| 0.0 : Warm welcome ladies and gentlemen for round two between Kolkata and Bangalore in 2019, this time at the Eden Gardens. Powered by Russell's blitz, the hosts edged out the touring team last time around and will look to repeat that this evening in order to break their losing streak. Although they are sweating over the big all-rounder's fitness who took a blow in the nets. For Bangalore, nothing has gone their way this season and we are hearing that AB DE VILLIERS IS NOT PLAYING as he is not fit. A |
| Pitch - The surface looks like a belter and we can expect a high-scoring game this evening. |
| Toss - Up goes the coin, Virat Kohli calls it incorrectly and KOLKATA WILL FIELD! |
| Kolkata skipper, Dinesh Karthik says that they will bowl first. Mentions that Eden has always been a batting-friendly wicket and they are expecting it to be that way again. Adds that sometimes it's good to have a break. ANDRE RUSSELL IS FIT, informs DK and they have retained their last XI. |
| Bangalore skipper, Virat Kohli says that they have not been too bad at setting targets and it is another opportunity to set a good one here against Kolkata like they did the last time when they made over 200. He admits every game from here on is like a semi-final or a final for them but the most important thing is for the players to enjoy themselves and express themselves the best way possible. Kohli also confirms that AB de Villiers will not be playing tonight as he has not recovered from the b |
| Kolkata (Unchanged Playing XI) - Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Nitish Rana, Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik(WK/C), Andre Russell, Shubman Gill, Piyush Chawla, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Harry Gurney. |
| Bangalore (Playing XI) - Parthiv Patel(WK), Virat Kohli(C), Heinrich Klaasen (In for AB de Villiers), Moeen Ali, Marcus Stoinis, Akshdeep Nath, Pawan Negi, Dale Steyn (In for Umesh Yadav), Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini, Yuzvendra Chahal. |
| It's time to play the game. Virat Kohli and Parthiv Patel stride out to the middle. The Kolkata fielders are also taking the field. Almost a full house here at the Eden Gardens. Terrific atmosphere. Wonderful place to play cricket. Parthiv to face first ball and it's Harry Gurney kicking off proceedings. A solitary slip in place. Here we go... |
| 0.1 : H Gurney to P Patel, A slower delivery to start from Gurney. It's on a length outside off and holding up onto the batsman. Parthiv is early into his shot and pushes it a bit aerially in the direction of cover-point. |
| 0.2 : H Gurney to P Patel, Wide! Bangalore are underway. Gurney serves a back of a length ball on leg and the angle takes it further down. Patel shuffles across while trying to glance it but misses. |
| H Gurney to P Patel, Another delivery on the slower side and sliding down the leg side, Parthiv eases it off his pads to deep backward square leg for a single. Patel is off the mark! |
| 0.3 : H Gurney to V Kohli, EDGED BUT SHORT! Nervous beginning for the Bangalore skipper. Gurney once again delivers a slower delivery, a cutter around off at 115.1 kph, Kohli's bottom hand gets locked as he pushes inside the line and edges it behind. Luckily for him, it doesn't carry to first slip. |
| 0.4 : H Gurney to V Kohli, Angles it into the batsman on middle and off, Virat defends it off his back foot. |
| 0.5 : H Gurney to V Kohli, Another delivery angling into the batsman, on middle and leg, Kohli flicks it in front of square leg and crosses. |
| 0.6 : H Gurney to P Patel, Stifled appeal for an lbw! Shaping back into the batsman with some extra bounce. Patel tries working it around but misses. They appeal but the umpire doesn't show much interest. Tidy start from Gurney. |
| Spin from the other end! Sunil Narine to share the new ball. |
| 1.1 : S Narine to V Kohli, Flighted full ball on off, Kohli flicks it with the spin through square leg for a couple of runs. |
| Big moment this! Review taken against Kohli as an LBW appeal is turned down. Looked like it was spinning too much and going down leg to the naked eye... |
| 1.2 : S Narine to V Kohli, NOT OUT! Missing leg. Narine dishes out an off spinner, landing on middle and turning back in. Kohli plants his front foot forward as he reaches out for it to play it on the leg side. But he gets beaten by the inward spin and it hits him on the pads. They appeal but the umpire disagrees. Dinesh Karthik reviews but the replays show that it's missing leg. Eden Gardens roars, probably they forgot that Virat is in the opposition camp. Kolkata have lost their only review in |
| 1.3 : S Narine to V Kohli, The batsman works it down the leg side. One run added to the total. |
| 1.4 : S Narine to P Patel, Flatter and quicker on middle, defended off the back foot. |
| 1.5 : S Narine to P Patel, Slightly on the shorter side, Patel goes on the back foot and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 1.6 : S Narine to V Kohli, Kohli allows the ball to spin back in and flicks it off his back foot. But he finds the fielder standing to the right of the square leg umpire. Dot ball to finish yet another tidy over for Kolkata. |
| Prasidh Krishna to bowl now. |
| 2.1 : P Krishna to P Patel, FOUR! Unlucky for the bowler. It's a perfect delivery to start your spell but there is no justice for the bowlers in this format. A cracking yorker on off, Patel digs it out at the last moment and it runs off the inside edge to fine leg. Kuldeep in the deep tries his best to pull it back with a dive but fails in his attempt. |
| 2.2 : P Krishna to P Patel, A pacey delivery, on the shorter side around leg at 143.3 kph, Patel is beaten in pace and is late into his pull shot. Cops a blow on his body. |
| 2.3 : P Krishna to P Patel, And again... Prasidh is bowling with a lot of fire and pace. Digs in another short delivery, Parthiv fails to middle his pull shot and is hit on the body once again. |
| 2.4 : P Krishna to P Patel, Good field placement. Short in length and wide outside off, Patel leans back and slaps it over backward point. The third man fielder is quite square and hence only a run. |
| 2.5 : P Krishna to V Kohli, Sharp bouncer to greet the Bangalore skipper as well. Kohli pulls it over mid-wicket, not timed too well, and there is a fielder at deep mid-wicket to stop the ball. A single. |
| 2.6 : P Krishna to P Patel, FOUR! The over ends with a boundary as well. Although unlike the first delivery, this one deserved to be put away. Short in length and wide outside off, Parthiv slams it through the line and it goes just over the outstretched right hand of Chawla at point for a boundary. |
| 3.1 : S Narine to V Kohli, Flatter one on the pads, worked down to fine leg for a single by the Bangalore skipper. |
| 3.2 : S Narine to P Patel, OUT! The first one is down and Parthiv who was looking scratchy, has to depart! A flighted off spinner landing on off, Patel looks to slog this ball. He goes against the spin and ends up skying this ball. The ball goes to Rana at deep mid-wicket who was in motion as he reaches the ball. Nitish though juggles thrice before he finally holds on in the fourth attempt! Narine and Kolkata have smiles on their faces now. |
| Akshdeep Nath walks in next at number 3. The youngster has been given a promotion today. With the skipper at the other end, this is the best possible chance for Nath to show his mettle. |
| 3.3 : S Narine to V Kohli, FOUR! Poor piece of fielding in the deep by Gill. Short in length and Kohli immediately goes on the back foot to pull it towards deep mid-wicket. Shubman in the deep lets it through his hands to the fence. |
| 3.4 : S Narine to V Kohli, Flatter one on middle, punched back to long on for a single by Kolhi. |
| 3.5 : S Narine to A Nath, Carrom ball first up to the new batsman, Nath pushes it down the ground to long on for a single. |
| 3.6 : S Narine to V Kohli, Flicked away stylishly this time by Kohli and in the gap for a couple of runs. 9 runs off this over but a wicket as well. |
| Harry Gurney is back on. |
| 4.1 : H Gurney to A Nath, Gets on the front foot to a full ball and pushes it back in the direction of the bowler. |
| 4.2 : H Gurney to A Nath, Angles in a length ball on off, Nath defends it from the crease. |
| 4.3 : H Gurney to A Nath, A cutter, moving back in from outside off, Nath uses his wrists to work it to the left of short fine leg for a single. |
| 4.4 : H Gurney to V Kohli, Edgy! Fuller in length and outside off, Kohli inside edges his attempted cover drive to mid-wicket for a single. The skipper is not looking happy there. Got deceived there by the slower one. |
| 4.5 : H Gurney to A Nath, Wide! Sprays a good length ball way down the leg side. Nath watches it go to the keeper. |
| H Gurney to A Nath, Not offering any pace, Gurney. This one is bowled at 102.8 kph, on a length around middle, Nath waits for it on the back foot and hits it towards short fine leg for one. |
| 4.6 : H Gurney to V Kohli, Beaten! Kohli is struggling here. Gurney clocks 130 kph this time. Serves it on a length outside off, Virat pushes inside the line and misses. |
| Prasidh Krishna is back on. |
| 5.1 : P Krishna to A Nath, Appeal for an lbw! Not given. Good length ball landing outside off and shaping back in. Nath is caught on the back foot trying to defend. But he gets beaten in pace and it raps him on the back leg. They put in an unsuccessful appeal. No DRS left for Kolkata. Anyway, that looked a bit high. |
| 5.2 : P Krishna to A Nath, SIX! Every time Krishna digs it in, he is hit to the boundary. It's short on off, Nath picks it early and smashes it with absolute disdain over mid-wicket. |
| 5.3 : P Krishna to A Nath, A delivery in the channel outside off, Nath tries to steer it through the line but it takes the outside edge and runs down to third man for one. |
| 5.4 : P Krishna to V Kohli, Movement off the pitch, Kohli fails to keep it out and is hit high on the pads. |
| 5.5 : P Krishna to V Kohli, EDGY FOUR! Prasidh looks like a completely different bowler whenever he pitches it up. He lands it on a length around off, angling in, Kohli tries to flick it on the leg side but it catches the leading edge and speeds down to third man for a boundary. |
| 5.6 : P Krishna to V Kohli, Goes on the back foot and punches it through covers for a run. 12 from the over, Krishna has gone for 22 in his two overs. Powerplay done, Bangalore are 42/1! |
| Andre Russell is on. |
| 6.1 : A Russell to V Kohli, On a length on top of off stump, Kohli looks to push the ball but it goes off the outside half to deep point for a single. |
| 6.2 : A Russell to A Nath, Punched off the back foot to deep cover for another single, this time by Nath. |
| 6.3 : A Russell to V Kohli, Good effort but ends up conceding two! On a length outside off, Kohli pushes it to the left of point where Rana dives and looks to stop the ball but only half-stops it. Two runs are taken. |
| 6.4 : A Russell to V Kohli, Punched off the back foot towards cover by VK. |
| 6.5 : A Russell to V Kohli, Good shot but only a run for it. Short of a length on middle and leg, Kohli swivels and pulls it but the fine leg fielder is quite fine and stops that. Only a single can be taken. |
| 6.6 : A Russell to A Nath, Bouncer outside off, Nath looks to improvise and ramp the ball over the keeper but fails to connect. End of a decent over from Russell. |
| Kuldeep Yadav to bowl now. |
| 7.1 : K Yadav to V Kohli, FOUR! Welcomes Kuldeep with a boundary. Flighted generously by Yadav, Kohli runs down the track and lifts it over the head of the bowler. Splits long on and long off to find the fence. |
| 7.2 : K Yadav to V Kohli, Punched off the back foot to the bowler this time as the length is shortened. |
| 7.3 : K Yadav to V Kohli, FOUR! SHOT! That is the master at work. A flighted ball outside off, Kohli drives it and drives it firmly. Deep cover is there but he has no chance to reach that even though it is not too far away. |
| 7.4 : K Yadav to V Kohli, Swept away to deep backward square leg for a run. |
| 7.5 : K Yadav to A Nath, Flighted googly outside off, Akshdeep reverse sweeps it but finds short third man. |
| 7.6 : K Yadav to A Nath, A conventional sweep this time. Goes to deep square leg for a run along the ground. Nath will keep strike for the next over. |
| Strategic break! Bangalore started off very nervously, poking and edging but somehow they have lost only a wicket. The scoring rate is not too great at just over 7 RPO. Kohli is just starting to time the ball well and his team will hope he can anchor the innings well while the others power around him. On the other hand, Kolkata will look for a few more wickets to increase the pressure even more. |
| 8.1 : A Russell to A Nath, Back of a length delivery outside off, Nath goes on his toes to get on top of the bounce as he punches it to sweeper cover for a single. |
| 8.2 : A Russell to V Kohli, Play and a miss! Kohli loses his shape completely there while attempting to play the shot. Width on offer outside off, it's short in length, Kohli flashes and misses. |
| 8.3 : A Russell to V Kohli, An off pace delivery, on a good length at 119.5 kph, Kohli pushes it down the ground to long on for a run. |
| 8.4 : A Russell to A Nath, Excellent delivery. Russell bends his back and dishes a well-directed short ball on off. Nath tries to pull but it goes over his bat. |
| 8.5 : A Russell to A Nath, OUT! Russell strikes this time. Serves a back of a length delivery on off at 145 clicks, Akshdeep tries to pull it across the line on the leg side but it takes the top edge and balloons in the air towards cover-point. Russell rushes forward to collect the catch but Robin Uthappa sprints forward from extra cover to snaffle it. Andre smiles. An ordinary outing for Nath is over. |
| Moeen Ali is the new batsman. |
| 8.6 : A Russell to M Ali, Played to the mid-wicket region by the batsman. One run added to the total. 3 runs and a wicket from this over. |
| 9.1 : K Yadav to M Ali, SIX! Up and over long on. Moeen has been in superb form and this shot shows that. He rushes down the track in a flash and powers it with the spin over long on. |
| 9.2 : K Yadav to M Ali, Turning away from the batsman from a fuller length outside off, Ali drives it with the spin through covers for one. |
| 9.3 : K Yadav to V Kohli, Tossed up ball around leg, spinning towards off, Kohli goes back and helps it in front of square leg for a run. |
| 9.4 : K Yadav to M Ali, Shorter in length outside off, Ali goes on the back foot and slaps it to deep cover for a single. |
| 9.5 : K Yadav to V Kohli, Loopy and full on middle, it's knocked down to long on for another run in this over. |
| 9.6 : K Yadav to M Ali, Beaten! Lovely delivery. Gives this one some extra air and it breaks away after landing just outside off. Moeen rocks back to play a late cut but is beaten by the away spin. Bangalore are 70/2 at the halfway mark. |
| 10.1 : A Russell to V Kohli, Shortish and outside off, Kohli punches it over covers and straightaway shouts two. Completes it with ease although he has to run round the bowler for the second run. |
| 10.2 : A Russell to V Kohli, Shortish again, punched off the back foot but straight to Uthappa at short cover. |
| 10.3 : A Russell to V Kohli, Bodies falling all around. Full in length and outside off, Kohli pushes it back in the direction of the bowler and steps out of the crease. Russell dives across to his left in his followthrough to stop the ball and then has an immediate shy at the striker's end. Misses as Kohli dives back in. |
| 10.4 : A Russell to V Kohli, SIX! Take that for a reply. Kohli is pumped up. Russell bangs in a short ball on off and Kohli immediately goes back to ride the bounce. Connects superbly with his pull shot and dispatches it behind square leg for a biggie. |
| 10.5 : A Russell to V Kohli, Walks down the track, picks the slower delivery and works it through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 10.6 : A Russell to M Ali, Short in length and wide outside off, at 140.5 kph, Moeen throws his bat at it but fails to connect. Russell is lucky that it's not called a wide. That was flirting with the tramline. Hang on, hang on, the replays detect some outside edge. Dear me, no one picked that. Moeen is lucky to survive. |
| Piyush Chawla to bowl now. |
| 11.1 : P Chawla to V Kohli, A flighted delivery, landing very full outside off, Kohli digs it out down to long on for a run. |
| 11.2 : P Chawla to M Ali, Beaten! There is some spin out there. Chawla bowls a googly on the flatter side around off. Moeen tries playing late but it spins away to beat his bat. |
| 11.3 : P Chawla to M Ali, SIX! High and handsome! Chawla bowls a leg spinner, full and outside off, Moeen kneels and smokes it over wide long on for a maximum. |
| 11.4 : P Chawla to M Ali, Goes with the spin again and sweeps it through square leg for a single. |
| 11.5 : P Chawla to V Kohli, Fullish and on off, Kohli plays an off drive for a single as the long off fielder mops it up. |
| 11.6 : P Chawla to M Ali, A googly on the shorter side, Moeen hangs back and hits it over covers for a single. 10 from Chawla's first over. |
| Sunil Narine replaces Russell. |
| 12.1 : S Narine to M Ali, Flighted ball around leg, Moeen nudges it in front of square leg and runs the first run hard. He turns for the second run but Kohli screams loudly to send him back. |
| 12.2 : S Narine to V Kohli, Quicker on at 91.6 kph, a bit short and on off, Virat helps it through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 12.3 : S Narine to M Ali, Too full in length on middle and off, Moeen clears his front leg, probably for a big heave across the line, but then he forces it down to long on for one. |
| 12.4 : S Narine to V Kohli, Shortish and on off, hit firmly across the line to deep mid-wicket for a run. |
| 12.5 : S Narine to M Ali, FOUR! A lucky boundary for the Englishman. A tossed up ball on middle and off, Narine tries to power it over the leg side but gets a big inside edge. It misses the stumps and races away to the fine leg fence. |
| 12.6 : S Narine to M Ali, Tossed up ball on middle, Moeen eases it to the right of short fine leg fielder for a single. 9 coming off this over. |
| Kuldeep Yadav is back on. |
| 13.1 : K Yadav to M Ali, SIX! Once again Kuldeep's over begins with a biggie. A slower full ball around off, Moeen goes down on one knee and launches it over mid-wicket for a biggie. Not quite from the meat of the blade but still it has gone the distance. 100 up for Bangalore. |
| 13.2 : K Yadav to M Ali, FOUR! Under pressure, Kuldeep goes flat and short, way wide outside off at 109.6 kph. The field is set on the leg side and all Moeen has to do is beat the infield on the off side. He does that with a late cut and finds the gap between short third man and backward point. |
| 13.3 : K Yadav to M Ali, Slightly slower this time, short and outside off, Ali tries to cut but misses. |
| 13.4 : K Yadav to M Ali, The ball is too wide on the off side for the batsman to make any contact. Lucky it's not wided. |
| 13.5 : K Yadav to M Ali, 50-run stand comes up! Moeen attempts for an inside-out over covers but ends up hitting it a lot straighter. The ball goes on one bounce to the fielder at long off. A single taken. |
| 13.6 : K Yadav to V Kohli, Forces a full ball down to long off for a run. 12 from this over. |
| Prasidh Krishna is back on. |
| 14.1 : P Krishna to V Kohli, FIFTY FOR KOHLI! His 37th in the Indian T20 League! Brings it up with a driven single down to long off. Back-to-back fifty for the BLR skipper against Kolkata. |
| 14.2 : P Krishna to M Ali, Bowled at the pads, Moeen misses his flick. The ball lobs off the pads and goes to the off side for a leg bye. |
| 14.3 : P Krishna to V Kohli, Egded and four! The third man is up and that means that Kohli will get four. A length ball on middle, Virat looks to whip it away but gets an edge that flies over short third man. The ball bounces a few times before going to the fence as the fielder tries to back track. |
| 14.4 : P Krishna to V Kohli, In the air... but safe again! A bouncer on middle, Kohli looks to pull through mid-wicket but the ball goes a lot straighter. It goes on the bounce to long on who maybe could have dived to take that catch. |
| 14.5 : P Krishna to M Ali, FOUR! Another top edge! A short of a length ball bowled on off, Ali looks to pull but is nowhere in position to play that shot. The ball though takes the top edge and flies over the head of the keeper for a boundary. |
| 14.6 : P Krishna to M Ali, Pulled away stylishly for a single to deep mid-wicket. 12 runs off this over. |
| 15.1 : K Yadav to M Ali, FOUR! It's been driven superbly through the covers. The ball races to the boundary. Ali spots the flighted ball and smashes it aerially through covers for a boundary. |
| 15.2 : K Yadav to M Ali, SIX! This is even better for Bangalore as it goes all the way. FIFTY FOR ALI!!! 3rd fifty in the League. A flighted ball on middle, Moeen kneels down and smashes it way over deep mid-wicket. |
| 15.3 : K Yadav to M Ali, FOUR! Moeen is motoring now! Not stopping this man! A tossed up ball outside off, Ali allows it to land and then spanks it over his partner's head for a boundary down the ground. |
| 15.4 : K Yadav to M Ali, SIX! Huge mistake! Flighted on middle, Ali smashes it over long on. Prasidh there seems to have lost the ball and completely makes a mess, getting nowhere near the ball. It goes over the rope. Was he standing too up? |
| 15.5 : K Yadav to M Ali, Wide! This one is delivered waywardly outside the tramline on the off side. |
| K Yadav to M Ali, SIX! Kohli is all smiles, Moeen has exploded and boundaries are raining at the Eden Gardens. Kuldeep overpitches it on off, Moeen attacks it with all his might and towers it over long off for a maximum. |
| 15.6 : K Yadav to M Ali, OUT! One shot too many and Moeen perishes! He has done his job spectacularly though. A flighted leg spinner from around the wicket. The southpaw goes for the slog again but top edges it and the ball goes really high in the air. Prasidh Krishna this time comes under the ball, makes no mistake as he completes the catch with ease at long on. A brilliant knock from the Englishman comes to an end! An over full of excitement comes to an end, 27 runs and a wicket off it. Kuldeep |
| Strategic break. Kolkata will be taking a huge sigh of relief after dismissing Moeen Ali. The Englishman was going all guns blazing and has put Bangalore in a very commanding position. Virat Kohli has played the anchor role well and with four overs left, we can expect him to change gears. For Kolkata, it's all about minimizing the damage in the death overs. Mouthwatering finish on the cards. Marcus Stoinis has joined his skipper in the middle. Meanwhile, Harry Gurney is also called back into the |
| 16.1 : H Gurney to M Stoinis, Wide! The slower one goes wrong as Gurney sprays it down the leg side. Wided. The 150 comes up for the visitors! |
| H Gurney to M Stoinis, Back of a length outside off, slower in pace. Pushed to point and Stoinis gets to the other end. |
| 16.2 : H Gurney to V Kohli, FOUR! Picks up the slower one from the hands and pulls this one away fine on the leg side. He beats short fine leg and finds the rope. The runs are flowing here. |
| 16.3 : H Gurney to V Kohli, Excellent running! Two, two, two is the call as soon as Virat hit that one. On a length outside off, Kohli comes down the track and mishits it. That allows him to take the second run as the ball goes towards deep cover. |
| 16.4 : H Gurney to V Kohli, FOUR! Jammed away! A ball in the blockhole outside off, Kohli gets the bat down in time and angles it away through cover-point. Finds the gap and the ball wins the race against Lynn. |
| 16.5 : H Gurney to V Kohli, SIX! This one is even better! Brilliant shot from Kohli but to be honest, that ball was there to be hit. A half-volley on middle, Kohli waits for the ball to arrive and smashes it right back over the bowler's head and into the sightscreen. |
| 16.6 : H Gurney to V Kohli, Outside off in the blockhole, kept out towards the left of backward point for a run. Kohli keeps strike. |
| Sunil Narine is back on. |
| 17.1 : S Narine to V Kohli, Flatter one on middle, whipped away to deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 17.2 : S Narine to M Stoinis, Pushed away to long on for a single off the back foot by Stoinis. |
| 17.3 : S Narine to V Kohli, SIX! That is off the middle of the bat! A flatter one on middle, Kohli rocks back and pulls this one way over wide long on. It goes into the crowd. |
| 17.4 : S Narine to V Kohli, Cut away to deep point for a run this time. Kohli screams as he gets to the other end, maybe wanted more from that ball. |
| 17.5 : S Narine to M Stoinis, Cut away as this one is flatter outside off, Stoinis finds the fielder though. |
| 17.6 : S Narine to M Stoinis, Wide! The off spinner spins too much and goes down the leg side. Wided. |
| What happened there? Narine pulls out of his run-up. Kohli jokingly gestures to him that his bat is still inside the crease and that he is going nowhere! The mankading joke! |
| S Narine to M Stoinis, Spinning down the leg side, Stoinis gets back to work it away but misses and is hit on the thigh pad. 56 in the last 3 overs. |
| Prasidh Krishna is back on. |
| 18.1 : P Krishna to V Kohli, Shortish and on off, Kohli plays a short-arm jab through mid-wicket for a couple of runs. Very quick running between the wickets. |
| 18.2 : P Krishna to V Kohli, SIX! This one has disappeared! Kohli, you beauty. A length delivery at this stage is not a good idea, Krishna. Virat stays put inside the crease and dismisses it from his presence. The ball goes flying over long on for a maximum. |
| 18.3 : P Krishna to V Kohli, FOUR! Shot! Class and timing written all over it! A length ball outside off, Kohli gets down on his knee before smashing it with one movement through covers. No one moved! Brilliance of the batsman! |
| 18.4 : P Krishna to V Kohli, Short in length and on middle, Kohli pulls it in front of square leg for an easy couple. |
| 18.5 : P Krishna to V Kohli, A low full toss on off, it's hit across the line to deep mid-wicket for one. Kohli moves to 95! |
| 18.6 : P Krishna to M Stoinis, FOUR! That's a top strike! Stoinis tries to trick the bowler by showing his back leg and then returns to his original stance. Krishna delivers it on a length and wide outside off, the Aussie pounces onto it and bludgeons it through extra cover. No chance for long off. 19 from the over, Bangalore are finishing big! |
| Gurney to bowl the final over of the innings. |
| 19.1 : H Gurney to V Kohli, A low full toss outside off, Kohli walks forward and drives it through covers for a single. Last 6.1 overs have fetched 100 runs for Bangalore. Whoa! |
| 19.2 : H Gurney to M Stoinis, Misfield... FOUR! A slower delivery, on the shorter side on middle, Stoinis pulls it over square leg. Kuldeep in the deep tries to stop it but the ball bounces in front of him and goes over to meet the fence. 50-run stand comes up in a very quick time. The 200 comes up for Bangalore as well! |
| 19.3 : H Gurney to M Stoinis, SIX! Huge and into the crowd! A slower ball and lands in the half-volley region, Stoinis picks that one and lifts it way over long on. The ball came bang out of the middle of the bat. |
| 19.4 : H Gurney to M Stoinis, Aerial but safe! Width on offer outside off, Stoinis clears his front leg for a big heave but it takes the outside half and falls safely at deep extra cover. There is two on offer but Kohli sends his partner back. Virat on 96! |
| 19.5 : H Gurney to V Kohli, FOUR! HUNDRED FOR VIRAT KOHLI! What an innings! Stand up and applaud the genius of this man. His fifth 100 in the Indian T20 League. A low full toss on middle, Kohli flicks this away through mid-wicket and finds the gap. Kuldeep runs in the deep to his left and tries to stop it with a dive but fails to do so. That takes Kohli to exactly 100! A well-planned knock by the skipper. |
| 19.6 : H Gurney to V Kohli, OUT! A wicket off the last ball! Gurney delivers it full and on middle and leg at 126 kph, Kohli heaves it across the line but gets more height than distance on his shot. Shubman Gill at deep mid-wicket makes no mistake. Anyway, Bangalore end on 213/4! |
| Some finish that! Bangalore have surely given themselves a chance at winning tonight at the end of the first half by posting a 210-plus total! 115 runs in the last seven overs! The architect of this innings was mainly Virat Kohli, who reached 3 figures but was ably supported by Moeen Ali, Marcus Stoinis who played vital knocks to help the visitors to this kind of a total. |
| After being put into bat, Bangalore were off to a slow start, playing and missing quite a few deliveries at the beginning. Parthiv Patel departed early and was replaced by Akshdeep Nath who could not do much either. Then came Moeen Ali and suddenly, Kohli who was at the other end all along and not looking so fluent, started middling things. Moeen Ali went crazy as he put the ball over the fence at will and was especially stern towards Kuldeep, who went for 59 in his four overs including 27 in on |
| After the dismissal of Mo though, Kohli took charge and found the boundaries. Stoinis who came in next played a quick cameo too and ensured that Bangalore got to a massive total. Virat ended up with exactly 100 and was dismissed on the last ball of the innings. Coming to the bowling, most of the bowlers were taken for runs but Prasidh Krishna was pretty impressive with the pace he generated. Russell too was decent in the 3 overs he bowled. Kuldeep Yadav was taken apart and even looked really dej |
| Moeen Ali is up for a little chat with Kevin Pietersen. On being asked that what Virat Kohli advised him once he missed Chawla's delivery at the beginning, Moeen replies that Kohli just told him to watch out for his googly. Reckons that they have to bowl well with the new ball. Admits it's going to be tough against Kolkata's batting. Praises Kohli's knock and calls him an amazing player. |
| Thus, 213 on the board! Now it is upto the away side's bowlers to defend the score. Will Dale Steyn and co. be able to do so? We will find out in just a bit. Don't go too far away... |
| 0.0 : We are back for the chase. Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine are the two opening batsmen for Kolkata. Dale Steyn has the new ball in hand for Bangalore. 214 to win, will the hosts reach it or will the away side defend it? Let's find out... |
| 0.1 : D Steyn to C Lynn, DROPPED! First ball drop! How huge could that be? An away swinger, the perfect one from Steyn. On a length and takes the edge of Lynn as he tries to push at it tentatively. The ball flies to Stoinis at first slip, who moves to his right but cannot hold on. Could have been the dream start for the new bowler in the team but not to be. The ball goes in and out. A single taken as the ball rolls towards third man. |
| 0.2 : D Steyn to S Narine, Perfect ball outside off to the southpaw this time. Narine lets the ball go. |
| 0.3 : D Steyn to S Narine, FOUR LEG BYES! Strays onto the pads this time, Narine misses his flick and the ball goes off the pads and fine enough on the leg side to find the fence. |
| 0.4 : D Steyn to S Narine, Narine shoulders arms to let that one through outside off. |
| 0.5 : D Steyn to S Narine, Pushed to point off the back foot. Negi there reaches the ball and throws it immediately but misses his shy at the bowler's end. Quick single completed. |
| 0.6 : D Steyn to C Lynn, OUT! The drop does not cost much! Lynn departs on the next ball he faces! An outswinger outside off and slightly fuller this time, Lynn pushes at it without foot movement. The ball pings off the bat and lobs to mid off. Virat Kohli there takes a simple catch. He is pumped up and so is Steyn! Dream start for him and his team. 6 runs and a wicket off this over. |
| Shubman Gill is the new batsman and it will be Navdeep Saini to operate from the other end. |
| 1.1 : N Saini to S Narine, FOUR! Smashed right back through the line. A length ball outside off, Narine rocks back and goes through with the smash that looked like a tennis ball shot. The ball pings back past mid off. |
| 1.2 : N Saini to S Narine, Short of a length outside off, Narine swings but misses the ball. |
| 1.3 : N Saini to S Narine, Another swing and a miss! A back of a length ball on middle and some away movement, Narine looks to pull but the ball moves away and he fails to connect. |
| 1.4 : N Saini to S Narine, Pulled away to long on for a single this time as the ball goes off the bottom half of the bat. Good bowling this! To a specific plan. |
| 1.5 : N Saini to S Gill, Good ball first up to the right-hander. On a length outside off, pushed off the back foot towards point. |
| 1.6 : N Saini to S Gill, A short-arm jab attempted there by Gill. The ball goes towards mid on though as the batsman is late on his shot. |
| 2.1 : D Steyn to S Narine, FOUR! Top shot! A back of a length ball aimed on top of middle, Narine makes room and cuts it away. The ball finds the gap through covers. No stopping that one. |
| 2.2 : D Steyn to S Narine, Swing and a miss! A length ball, holds its line on top of middle. Narine looks to go big but does not put bat on ball. |
| 2.3 : D Steyn to S Narine, Another miss! Narine is looking to go too hard here but is not keeping eyes on the ball. Swings yet again but misses yet again! Looks like it is a job given to Sunil to swing. |
| 2.4 : D Steyn to S Narine, FOUR! Pulled away by Narine. This time the ball is shorter in length and the batsman has enough time to see it. He stands tall and connects his pull. It goes past mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 2.5 : D Steyn to S Narine, FOUR! Short of a length outside off, top edged and gone to the fence! Narine looks to cut this one over point but gets an edge. The ball flies fine on the off side and beats third man to the rope. |
| 2.6 : D Steyn to S Narine, Good change of pace! Slower ball outside off, Narine looks to drive the ball but fails to read the change in pace. He misses the ball and it goes to the keeper. |
| 3.1 : N Saini to S Gill, Full and wide outside off, Gill drives it through the line but the mid off fielder moves quickly to his left to stop the ball. |
| 3.2 : N Saini to S Gill, Beaten! Good pace from Saini. On a length and just around off, holding its line, Gill pushes inside the line without any footwork but misses. |
| 3.3 : N Saini to S Gill, Misfield and a single is taken. Identical to the first delivery of this over, Gill drives it firmly down to mid off where Kohli does a rare misfield and allows a run. |
| 3.4 : N Saini to S Narine, Clever bowling by Saini. The young man knows that the West Indian is just sitting back and trying to attack every delivery. What the bowler does? Takes the pace off this ball and serves it outside off, Sunil throws his bat at it but misses. |
| 3.5 : N Saini to S Narine, OUT! Navdeep Saini removes the danger man! A well-directed short ball by him. It's around middle, Narine is in no position to play the pull shot but still goes for it. The bounce gets big on his bat and the top edge is kissed by the ball. Parthiv Patel settles underneath it behind the stumps and takes the simplest of catches. Both the Kolkata openers are back in the pavilion with the score reading only 24. |
| Robin Uthappa walks out to bat next. |
| 3.6 : N Saini to S Gill, Edgy! Width on offer outside off, Gill flashes his bat at it and edges it wide of first slip for a run. Top over by Saini, 2 runs and a wicket from it! |
| 4.1 : D Steyn to S Gill, On a length on off stump, driven back confidently towards mid off by Gill. |
| 4.2 : D Steyn to S Gill, Back of a length on middle, flicked away through mid-wicket for 3 runs. Chahal makes a diving stop to save a run for his team. |
| 4.3 : D Steyn to R Uthappa, On a length outside off, Uthappa looks to defend but that ball takes the inside edge and goes towards square leg for a run. |
| 4.4 : D Steyn to S Gill, FOUR! This outfield is lightning fast. A short length ball outside off, Gill slaps it past mid off to his left. Once it beats Kohli out there, no stopping that ball. Races across the carpet and to the ropes. |
| 4.5 : D Steyn to S Gill, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. It was a slower one. |
| 4.6 : D Steyn to S Gill, OUT! Excellent catch by Kohli on the second attempt. Gill's stay at the crease is a short one! A fuller length ball outside off, Shubman looks to drive on the up. The bat turns in his hands and the ball lobs towards mid off. It almost goes over Kohli's head but he puts his hands up in the air. The ball does not stick in the first attempt but Virat smartly puts his left hand down behind him in time to pluck that one out. Bangalore in the driver's seat here but they cannot |
| Nitish Rana is the new man in. Also, Mohammed Siraj to bowl his first over of the game. |
| 5.1 : M Siraj to N Rana, Dabbed down to point by Rana on the first ball that is outside off on a shorter length. |
| 5.2 : M Siraj to N Rana, Rana lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 5.3 : M Siraj to N Rana, Another leave outside off by the southpaw. |
| 5.4 : M Siraj to N Rana, Good bowling! Takes this ball away from the left-hander. Rana initially looked to play this ball on a length but then decides to pull away just in the nick of time. |
| 5.5 : M Siraj to N Rana, Rana decides to leave this one too. 5 dots in the over, will it be a maiden? |
| 5.6 : M Siraj to N Rana, FOUR! No, it is not! Siraj ends up overpitching this one outside off and Rana takes toll of the ball. He gets on the front foot and lifts it over cover-point. The ball reaches the fence. Good over still from Siraj, just 4 off it in the end. Kolkata are 37/3 at the end of the Powerplay. |
| Marcus Stoinis to bowl now. |
| 6.1 : M Stoinis to R Uthappa, Back of a length on middle, patted towards mid-wicket by Uthappa. |
| 6.2 : M Stoinis to R Uthappa, Flicked away to deep mid-wicket for a run by Uthappa. |
| 6.3 : M Stoinis to N Rana, Run down to third man for a single by Rana. Good tight line being bowled here so far by Marcus Stoinis. |
| 6.4 : M Stoinis to R Uthappa, Fuller length on middle, Robin flicks this towards mid-wicket. |
| 6.5 : M Stoinis to R Uthappa, Outside off and a slower pace ball. Uthappa watchfully defends the ball back to the bowler. |
| 6.6 : M Stoinis to R Uthappa, On a length outside off, pushed towards extra cover. End of a good first over from Stoinis. Just 2 runs off it in the end. |
| 7.1 : M Siraj to N Rana, FOUR! Siraj begins his second over poorly. A fuller length ball outside off, Rana lifts the ball over covers. Beats the fielder in the deep easily. |
| 7.2 : M Siraj to N Rana, Mistimes this pull to long on for a single. A short of a length ball this time, caught high on the bat. |
| 7.3 : M Siraj to R Uthappa, On a length outside off, Uthappa pats it back towards the bowler. Dot ball. |
| 7.4 : M Siraj to R Uthappa, Movement! Delivered from wide of the crease on a length outside off. Uthappa looks to drive but misses the ball due to the deviation. |
| 7.5 : M Siraj to R Uthappa, Pushed to the extra cover fielder on the up. The ball goes on a couple of bounces. |
| 7.6 : M Siraj to R Uthappa, Excellent bowling! On a length, delivered outside off. Uthappa looks to drive back down the ground but there is a little movement away from the batsman, which takes the ball past the outside edge. Great over again from Siraj in the context of the game, 5 runs off it in the end. 170 needed off 72 balls. |
| 8.1 : M Stoinis to N Rana, That would have been gone had Klaasen hit from point! A length ball outside off, Rana pushes it to point and sets off. He is sent back by Uthappa. Rana stands stranded but the shy from Heinrich misses at the striker's end. |
| 8.2 : M Stoinis to N Rana, Bouncer outside off, Rana looks to ramp it over the head of the keeper but misses the ball. |
| 8.3 : M Stoinis to N Rana, Back of a length, rolled over the fingers by Stoinis. Rana pats it towards point. |
| 8.4 : M Stoinis to N Rana, Swing and a miss! The pressure was building with 7 dot balls in a row and Rana decides to go for a big one as he looks to smoke this ball over long off. He misses and the pressure builds even more. |
| 8.5 : M Stoinis to N Rana, Dabbed down to third man for a single by the southpaw this time. A run after 8 balls! The crowd is getting noisy and impatient. |
| 8.6 : M Stoinis to R Uthappa, Turned away to deep square leg for a single. 2 runs off the Stoinis over once again. 168 runs needed in 66 balls now. |
| Strategic break! This is unbelievable. I did not feel that I would be typing this but Bangalore are well on top in this game having picked 3 wickets and keeping the run rate of Kolkata well under check. Rana and Uthappa out there currently have found going difficult and will have to get a move on soon or else it could be too late even though they have DK and Russell in the shed. Bangalore, on the other hand, will hope to keep things as they are going on. They even have 4 overs of Chahal in the b |
| 9.1 : M Siraj to R Uthappa, FOUR! Shot! Went like a tracer bullet. Boundary after the break. A length ball on middle, Uthappa makes room and smashes this one past cover. No chance for anyone to stop that. 50 comes up for the hosts! |
| 9.2 : M Siraj to R Uthappa, Good comeback! Siraj bowls this back of a length outside off, Uthappa looks to cut but misses the ball. |
| 9.3 : M Siraj to R Uthappa, FIVE WIDES! Bouncer gone all wrong. Siraj bowls this one down leg and too high for a jumping Parthiv to collect. Goes to the fence. 9 runs so far in 2 balls. |
| M Siraj to R Uthappa, Bowled short of a length outside off, Uthappa looks to ramp that one over the keeper but misses the ball. |
| 9.4 : M Siraj to R Uthappa, Beaten! Short of a length outside off and some seam movement. Uthappa looks to run it down to third man but fails to put bat on ball. Could have been an outside edge, so close! |
| 9.5 : M Siraj to R Uthappa, Uthappa looks to go over covers by making some room but gets a thick outside edge and the ball flies over backward point to third man for a single. |
| 9.6 : M Siraj to N Rana, FOUR! Pulled away! Third boundary of the over. Short of a length on off, Rana swivels and pulls this through wide long on. The ball goes to the fence. Kolkata are 60/3 at the halfway mark. They need 154 in 60 balls. |
| Yuzvendra Chahal is now on. |
| 10.1 : Y Chahal to R Uthappa, A touch short and outside off, spinning away, Uthappa punches it to deep cover for a run. |
| 10.2 : Y Chahal to N Rana, FOUR! Poor delivery and duly punished. Chahal drops it short and around leg, Rana sits down on one knee and hammers it behind square leg for a boundary. |
| 10.3 : Y Chahal to N Rana, FOUR! Edgy one. A flighted delivery on off, Rana this time tries to play the reverse-batted shot this time but it takes the top edges and goes over short third man. Siraj chases but comes second best in the race. |
| 10.4 : Y Chahal to N Rana, Yet another reverse sweep by Rana, this time he has nailed it to deep cover for a run. |
| 10.5 : Y Chahal to R Uthappa, Short in length and wide outside off, Uthappa mistimes his square cut to point. |
| 10.6 : Y Chahal to R Uthappa, Wide! Chahal bowls it way too wide outside off. Uthappa leaves. |
| Y Chahal to R Uthappa, Wide again! Floated full ball, well wide outside the tramlines, Uthappa tries to play the reverse sweep but misses. Chahal doesn't like the decision and has a word with the umpire. |
| Y Chahal to R Uthappa, Huge mix-up! But no damage done in the end! A flatter and quicker one on the pads, Uthappa misses his flick and gets the ball on his pads. It goes towards the leg side and Rana looks for a quick leg bye and is halfway down the track before being sent back. The keeper, Parthiv runs to the ball and throws it at the bowler's end. Rana had given up but Chahal fails to collect the throw cleanly. Huge life given here for the southpaw, how much will it hurt Bangalore? |
| Marcus Stoinis is back on. |
| 11.1 : M Stoinis to N Rana, In the air... SAFE! Chahal was very late in reacting. Stoinis delivers a length ball wide outside off, Rana blindly swings his bat at it and gets a top edge towards third man. Chahal picks it late and then runs forward but it lands just in front of him. A couple taken. Two lives in two balls for Nitish. |
| 11.2 : M Stoinis to N Rana, FOUR! It is like adding insult to injury after the missed opportunity on the previous ball. A wide short one wide outside off, cut away over point and the ball goes on one bounce over the rope. |
| 11.3 : M Stoinis to N Rana, Good comeback! Slower one outside off, Rana looks to smash the ball through cover but fails to put bat on ball. |
| 11.4 : M Stoinis to N Rana, Low full toss, driven down the ground for a single by Rana. |
| 11.5 : M Stoinis to R Uthappa, OUT! Uthappa holes out! Number 4 for Bangalore. A length ball aimed at the body of the batsman, Uthappa looks to pull it away but does not get it off the meat of his blade. The ball travels and finds Negi in the deep who takes the catch safely running a bit backward. His troubled stay in the middle comes to an end. Was a scratchy innings and it could just prove to be a blessing in disguise for the hosts. 135 runs needed in 49 balls now! |
| Andre Russell arrives to a huge ovation from the crowd. Kolkata need him to fire today as the asking rate at this stage is 16.53. |
| 11.6 : M Stoinis to N Rana, Outstanding fielding effort in the deep by Klaasen. Short in length and outside off, Rana leans back a bit and ramps it down to third man. Klaasen in the deep rushes across to his right and makes a diving one-handed stop. As he hits the ground and releases the ball, his hand was very close to the fence. The umpire goes upstairs to check it and the third umpire finds it cleanly stopped. That was too close to be honest. Two saved. |
| 12.1 : Y Chahal to A Russell, Flighted outside off, crunched away to deep cover for a single. Good confident flighted ball that from Chahal, shows his temperament. |
| 12.2 : Y Chahal to N Rana, FOUR! Flighted down the leg side, Rana sweeps this one and gets it in the gap through fine leg. The deep square leg cannot come around and the ball reaches the rope. |
| 12.3 : Y Chahal to N Rana, Worked away to the leg side for a single. |
| 12.4 : Y Chahal to A Russell, Wide! Bowled way outside off and turning even more away. Russell lets the ball go. It is wided. |
| Y Chahal to A Russell, SIX! Wide outside off and flighted, Russell reaches out and smashes it way over the rope at wide long off. That is the first of many, the Kolkata crowd would hope. |
| 12.5 : Y Chahal to A Russell, Bowled outside off and flighted, Russell lets it go but the ball is inside the tramline. Good bowling! |
| 12.6 : Y Chahal to A Russell, Short and wide outside off, Russell looks to cut but fails to connect. Excellent comeback by Chahal after the six. 13 runs off the over though. 120 off 42 needed now. |
| Navdeep Saini comes into the attack. |
| 13.1 : N Saini to N Rana, Cut away to deep cover for a single by Rana. The ball was on a length on top of off stump. No room. |
| 13.2 : N Saini to A Russell, FOUR! Cut away hard! On a length and top of off, Russell powers it away after giving a little bit of room. No one moved. |
| 13.3 : N Saini to A Russell, Back of a length and coming into the body of the batsman. Russell looks to cut the ball but fails to get enough room. Excellent comeback by the youngster after being hit for four. |
| 13.4 : N Saini to A Russell, In the air... lands safely! Russell and all of Kolkata would have had their hearts in their mouths for a moment. An excellent short ball, Russell crouches and looks to pull but gets a top edge. The ball flies high and goes behind square leg. Short fine leg runs behind a long way. Klaasen dives full length but cannot reach the ball. Huge let off. Maybe Negi coming in from the deep should have gone for that. A single is taken. The 100 comes up for Kolkata. |
| 13.5 : N Saini to N Rana, Punched off the back foot by the batsman to deep cover-point. They pick up a single. |
| 13.6 : N Saini to A Russell, Excellent change of pace! Slower ball full outside off, Russell misses the ball as he looks to drive this one. Brilliant over in the context, 7 runs off it in the end. |
| 14.1 : Y Chahal to N Rana, Good ball! Flatter one on middle, defended back to the bowler by Rana from the crease. |
| 14.2 : Y Chahal to N Rana, Goes for the slog but gets an inside edge onto the pads. The ball rolls onto the leg side but too close to the bowler for a single to be taken. |
| 14.3 : Y Chahal to N Rana, Full outside off, driven superbly this time. Steyn runs to his right from long off and stops it using his foot. Saves 3 runs! |
| 14.4 : Y Chahal to A Russell, Wide! Bowled way outside off, Russell leaves it alone and it is given a wide. |
| Y Chahal to A Russell, SIX! Flighted on middle, Russell smashes it way back over long on. The ball was not timed too well but it still goes over the fence at long on. |
| 14.5 : Y Chahal to A Russell, SIX! Top edge but a biggie! Flighted on off, Russell looks to go straight back over the bowler's head but the ball goes off the top edge of the bat. Still the power of the man is so much that the ball ends up in the crowd. |
| 14.6 : Y Chahal to A Russell, SIX! Make it three in a row! This one is superbly connected. A flighted outside off, Russell reaches out as it was a bit wide and powers this one. Brilliant shot. 93 needed in 30 balls now after 20 runs off this over. |
| 15.1 : N Saini to N Rana, FOUR! It is Rana this time! A half-volley on middle, Rana hits it back past the bowler to his left. The ball beats long on easily. |
| 15.2 : N Saini to N Rana, Good ball! More importantly, dot ball! A ball wide outside off, Rana looks to cut the ball but fails to put bat on it. |
| 15.3 : N Saini to N Rana, SIX! Fifty for Rana! His 8th in the League. A length ball on off, Rana goes back in his crease before lifting it over the head of long on. What an innings this has been so far, the job is not done yet though. |
| 15.4 : N Saini to N Rana, SIX! Full toss on middle and muscled over wide long on. Rana gets the middle of the bat on this one and has enough power to go over the rope. |
| 15.5 : N Saini to N Rana, Lofted over mid-wicket for a single by Rana. Siraj in the deep does well under pressure to stop that at one run. |
| 15.6 : N Saini to A Russell, Good finish to the over. A back of a length ball outside off and coming into Russell. Andre pulls out of the shot at the last moment and the ball goes to the keeper. Dot ball. 17 runs off this over, 76 needed in 24 now. Saini ends with 4-0-31-1. |
| Strategic break! Is the tide turning? Russell and Rana have just scored 37 runs in the last two overs and the pressure is back on the Bangalore bowlers solely because of the way their death bowling has been this season. There is not yet a need to come under pressure though as 75 is still in the bank with just 4 overs left to be bowled. Kolkata believe but this is still Bangalore's game to lose one would feel. Let's see how the final phase pans out. Meanwhile, it is Siraj to bowl after the break. |
| 16.1 : M Siraj to N Rana, Direct hit would have been close! Full delivery, on middle, Rana tries to go over the bowler's head but ends up hitting it towards mid off. The fielder is inside the ring and they cross for a brisk single. Steyn has a shy but misses at the bowler's end. |
| 16.2 : M Siraj to A Russell, Wide! Way wide outside off, short in length, Russell smartly lets it go to the keeper. |
| M Siraj to A Russell, FOUR! Bang! Siraj offers width again, it's short and outside off, Russell plunders it through the line and finds the gap at point for a cracking boundary. |
| 16.3 : M Siraj to A Russell, SIX! Gigantic! Russell muscle! What a power-hitter! Siraj overpitches and rest his history. Russell hangs back and launches it over wide long off for a masssssivvvvve hit. 150 up! 64 needed off 21 balls. |
| 16.4 : M Siraj to A Russell, Wide! Siraj tries to be clever. Bowls a slower one but it's outside the tramline outside off. Russell reaches out for it but misses. Called a wide. |
| M Siraj to A Russell, Swing and a miss! Fullish and wide outside off, Russell throws all his power behind his shot but fails to make any connection. Believe me, had he connected, this would have gone out of Kolkata. |
| 16.5 : M Siraj to A Russell, A mishit from Russell, he sends it down to long on for a single. |
| Direct hit at the striker's end! Is Andre Russell short? Massive, massive moment in this run chase... |
| 16.6 : M Siraj to N Rana, NOT OUT! Easily in. Back of a length delivery on off, Rana mistimes his shot this time, towards mid off and rushes to the other end. Steyn comes up with a direct hit at the striker's end and the square leg umpire goes upstairs. The replays find Andre safely in. 15 from the over, 61 needed off 18 balls. |
| Dale Steyn to bowl the 18th over of the innings. |
| 17.1 : D Steyn to N Rana, Fuller outside off, Rana drives this one but finds extra cover. Single not available. Excellent result for Bangalore, dot ball. |
| 17.2 : D Steyn to N Rana, SIX! Full outside off, Rana reaches out and smashes the ball over the head of mid off. The ball clears the rope! |
| 17.3 : D Steyn to N Rana, Goes uppishly through covers this time. A couple of runs are taken. Rana did not time that well but still manages to pick up two. |
| 17.4 : D Steyn to N Rana, SIX! Second of the innings and Steyn is going for runs too. A half-volley on middle, Rana lifts this powerfully for a huge one over the bowler's head. Goes way behind the sightscreen. |
| 17.5 : D Steyn to N Rana, Swing and miss! A length ball outside off, Rana shuffled and looked to hit it over mid-wicket but failed to put bat on ball. Dot ball! 47 needed in 13 now. |
| 17.6 : D Steyn to N Rana, FOUR! Rana finds the fence once more. Third time this over! A half-volley outside off, Rana lofts it over covers. This is excellent batting by this young southpaw. What an innings this has been. Will it end in a winning way though? |
| 43 needed off 12 balls. Last time against Bangalore, Kolkata needed 30 off 12 balls and Russell finished it with five balls remaining. What's the script today? Marcus Stoinis to bowl the all-important over... |
| 18.1 : M Stoinis to A Russell, Excellent ball under pressure! Full on the pads, Russell leaves it thinking it would be wide but the ball takes the pad and goes fine on the leg side. Runs can't be taken as there was no shot offered. Dot ball! 43 off 11. |
| 18.2 : M Stoinis to A Russell, Wide! Stoinis tries for the same ball again but this time Russell evades it this time. Wided! 42 off 11. |
| M Stoinis to A Russell, Low full toss on middle, Russell hammers it but straight to extra cover. Ali under pressure makes an excellent stop. Dot ball again! 42 off 10 needed. |
| 18.3 : M Stoinis to A Russell, What a brilliant over this has been so far. Another dot ball! Stoinis bowls the bouncer and Russell ducks under it to evade the ball at the last moment. 42 needed off 9 balls now. |
| 18.4 : M Stoinis to A Russell, SIX! Russell has murdered this delivery! It's hit with brute force! Stoinis delivers it short and on off, Russell is waiting for that, as soon as the ball reaches in his zone, he has pulverized it over mid-wicket. |
| 18.5 : M Stoinis to A Russell, SIX! Huge! Two in two! Stoinis misses his mark once more. Russell smashes it over long off. The ball goes way back into the crowd. 30 needed off 7 balls now. That six also brought up the fifty for Russell. The 100-run partnership comes up as well! |
| 18.6 : M Stoinis to A Russell, SIX! Three in a row! How has this one gone for a maximum? Almost in the blockhole, Russell looks to smash this over long on but the bat turns in his hand and the ball still travels over long off. It clears the rope and Kolkata still believe due to the power of this man! |
| 24 needed off 6 balls. This is going right down to the wire. You can cut the tension here with a knife. Yuzvendra Chahal has one over left. But Virat Kohli has taken a punt on Moeen Ali. Big call, this. |
| 19.1 : M Ali to N Rana, Excellent ball to start off! Rana gets inside the line and looks to hit it over fine leg but misses the ball. The ball just whizzes past leg stump. Not given a wide as the batsman moved out of his position. |
| 19.2 : M Ali to N Rana, Too full and on middle, hit across the line to deep mid-wicket for a run. 23 needed off 4 balls. If anyone can, it's the man on strike... |
| 19.3 : M Ali to A Russell, SIX! Here comes the first one... He needs to hit the remaining ones over the fence too. Moeen drops it short and on off, Russell latches onto it and hoists it over the bowler's head for a maximum. |
| 19.4 : M Ali to A Russell, Misses! And that is the game! Well, it should be! A flighted ball outside off, Russell goes for the huge slog but misses the ball and Parthiv collects it well under pressure. Kohli is jumping up and down in excitement. Moeen needs to make sure that he does not bowl a no ball now. |
| Appeal for a run out! Andre Russell is seen walking but the umpire still wants to get it checked upstairs... |
| 19.5 : M Ali to A Russell, OUT! Run out! Russell departs. The game was already over but there was no way that Bangalore could breathe easy when this man was out there. A low full toss on middle, Russell slaps it to deep mid-wicket and finds the fielder at long on. Russell runs slowly and Virat takes advantage of that by throwing it to Ali at the bowler's end who removes the bails. Russell knows that he is out and runs off and the replays too show the same. |
| 19.6 : M Ali to N Rana, SIX! But that won't be enough! BANGALORE WIN BY 10 RUNS! A flighted ball landing full outside off, Rana gives it the full whack of his bat and sends it flying over long off. Smiles in the Bangalore camp. They have survived the Russell onslaught this time. Spare a thought for Nitish Rana, what a knock he played! Absolutely amazing game of cricket. |
| What a humdinger we have had here in Kolkata! Bangalore won it in the end by 10 runs but the game was not over till the 4th ball of the final over when Russell missed one finally and that ensured that the score cannot be chased down. Rana and Russell had almost got their team over the line with 76 runs needed in the last 4 overs but Moeen Ali kept his calm and defended the 23 runs which were in the bag in the final over. |
| Chasing a target of 214, Kolkata did not get off to the best of starts and lost Lynn cheaply. Narine played his shots while he was out there in the middle but he too departed along with Gill inside the Powerplay. Robin Uthappa and Nitish Rana then joined hands but even as the latter kept the scoreboard ticking, Uthappa struggled and eventually fell for a very slow innings of 9 off 20 balls. In walked Russell and the game turned on its head. The ropes were being cleared at will and once again it |
| Coming to the bowling, it was a decent show from the Bangalore men till the partnership between Rana and Russell. Stoinis especially bowled a terrific first three balls in the 19th over which put a huge load of pressure on the batsmen. Thus, in the end the blitzkrieg from Russell was not enough. Earlier on in the evening, a brilliant hundred from Virat Kohli and a smashing 66 from Ali and a cameo from Stoinis meant that Bangalore got a total which would be really difficult to chase even on this |
| Kolkata skipper, Dinesh Karthik says that Moeen took the game away from them a little bit with the way he batted. Feels they could have bowled well at that stage but credits the way the Englishman batted. Informs us that at the halfway stage he he felt that it was 15-20 more than they should have conceded. Dinesh reckons the new ball had a bit in it as it was sticking on to the pitch and it was not easy to play strokes for the batsmen. Admits that it was hard for the spinners to bowl in this pit |
| Marcus Stoinis in an interview agrees that Andre Russell is a brilliant player and can win games single-handedly. He mentions that the season has not been great but these kind of games have to be won and they gives confidence and momentum going ahead in the tournament. He mentions that he enjoys the contest and tries to bowl to his plans, while trying not to get too predictable and to bowl the best ball one can. |
| Man of the Match and Bangalore skipper, Virat Kohli says that it felt good after winning the game here in Kolkata. Laughs while saying it feels good to not give an interview right after the match as the losing skipper. He credits the way Stoinis bowled the 19th over feels the 3 dot balls the Aussie bowled in that over were very crucial. Virat admits at one time that they were looking for 170 and never felt they could get close to 200 while batting but says that the way Moeen batted and Stoinis p |
| So that is all from here, folks! We have had an excellent game of cricket here in Kolkata. Bangalore have managed to hold on to a win by the skin of their teeth and have gone to 4 points but remain last on the table. Kolkata, on the other hand, have lost 4 on the bounce. They will look to come hard the next game which they play on Sunday but before that there is a double-header coming your way on Saturday. Rajasthan host Mumbai in the day game which will begin at 1600 local (1030 GMT) while Delh |
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