R Uthappa, Leading edge but a run! Uthappa looks to play across the line but closes the face of the bat early. He gets a soft leading edge towards point for a run. |
| 7.2 : R Ashwin to N Rana, The carrom ball from Ashwin on the stumps, Rana looks to sweep but it goes off the inner half. It is in the gap in the mid-wicket region. Shami does well to stop it with his leg. Two taken. |
| 7.3 : R Ashwin to N Rana, Flatter and on the stumps, Rana goes back and pushes it to covers. |
| 7.4 : R Ashwin to N Rana, SIX! In the slot and that is out of here. Flighted ball and on off, Rana goes down on one knee and hits it over the long on fielder. |
| 7.5 : R Ashwin to N Rana, A low full toss on off, Rana strokes it nicely past covers and wide of long off for a couple. |
| 7.6 : R Ashwin to N Rana, A dot to end! A good last delivery, slower through the air outside off, Rana goes after it but is beaten by the extra bounce. 11 from this over and after the loss of those wickets in quick succession, Kolkata have done well to recover. |
| Andrew Tye is back on. |
| 8.1 : A Tye to R Uthappa, This is angled into the batsman, Uthappa walks across and flicks it through mid-wicket. Calls for two and takes two. |
| 8.2 : A Tye to R Uthappa, A full toss and Uthappa does not take toll of it. He may not have been expecting it, he strokes it down to long on for a run. |
| 8.3 : A Tye to N Rana, A really good slower one there! It is slightly short and outside off, Rana looks to pull but is early into the shot. He misses. |
| 8.4 : A Tye to N Rana, Very, very good fielding there by Shami! This has been creamed through covers. It is flat, traveling and bounces just in front of Shami who is running to his left. He does well to get his body behind the ball and stop it. Saves three for his side. |
| 8.5 : A Tye to R Uthappa, Another slower one and another single as it is played towards cover. Just 5 from the over so far. Can he end it well? |
| 8.6 : A Tye to N Rana, Ends it brilliantly! Bangs it short and on the body, Rana is surprised by it and ducks out of the way in the end. Just the 5 from Tye's second. Punjab needed a tight one as the last 3 leaked runs. |
| Strategic break. A mixed-bag for both teams. Kolkata have scored runs quickly and Punjab have also picked up a couple of wickets. The current partnership though will be giving headaches to Ravichandran Ashwin. Robin Uthappa, in particular, has looked in prime form and the hosts will be hoping for a big contribution from his bat. A vital middle phase coming up... |
| 9.1 : R Ashwin to R Uthappa, This is eased down to long on and the batters take one. |
| 9.2 : R Ashwin to N Rana, SIX! Slightly short and that has been powered into the stands. Rana transfers his weight onto the back foot and hits it over the long on fence. |
| 9.3 : R Ashwin to N Rana, A low full toss and once again it is hit down to long on only for a run. 50-run stand up between the two. Not only have they steadied the ship but have now set the platform for the power-hitters to come. |
| 9.4 : R Ashwin to R Uthappa, The batsman works it down the leg side. One run added to the total. |
| 9.5 : R Ashwin to N Rana, Very full again outside off, this is hit through covers for a run. |
| 9.6 : R Ashwin to R Uthappa, A single to end! 11 from the over. So all the pressure that was built in the last over has been eased off. Uthappa pushes this down to long on for a run. |
| Bowling change. Hardus Viljoen is back on. |
| 10.1 : A Tye to R Uthappa, Goes full first up, Uthappa strokes it to covers. |
| 10.2 : A Tye to R Uthappa, Slower ball and on the pads, Uthappa looks to flick but misses to get hit on the pads. The ball rolls towards fine leg and the batsmen run a leg bye. |
| 10.3 : A Tye to N Rana, Short and outside off, Rana there decides late to upper cut it but misses. |
| 10.4 : A Tye to N Rana, A good bumper on the body of the batsman, Rana looks to pull but misses. Two dot balls in a row, just one run from the over so far. |
| 10.5 : A Tye to N Rana, What a stop! Can you guess who it is? Well, it is probably the last man to come to your mind - Chris Gayle. The length ball is guided nicely to the right of Gayle at point. The big man gets down quickly and keeps it down to one. |
| 10.6 : A Tye to R Uthappa, Just three from this one! Top stuff! Uthappa works it with the angle through square leg for a run. |
| 11.1 : R Ashwin to R Uthappa, On the stumps, Uthappa looks to make room and slap it but only manages an inside edge back to the bowler. |
| 11.2 : R Ashwin to R Uthappa, Well played there! Uthappa has guided that late and off the stumps towards short third man for a single. |
| 11.3 : R Ashwin to N Rana, SIX! A gift but it still has to be put away! A full toss and Rana deposits it into the mid-wicket stands with a slog sweep. A maximum of Ashwin's each over seems to be mandatory tonight. |
| 11.4 : R Ashwin to N Rana, Looks to bowl wide outside off but bowls it outside the tramline. Pressure getting to the experienced campaigner as well. |
| R Ashwin to N Rana, SIX! Into the stands! Second in the over! This is tossed up wide outside off. Rana gets to free his arms, he connects really well and it sails over long off. |
| 11.5 : R Ashwin to N Rana, Now drags this ball through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 11.6 : R Ashwin to R Uthappa, A single to end another expensive over from Ashwin. 16 from it. Uthappa works this towards short fine leg and keeps strike. End of Ashwin for tonight, not a good day at the office for him. His figures read 4-0-47-0. |
| Mandeep Singh to bowl. |
| 12.1 : M Singh to R Uthappa, FOUR! Mandeep with his gentle speed dares to bowl it short and wide outside off. Robin attacks it with all his power and whacks it through point. |
| 12.2 : M Singh to R Uthappa, The line is straight this time, better line with all the protection on the leg side, Uthappa turns it off his pads to deep mid-wicket for one. |
| 12.3 : M Singh to N Rana, SIX! This one is high and handsome! Mandeep runs in from 'round the wicket and angles in a short ball on off. Rana stays back and launches it over mid-wicket for a biggie. |
| 12.4 : M Singh to N Rana, SIX! This one is as flat as this pitch! Short and wide outside off, Rana reaches out for it and slaps it over the jumping deep cover fielder for a maximum. You just cannot afford to bowl that length, especially with that pace. Nitish is now the leading run-scorer this season. |
| 12.5 : M Singh to N Rana, The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single. |
| 12.6 : M Singh to R Uthappa, Misses out! Width on offer outside off, Uthappa tries to play the square cut but misses. 18 from the over. Just to play five proper bowlers backfiring on Punjab. |
| Hardus Viljoen is back. |
| 13.1 : H Viljoen to N Rana, FOUR! Easy pickings! Down the leg side and Rana flicks it past short fine leg for a boundary. 50 for Rana, back-to-back fifties for him. Another excellent innings. |
| 13.2 : H Viljoen to N Rana, SIX! 10 from the first two balls! Short and outside off, Rana stands tall and then flat-bats it over the long on fence. Also, the 100-run stand is up. 200 now looks possible courtesy this stand. |
| 13.3 : H Viljoen to N Rana, FOUR! 4,6,4 in this over so far! Rana is in some form out there. Through the off side this time. Full and outside off, this is driven square on the off side. No chance for any fielder. |
| 13.4 : H Viljoen to N Rana, Now does the sensible thing as he pushes this good ball down to long on for a single. |
| 13.5 : H Viljoen to R Uthappa, Lovely effort in the field! Uthappa delightfully strokes it through cover-point. Another boundary seems to be on the cards but Agarwal runs to his left, dives and saves two for his side. |
| 13.6 : H Viljoen to R Uthappa, WIDE! Looks to go full and down the leg side. RU looks to flick but misses. It has been wided. |
| H Viljoen to R Uthappa, A couple to end another very expensive over! 20 from it as Uthappa flicks it through mid-wicket for a brace. |
| Varun Chakravarthy to bowl. |
| 14.1 : V Chakravarthy to N Rana, This is fired outside off as he sees Rana goes for the reverse sweep. The batter misses. |
| 14.2 : V Chakravarthy to N Rana, A bit slower this time and it is outside off, Rana looks to hit it on the leg side but is beaten by the away turn. Good start to this over. |
| 14.3 : V Chakravarthy to N Rana, OUT! Chakravarthy strikes! His first in the Indian T20 League and that should make him feel a lot, lot better. Shows good courage here to toss it up on middle, it is the googly. Rana does not pick it and looks to hit it across the line but he only manages a top edge towards mid off. Agarwal at long off runs in and takes a very good catch. End of a mammoth 110-run stand off just 66 balls and an electrifying knock from Rana. Punjab will be relieved to see Nitish's b |
| Andre Russell arrives to a huge cheer from the crowd. |
| 14.4 : V Chakravarthy to R Uthappa, Another dot! This is flatter and outside off, this one turns back in. Uthappa looks to defend but gets an inside edge onto his pads. |
| 14.5 : V Chakravarthy to R Uthappa, Shortish and outside off, Uthappa cuts it to point. 5 balls and no runs. Can Varun end with a maiden? |
| 14.6 : V Chakravarthy to R Uthappa, No he can't as a single is taken through covers. But an excellent over by VC, just a single from it. |
| 15.1 : H Viljoen to R Uthappa, APPEAL FOR LBW! NOT OUT! Full on middle, Uthappa looks to flick but gets an inside edge onto the pads. Tye appeals but the umpire shakes his head. Good decision from the umpire as Ultra Edge shows that there was a clear inside edge. |
| 15.2 : H Viljoen to R Uthappa, Short and outside off, Uthappa looks to cut but misses it due to the away movement on this one. |
| 15.3 : H Viljoen to R Uthappa, Full on off, Robin drives it straight towards the bowler. Tye misfields and the batsmen take a run. |
| 15.4 : H Viljoen to A Russell, Good short ball and it is well-directed. Russell is hurried onto the pull shot. He misses. It hits his body and then lobs towards Rahul. |
| 15.5 : H Viljoen to A Russell, This time Russell drops it towards cover and takes a run. Just two from this over so far. A ball to go. |
| 15.6 : H Viljoen to R Uthappa, FOUR! And it spoils what was a brilliant over. Still a good one though as only 6 came from it. A poor delivery to end. A full toss on the pads, Uthappa flicks it fine and fetches a boundary. Also, he brings up his 50 in style. 24th Indian T20 League fifty. He has been crucial in the no. 3 spot for Kolkata and he continues to show why. Needs to be there till the end though. |
| Strategic break! Nitish Rana is gone after a blistering knock but Punjab just cannot afford to relax. Andre Russell has arrived and we all know he just thrives on starts like these. Kolkata will be thinking of a total around 200 and with Robin Uthappa there as well, it's certainly on. Punjab would try to limit the damage in the end overs. Mohammed Shami to bowl after the mini-break. |
| 16.1 : M Shami to A Russell, A low full toss from around the wicket. Difficult to get those away. Russell powers it down to long on for a single. |
| 16.2 : M Shami to R Uthappa, A good yorker on the pads, Uthappa works it through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 16.3 : M Shami to A Russell, Another excellent low full toss, all Russell can do is hit it down to long on for a run. Punjab won't mind singles at the moment. |
| 16.4 : M Shami to R Uthappa, FOUR! A very good delivery but an even better shot! This is what dents the confidence of a bowler. This is very full and on the pads, Uthappa uses the depth of the crease and then flicks it through square leg for a boundary. |
| 16.5 : M Shami to R Uthappa, A full toss this time, Uthappa hits it all along the ground. The square leg is back so only a run. |
| BOWLED 'EM! No, wait, it is a no ball. Not for overstepping but for having only three fielders inside the ring. Andre Russell gets a reprieve... |
| 16.6 : M Shami to A Russell, NO BALL! The Punjab players can't believe it! Shami has knocked over Russell with a top yorker but the umpire has signaled it a no ball just as Russell started to walk back. He spots there is an extra fielder outside the circle. How costly is this going to prove now? A Free Hit coming up. |
| M Shami to A Russell, Just the single though from the Free Hit. A low full toss again and Russell only manages to hit it flat towards Tye at deep mid-wicket. He drops the catch but keeps it down to one. 10 comes from this over but it was an excellent one from Shami. |
| Andrew Tye is back on. |
| 17.1 : A Tye to A Russell, Yorker of the highest quality, following the batsman down the leg side, even the batsman of Russell's caliber can't do much. He only digs it out. |
| 17.2 : A Tye to R Uthappa, Short in length this time, around off, Russell rocks back and pulls it over mid-wicket for a run. Don't want to jinx him but Tye has not conceded a single boundary. |
| 17.3 : A Tye to A Russell, SIX! We've jinxed Tye! He gives away his first boundary. Unlucky though. A slower one, on a length around leg, Russell top edges his attempted big shot across the line and it goes all the way over fine leg for a maximum. |
| 17.4 : A Tye to A Russell, FOUR! One brings two. Tye serves a shorter one outside off, Russell camps back and blazes his pull shot to the cow corner region for a powerful boundary. |
| 17.5 : A Tye to A Russell, FOUR! Edgy again! Tye delivers it short and on middle, from 'round the wicket, Andre winds up for a big heave across the line and top edges it behind. Rahul runs back but fails to stop it. |
| 17.6 : A Tye to A Russell, SIX! Russell has smoked this! Poor delivery this time. A length and in the zone for the West Indian. Russell clears his front leg and rifles it over mid-wicket for a biggie. 22 from the over, Kolkata powering ahead! |
| 18.1 : M Shami to R Uthappa, Very good delivery! Another yorker outside off, Uthappa guides it through point and takes two. |
| 18.2 : M Shami to R Uthappa, Tries to pierce the gap through extra cover but mid off gets across to his left and keeps it to one. |
| 18.3 : M Shami to A Russell, SIX! You miss the yorker and Russell will deposit you in the stands. That is what happens here. Shami misses the mark by a little and Russell powers it over the long off fence. |
| 18.4 : M Shami to A Russell, SIX! If you bowl him a full toss he will surely make you pay. That is humongous. Russell just bludgeons it into the mid-wicket stands. Consecutive ones. 200 up and 8 more balls to go. |
| 18.5 : M Shami to A Russell, SIX! Three in a row! Another freebie by Shami. A high full toss this time and Russel easily clears the mid-wicket fence. Can he make it 4 in 4? |
| 18.6 : M Shami to A Russell, FOUR! Clobbered! He does not get a maximum but gets the next best result. A boundary. Full and outside off, Russell powers it through extra cover. Long off is very straight and he can't stop it. 25 from the penultimate over. |
| 19.1 : A Tye to R Uthappa, Uthappa does the right thing as he works it through mid-wicket and gives the strike over to Russell. |
| 19.2 : A Tye to A Russell, Tye goes wide outside off, away from Russell's zone. He only manages a single as it is dragged down to long on. |
| 19.3 : A Tye to R Uthappa, In the air... but safe! The slower bouncer and Uthappa is deceived. He looks to pull but only manages a top edge towards square leg for a run. |
| 19.4 : A Tye to A Russell, OUT! End of the destruction! Russell has been bounced out. A very good catch there by Agarwal. The bumper on middle, Russell goes for the pull but it hits the higher portion of the bat. For a second it seems that it would go all the way but Mayank at deep mid-wicket keeps his eyes on the ropes behind and then takes a well-judged catch. Russell walks off to a standing ovation, he has made Punjab pay for the reprieve they gave him. |
| Dinesh Karthik is the new batsman. |
| 19.5 : A Tye to D Karthik, Just a single! This is turning out to be a top over here! Karthik hits it flat and on the bounce to the long on fielder. |
| 19.6 : A Tye to R Uthappa, FOUR! A boundary to end! What a shot, excellent innovation. Uthappa first looks to paddle but then sees the line is wide outside off. He adjusts and manages to guide it past point, away from third man for a boundary. 8 from the last one, a good one by Tye but it is Kolkata who will be happier at the moment. THEY END WITH 218! |
| The Dre Russ show! Once again. Bowled on 3 but called a no ball for having an extra fielder outside the ring and the narrative changed completely after that! A big, big miss from Ravichandran Ashwin as a skipper, this. Andre Russell just unleashed after that and muscled a 17-ball 48 to power Kolkata to a gigantic score of 218/4! |
| A perfect batting performance from Kolkata! Their openers set the tone by providing a blazing start and then the pair of Robin Uthappa and Nitish Rana capitalized. They put on a 110-run stand and after that Andre Russell provided the finishing touches. Punjab were hot and cold with their bowling effort. They pulled things back inside the Powerplay first and then in the middle phase, but only for a brief period. Andrew Tye and Hardus Viljoen stood out but they too proved expensive later on. |
| Sunil Narine, who is up for a chat, says they started off well, Nitish played superbly in the middle and Russell did his job in the end. Reckons the wicket is a good one and they will have to bowl well. Mentions if Russell is at the crease anything is possible. Ends by saying there is not much spin at the start but as the match progresses, it will start to turn. |
| A massive target is in front of Punjab but they would like to believe that they have the firepower in their batting to scale this down. For now, the hosts are the favourites and let's see what happens in the chase. Do join us in a short while. |
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