| 0.0 : Hello and welcome everyone! Kolkata have reached the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal to face the home team. The visiting team are following an unwanted 4-match losing streak and will be desperate for a turnaround. The hosts, on the other hand, broke their losing streak in the previous tie against Chennai and now will be willing to build on that. The race to finish in the top 4 is intensifying and both sides would be targeting to put in a motivated performance today. Stay tuned for more |
| Toss - Up goes the coin, Dinesh Karthik calls it incorrectly and HYDERABAD WILL FIELD. |
| Hyderabad skipper, Kane Williamson says that they will bowl as this is the first day game at this venue and he reckons that there will be a slight change in track. Adds that it was a good performance in the last match and they have to build on that. Mentions that the guys at the top are doing a good job for them and feels eventually it's all about execution of skills. |
| Kolkata skipper, Dinesh Karthik says that they have to make the most of it as they are asked to bat first. Adds that they have made three changes and hopes that those players will bring a breath of fresh air to the team. On his own performance, he replies that he needs to stand up and deliver. |
| Hyderabad (Unchanged Playing XI) - David Warner, Jonny Bairstow(WK), Kane Williamson(C), Vijay Shankar, Deepak Hooda, Yusuf Pathan, Rashid Khan, Shahbaz Nadeem, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sandeep Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed. |
| Kolkata (Playing XI) - Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh (In for Robin Uthappa), Andre Russell, Dinesh Karthik(WK/C), Piyush Chawla, KC Cariappa (In for Kuldeep Yadav), Harry Gurney, Yarra Prithviraj (In for Prasidh Krishna). |
| Out come the players and officials in the middle. Good crowd has come to watch this contest in spite of the conditions being scorching hot. Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine would look to provide a quickfire start here to Kolkata. Bhuvneshwar Kumar to begin proceedings with the new ball. A slip is in place... |
| 0.1 : B Kumar to C Lynn, Wide! A lot of movement on the first ball but Kumar fails to control it. Slips it down the leg side, Lynn fails to flick and Bairstow stretches to his left to collect the ball. |
| B Kumar to C Lynn, A big inswinger again, landing on a length around off and nipping back in. Lynn fails to put bat on ball and is hit on the pads. No appeal as it's moving back in too much. |
| 0.2 : B Kumar to C Lynn, This time the line is too straight and Lynn turns it off his pads to mid-wicket. |
| 0.3 : B Kumar to C Lynn, FOUR! Two dot balls followed by a cracking boundary. Lynn will be feeling a lot better now. Kumar offers width on this occasion, short and wide outside off, Lynn reaches out for it and slaps it through covers. The Aussie is off the mark. |
| 0.4 : B Kumar to C Lynn, Driven towards the mid on region. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 0.5 : B Kumar to S Narine, Back of a length delivery angling away from the batsman, Narine leans back and allows it through. |
| 0.6 : B Kumar to S Narine, FOUR! Elegantly put away. Fractionally short in length and around leg, Narine stands on his back foot and glances it past the short fine leg fielder for a boundary. 10 from the first over, Kolkata have started well here. |
| Will a spinner bowl from the other end? Oh yes, it's Shahbaz Nadeem to share the attack with a slip in place. |
| 1.1 : S Nadeem to C Lynn, FOUR! Too easy! Nadeem is on the shorter side first up, it's around off, Lynn gets the time to move back and power it through covers for a boundary. Good start to the over. |
| 1.2 : S Nadeem to C Lynn, Expected length on this occasion. Nadeem fires it full and on middle, Chris helps it to mid-wicket and crosses for a run. |
| 1.3 : S Nadeem to S Narine, SIX! As easy as it gets! You just cannot afford to drop short. It's on and around off, Narine picks it very early and pulls it massively in front of square leg for a biggie. |
| 1.4 : S Nadeem to S Narine, Flatter and fuller outside off, Narine drives it firmly down to mid off where Pathan misfields and allows a single. |
| 1.5 : S Nadeem to C Lynn, An arm ball on off, skidding in, Lynn is on the front foot in defense. |
| 1.6 : S Nadeem to C Lynn, SIX! Up and just over long on. Nadeem tosses it up and lands it a little too full this time. Lynn lines it up and muscles it over the bowler's head. Shankar at the edge of the rope in the deep jumps to attempt for the catch but it goes over him for a biggie. 18 from this one, Kolkata are roaring. |
| Khaleel Ahmed into the attack. |
| 2.1 : K Ahmed to S Narine, SIX! Narine is looking in scintillating form. Ahmed begins his spell with a short delivery outside off, Narine loves it there and whacks it over covers for a biggie. A cracking shot, that. |
| 2.2 : K Ahmed to S Narine, FOUR! Why would you keep bowling short to this batsman? Yet another half-tracker and Narine has pulled it with all his power over mid-wicket. |
| 2.3 : K Ahmed to S Narine, FOUR! Khaleel over-corrects his length now. Attempts for the yorker maybe but it turns out to be a low full toss on off. Narine anticipates it, stays leg side of this delivery and pumps it over covers for a boundary. 14 from the over, so far. |
| Uh oh... poor Khaleel. Or is it? Perhaps not. Simon Doull tells us why. Khaleel started to bowl but then halfway through, he stopped. Then, he started to run again. Clearly, Narine was disturbed and then he bailed out when Ahmed was about to deliver. |
| 2.4 : K Ahmed to S Narine, OUT! Timberrrr... Khaleel pulled out of his delivery stride just prior to this ball and that maybe put off Narine's concentration. A clever change in pace, a slower length delivery on middle and angling in at 116.3 kph, Narine winds up for a big heave-ho across the line but swings his bat quite early. The ball arrives late and goes on to peg back the leg stump. Khaleel is pumped up, he has the last laugh in this battle against Narine. Sunil although has done his job. |
| Shubman Gill walks in at number 3, replacing Narine. |
| 2.5 : K Ahmed to S Gill, Taps a length ball to covers and rushes to the other end for a quick run. |
| 2.6 : K Ahmed to C Lynn, Short of a length delivery outside off, Lynn forces it off his back foot to sweeper cover for a single. 16 runs from this one but it included a wicket too. |
| Sandeep Sharma is into the attack now. |
| 3.1 : S Sharma to C Lynn, Starts his spell with a slower length ball on middle and off, Lynn punches it down to long on for a run. |
| 3.2 : S Sharma to S Gill, Another slower one, eased off the pads through square leg for a single. |
| 3.3 : S Sharma to C Lynn, Quick run. Lynn strokes it down to mid off and scampers across to the other end. The fielder has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. Direct hit wouldn't have made much of a difference though. |
| 3.4 : S Sharma to S Gill, Angling into the batsman around off, Gill flicks it gently through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 3.5 : S Sharma to C Lynn, Slower length ball outside off, Lynn punches it through the line but finds the cover fielder. |
| 3.6 : S Sharma to C Lynn, A low full toss on middle, Lynn pushes it down through mid on and retains strike with a single. First good over for Hyderabad in the Powerplay, only 5 coming off it. |
| 4.1 : K Ahmed to C Lynn, A touch short in length and outside off, angling away, Lynn punches it through covers for a single. 50 up for Kolkata! |
| 4.2 : K Ahmed to S Gill, OUT! Khaleel strikes again, second wicket for him and the crowd is ecstatic. He dishes out a good length delivery outside off, angling away, Gill strides forward and flashes his blade at it. The ball flies off the outer half and goes to the right of the point fielder. Vijay Shankar stationed there quickly reacts and completes the catch with a slide. The replays show that it was a slower one and Shubman was a little bit early into his shot. Nicely deceived by Khaleel, both |
| Nitish Rana is in next. He has been in tremendous form this season and is needed to do well here again. Kolkata have got a start and it's all about capitalizing from here. |
| 4.3 : K Ahmed to N Rana, Good length delivery outside off, Rana dabs it down to third man and gets off the mark with a single. |
| 4.4 : K Ahmed to C Lynn, Risky single! Back of a length delivery outside off, Lynn plays it down from the back foot to the right of the point fielder. Initially he wants his partner to wait but then seeing Nitish eager for a run, the Aussie responds. Shankar, in the meanwhile, has a shy at the non-striker's but misses. |
| 4.5 : K Ahmed to N Rana, Skidding off the surface from a shortish length outside off, Rana pushes inside the line and misses. |
| 4.6 : K Ahmed to N Rana, Rana plays it with an angled bat and guides it to third man. One run added to the total. 4 runs and a wicket from the over, Hyderabad pulling things back in the last two overs. |
| 5.1 : S Sharma to N Rana, Played to the point region by the batsman. No run. |
| 5.2 : S Sharma to N Rana, On a length around middle at 128.2 kph, Rana waits before flicking it off his pads through square leg for a run. |
| 5.3 : S Sharma to C Lynn, Very full in length and following the batsman down the leg side, Lynn lifts his front leg and flicks it through square leg for one. Well played in the end. |
| 5.4 : S Sharma to N Rana, FOUR! Oh Nadeem, where is the dive? A pitched up delivery outside off, Rana leans forward and executes a lovely square drive. Nadeem chases it from cover-point, should have put in the dive before the rope but hesitates and it goes for a boundary. |
| 5.5 : S Sharma to N Rana, Slower delivery, full in length and outside off, Rana opens the face of his bat and pushes it towards short third man. |
| 5.6 : S Sharma to N Rana, A slower delivery on middle, Rana plays it gently to covers and sets off for a sharp single. Warner has a shy at the non-striker's end but misses. Pathan does well to back it up with a dive but cannot prevent the second run. With that the Powerplay overs have come to an end, first three dominated by Kolkata, next three by Hyderabad. Score is 61/2! |
| Shahbaz Nadeem to bowl. |
| 6.1 : S Nadeem to C Lynn, Full and around off, pushed back to the bowler. |
| 6.2 : S Nadeem to C Lynn, The arm ball, skids through, Lynn is earlier into the stroke and nearly chips it back to the bowler. |
| 6.3 : S Nadeem to C Lynn, Misfield from the bowler. Chris punches this towards mid on, Nadeem rushes to his right to stop but then fumbles, allowing the ball through. An easy single. |
| 6.4 : S Nadeem to N Rana, On middle and off, Rana gets across and works it through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 6.5 : S Nadeem to C Lynn, Full and outside off, pushed past the bowler towards long off for a run. |
| 6.6 : S Nadeem to N Rana, Very full, almost a yorker, pushed towards long on for one more. |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar is back on. |
| 7.1 : B Kumar to N Rana, OUT! Inspired bowling change from Kane Williamson. He brings in Bhuvneshwar Kumar and that results in the wicket of the in-form batsman. Kumar starts his new spell with a length delivery outside off, angling away from Rana at 133.8 kph who flirts inside the line in an attempt to probably run it down towards third man. Fails to get it from the middle of his bat maybe due to some extra bounce and edges it behind. Bairstow makes no mistake behind the stumps. They appeal, the |
| 0.0 : Skipper Dinesh Karthik walks in next. |
| 7.2 : B Kumar to D Karthik, Direct hit would have consumed DK! Shortish length ball outside off, Karthik plays a mistimed square cut towards point and seeing his partner interested, DK also responds. Just a bit of hesitation though and that nearly cost him. Shankar from point has a shy at the non-striker's end but misses as Karthik dives in. Would have been gone for all money in case of a direct hit and Shankar's reaction tells you exactly that. |
| 7.3 : B Kumar to C Lynn, Lynn has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 7.4 : B Kumar to C Lynn, Slower short ball on off, Lynn pulls it over mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 7.5 : B Kumar to D Karthik, FOUR! Didn't intend to play it that fine but Karthik won't complain here. Width on offer outside off, Dinesh tries to play late but it catches the outside half of his bat and runs fine down to third man for a boundary. |
| 7.6 : B Kumar to D Karthik, This one stays low. A slower delivery, short in length, Karthik tries to cut but it goes under his bat. Terrific over, a wicket and 6 runs off it. |
| 8.1 : S Nadeem to C Lynn, Almost a run out at the non-striker's end! Flatter and fuller, it's fired in on middle, Lynn forces it back in the direction of the bowler who goes down to collect it and then smartly tries to deflect it behind onto the stumps. Misses as Karthik dives back in. Now, they cross for a run as the ball has gone to long off. |
| 0.0 : Oops, oops, oops... the bails are off. The dive is in. Is it enough though? Karthik is walking... looks like this is a run out. Referred upstairs... |
| 8.2 : S Nadeem to D Karthik, OUT! Run out! Survived once, survived twice but runs out of life on the third occasion. Dinesh Karthik is on his bike. Fourth wicket down for Kolkata and they are in deep trouble now. Flighted ball on middle, Karthik nudges it in front of square leg and wants the second run. He rushes across to the other end and Shankar also attacks the ball from the deep before releasing his throw at the keeper's end. Bairstow collects it in front of the stumps and breaks it as DK pu |
| STRATEGIC BREAK. Hyderabad have made a brilliant comeback after the first three overs. With four wickets down, they would now like to create more pressure and maintain the same intensity. For Kolkata, it should be all about building a partnership and setting a platform for Andre Russell. Rinku Singh has joined Lynn in the middle now. |
| 8.3 : S Nadeem to R Singh, Played to mid-wicket region by the batsman. No run. |
| 8.4 : S Nadeem to R Singh, Goes on the back foot and punches it to long on for a run. |
| 8.5 : S Nadeem to C Lynn, Fullish and on off, driven back to the bowler. |
| 8.6 : S Nadeem to C Lynn, Arm ball on middle and leg, skidding in, Lynn goes back to flick but misses. It goes off his pads to the on side and they cross for a leg bye. |
| Rashid Khan to bowl. A slip in place... |
| 9.1 : R Khan to C Lynn, Tossed up on middle, Lynn defends it off the back foot. |
| 9.2 : R Khan to C Lynn, Flighted delivery on middle, Lynn flicks it through mid-wicket. The batsmen get two runs. |
| 9.3 : R Khan to C Lynn, A single now! Lynn guides it towards point and gets to the other end. |
| 9.4 : R Khan to R Singh, Full and flighted on off, Singh drives it through mid off for a run. |
| 9.5 : R Khan to C Lynn, Lunges to a full ball outside off and eases it past the bowler to long off for a run again. |
| 9.6 : R Khan to R Singh, Brilliant delivery. A googly on off, spinning away, Rinku doesn't pick it and tries to play it late, misses completely. Rashid gives a stare. 80/4 at the halfway mark! |
| 10.1 : S Nadeem to C Lynn, Superb delivery. Beats the off stump by a whisker. All of a sudden, it's happening for the spinners. Nadeem serves it around middle and off and it spins away slightly. Lynn pushes inside the line to keep it out but it beats the outside half of his bat and nearly kisses the off pole. The keeper also struggles while collecting it but no run taken. |
| 10.2 : S Nadeem to C Lynn, The batsman has played it towards mid-wicket. One run added to the total. |
| 10.3 : S Nadeem to R Singh, Quicker full ball on middle, knocked down to long on for a single. |
| 10.4 : S Nadeem to C Lynn, Played through mid-wicket by the batsman. They pick up a single. |
| 10.5 : S Nadeem to R Singh, Flatter and shorter on off, Singh goes on the back foot to punch it through the line. Shankar moves across to his left from extra cover and puts in a dive to stop the racing ball. A single taken still. |
| 10.6 : S Nadeem to C Lynn, Shortish ball on off, punched down to long off for one. Nadeem bowls out, 4-0-30-0 for him this evening. Looks quite ordinary but if you consider that his first over went for 18, you will have to admit that it was a great comeback from him. |
| Sandeep Sharma returns. 2-0-13-0 so far. |
| 11.1 : S Sharma to C Lynn, A yorker length ball on middle has been worked through mid-wicket for a couple of runs. |
| 11.2 : S Sharma to C Lynn, FOUR! Fine shot! Lynn will have to take the responsibility from hereon. A slower short ball on middle at 122.6 kph, Chris gets on top of the bounce and pulls it very powerfully to the deep mid-wicket fence. |
| 11.3 : S Sharma to C Lynn, Sandeep goes very full this time but the line is down the leg side. Lynn eases it through square leg for one. |
| 11.4 : S Sharma to R Singh, A touch short in length on middle, Rinku turns it from the back foot but straight to mid-wicket. |
| 11.5 : S Sharma to R Singh, DROPPED AND SIX! Nadeem has made a complete mess near the fence. He does everything right there, times his jump well too but at the last minute it bursts out of his palms and goes over the rope. A slower good length ball outside off at 107.2 kph, Rinku heaves it across the line over square leg where all the drama mentioned above happened near the fence. A life for Rinku. |
| 11.6 : S Sharma to R Singh, The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot to long on for a run. They pick up a single. 14 from this over. |
| Tom Moody is having a chat with Danny Morrison. On Hyderabad's inconsistent performance this season following last year's wonderful passage, Moody says that every team has its ups and downs and hopes to finish in the final four eventually. On Bairstow leaving after this game, Moody admits that every team has that issue as many players will be leaving for national duties but also points out that Nabi and Rashid are available throughout the season while Guptill and Williamson will be there for a g |
| Rashid Khan gets a change of ends. 1-0-5-0 so far. |
| 12.1 : R Khan to R Singh, Flatter and shorter on off, punched back to the bowler. |
| 12.2 : R Khan to R Singh, Sliding down the leg side, Singh tries to flick but misses. Rashid appeals for the lbw but to no avail. Bairstow behind the stumps fails to collect the ball cleanly but it drops next to the stumps, so no chance of a run. |
| Is that a wicket? Stumped or run out? The umpire is referring it upstairs. Rinku is not too fussed... |
| 12.3 : R Khan to R Singh, SAFE! Rinku has his bat planted inside the crease just in time. Rashid changes his angle for this delivery and comes from 'round the wicket. He delivers a leg spinner on middle and gets it to spin back towards leg. Singh fails to work it around and it goes behind off the thigh pad. The striker is outside the crease in the process and Bairstow immediately picks the ball to break the stumps. He appeals and the square leg umpire takes it upstairs. The replays roll in and fi |
| 12.4 : R Khan to R Singh, Pushed to the cover region by the batsman. One run added to the total. |
| 12.5 : R Khan to C Lynn, Lynn has driven it through mid on. One run added to the total. |
| 12.6 : R Khan to R Singh, Helps it with gentle hands through mid-wicket for a couple of runs. |
| Khaleel Ahmed is back on. |
| 13.1 : K Ahmed to C Lynn, WIDE. Full and miles outside off, Lynn lets it go. The keeper fumbles and Rinku wants a single but Lynn is not interested. |
| K Ahmed to C Lynn, WIDE. Action replay of the previous delivery. The bowler is trying to bowl it wider from Lynn but he is ending up bowling it almost outside the pitch. |
| K Ahmed to C Lynn, Outside off, finally bat to ball connection is made as this one is punched away for a single. |
| 13.2 : K Ahmed to R Singh, Another slower delivery, Rinku works it through the leg side for a run. |
| 13.3 : K Ahmed to C Lynn, The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 13.4 : K Ahmed to R Singh, A slower delivery again, cutting in, Singh looks to tuck it to the leg side but misses and is hit on the pad. The ball then lobs up, hits the bat handle and deflects away but wide of the bowler. |
| 13.5 : K Ahmed to R Singh, A short ball, pulled away for one. |
| 13.6 : K Ahmed to C Lynn, Outside off, Lynn looks to cut but misses. |
| 14.1 : B Kumar to R Singh, FOUR! A loosener to start the over. Short and outside off, Rinku slaps it through the covers for a boundary. |
| 14.2 : B Kumar to R Singh, On middle and leg, flicked towards mid-wicket. |
| 14.3 : B Kumar to R Singh, Around off, watchfully defended. |
| 14.4 : B Kumar to R Singh, A short ball again, pulled through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 14.5 : B Kumar to C Lynn, Full on middle, chipped past the bowler towards long on for a run. |
| 14.6 : B Kumar to R Singh, Outside off, punched down to long on for a run. |
| Strategic break. Five overs left. Kolkata are not scoring too strongly and Andre Russell is sitting in the dugout waiting for his chance. Lynn and Singh are not finding enough boundaries and one can say that a wicket here will serve them better. For Hyderabad, not sure it can be a plan or not, but not picking a wicket at this stage will benefit them more than otherwise. Sandeep Sharma is back into the attack. |
| 15.1 : S Sharma to R Singh, A pitched up delivery wide outside off, Singh drives it through extra cover for a couple of runs. |
| 15.2 : S Sharma to R Singh, SIX! Much-needed one for Kolkata. That's more like it but they need more of these. 50-run stand comes up in 42 balls. A low full toss on middle, Rinku swings his bat across the line and smashes it handsomely over wide long on for a biggie. |
| Change of ball. Not because it is lost but because of the fact that the place where Rinku hit, there was plenty of water and now, it is not possible to bowl with that one. |
| 15.3 : S Sharma to R Singh, OUT! The message to Rinku was clear, hit out or get out. The young man targets a length ball around off and tries to power it over mid-wicket. He fails to get enough power behind it and Rashid rushes forward from the deep to take a fine low catch. Now then, now then, how smart is that to invite a monster to bat at this stage? Only time will tell. The remaining 27 balls are going to be really exciting. |
| He is here. Do not miss. This could be one of two things - Slam bang for the next few overs or a blink-and-you miss stuff. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Andre 'Dre Rus' Russell is in to bat. |
| 15.4 : S Sharma to A Russell, Slower bouncer to greet Dre Russ. The West Indian gets on top of the bounce and defends it back. |
| 15.5 : S Sharma to A Russell, Shortish and on middle, Andre helps it through mid-wicket and crosses. The fielder from the deep charges towards the ball and no second run is on. |
| 15.6 : S Sharma to C Lynn, A near yorker on middle and leg, Lynn forces it out down to long on for a run. |
| Khaleel Ahmed is back on. |
| 16.1 : K Ahmed to C Lynn, Short in length and on middle, Lynn pulls it in front of square leg for a run. |
| 16.2 : K Ahmed to A Russell, Wide! Khaleel tries to stay away from harm's way and delivers it quite wide outside off. Russell leaves it alone and it's wided by the umpire. |
| K Ahmed to A Russell, That's the best delivery you can bowl in overs 17-20 that can get Russell to the non-striker's end, jokes Harsha Bhogle on air. A full toss on the pads, Russell flicks it to deep square leg for one. |
| 16.3 : K Ahmed to C Lynn, Goes hard at a delivery outside off but fails to middle his shot. It rolls towards point. |
| 16.4 : K Ahmed to C Lynn, FOUR! Up and over the infield this time. Ahmed provides plenty of width outside off, Lynn latches onto it and slams it over backward point for a boundary. 9th fifty for Lynn, his slowest in the League, coming off 45 balls. |
| 16.5 : K Ahmed to C Lynn, The batsman goes after this one but misses the line completely. |
| 16.6 : K Ahmed to C Lynn, OUT! Third wicket for Khaleel and he is running in celebration. This is a fantastic catch from Kane Williamson too. A cutter from Ahmed, it's a bit short and wide outside off. Lynn shapes up for a big shot but only manages to slice it in the air towards cover-point. Williamson covers a lot of ground to his left from extra cover and then completes the catch with a fine diving effort. An uncharacteristic knock from the Aussie is over. |
| Piyush Chawla walks in next. Also, Rashid Khan is back into the attack. |
| 17.1 : R Khan to A Russell, Short and flatter on middle, punched down to long on for a run. |
| 17.2 : R Khan to P Chawla, A googly around off, Chawla tries to play the slog sweep but misses. |
| 17.3 : R Khan to P Chawla, Beaten again! A wrong 'un outside off, Piyush tries to play late at it but misses. |
| 17.4 : R Khan to P Chawla, Goes for the cut on this occasion but bottom edges it behind. |
| 17.5 : R Khan to P Chawla, Flighted ball on off, spinning away, Chawla once again attempts for a slog sweep but fails to make any connection. This is poor batting, you just need to tap and run, and give strike to Russell. |
| 17.6 : R Khan to P Chawla, Just 1 run off the over at this stage. Brilliant from Khan. Fifth play and a miss for Chawla as once again he gets beaten by the googly outside off. Piyush who himself is a leggie is found completely at sea against another leggie. |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar to bowl the 19th. |
| 18.1 : B Kumar to A Russell, Down the leg side but not a wide! Did that hit something? Possibly the pads. Full and down the leg side, Russell missed his flick and from the replays, it seems like the ball brushed the pad. |
| 18.2 : B Kumar to A Russell, SIX! Bhuvi misses and Russell dismisses. A full toss, down the leg side, Russell backs away a touch and swings it over square leg! |
| 18.3 : B Kumar to A Russell, Chawla has run two but Russell has run none! A full ball, tailing in down the leg side, Dre Russ slips a touch and flicks it towards deep square leg. Chawla wants the single but Russell is not interested. So PC has to go. |
| 18.4 : B Kumar to A Russell, SIX! SLAM! 'That is brutal', says Harsha Bhogle on air. A short ball, around middle and off, Russell jumps and swats it over deep mid-wicket. There is a fielder in the deep but can do nothing much with his leap. |
| 18.5 : B Kumar to A Russell, OUT! Wow. Stop the press. Dre Russ is gone. Double stop the press. He has holed out. A rarity. Bhuvi has done what Hyderabad wanted. Sent Russell packing. It is a full toss but Russell cannot take full toll. Probably because it is low. Andre backs away to the leg side and swings hard but cannot quite hit it cleanly. Simple, flat catch to Rashid Khan at deep mid-wicket and the crowd goes bonkers. |
| Yarra Prithviraj is the new batsman. |
| 18.6 : B Kumar to P Raj, A yorker to greet the new man and Prithvi Raj can only dig it out. 12 runs from the over, but Russell claimed. |
| 19.1 : R Khan to P Chawla, FOUR! Good start to the over for Kolkata! 150 comes up! Short in length around leg, Chawla gets back and pulls it in front of square leg for a cracking boundary. |
| 19.2 : R Khan to P Chawla, Quicker and flatter googly on off, Chawla opens the face of his bat and pushes it to point. |
| 19.3 : R Khan to P Chawla, OUT! Chawla is done with the bat for the evening. He tries to be too innovative against a googly landing around leg. Attempts for the reverse sweep/heave but only manages to glove it behind to Bairstow. The Englishman makes no mistake and Khan gets his first wicket. |
| KC Cariappa walks out to bat now. |
| 19.4 : R Khan to KC Cariappa, Edgy! Loopy full ball outside off, spinning away, Cariappa tries to slog across the line but gets a top edge behind. Bhuvneshwar chases it from short fine leg and pulls it back. Khaleel who has come in from short third man returns the throw and they take a couple of runs. |
| 19.5 : R Khan to KC Cariappa, SIX! Boom! Rashid commits the mistake of dropping it short outside off and Cariappa thwacks it over long on for a maximum. That was a good connection from the number 10 batsman. |
| 19.6 : R Khan to KC Cariappa, Goes down on one knee and slog sweeps it over mid-wicket. It goes on the bounce to the fielder in the deep and a single is taken. Kolkata finish on 159/8! |
| 159/8... not bad at all for Hyderabad. They will take this score any day. The problem is, the pitch is slow and this might take some doing. |
| A struggling display of batting by Kolkata once again. They are proving time and again that without Russell, they are not a good batting unit at all. Not many times do you see an opener batting till the 17th over but scoring just at a strike rate of 100. None of the others performed and even Rinku Singh, in spite of averting a collapse in the middle overs, could never really up the ante. And then, the tactic of frustrating Russell worked big time for Hyderabad as he could not do much damage. |
| Excellent comeback via bowling for the home side. The first 2 overs were total carnage where more than 40 runs were scored but after that runs barely came in trickles. Khaleel Ahmed enjoyed another outing with a 3-fer and hit the visitors hard in the initial overs. The rest were okay though their figures do not do justice. |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar is having a chat now. He says they had a plan for Russell. Mentions they did not mind the two sixes as long as he got out. Reckons the wicket is on the slower side. States he wanted to vary his pace and not just bowl one line. Admits the total is a good one to chase and keeping wickets in hand will be important. Ends by saying he is feeling a lot better now and is happy with the rhythm he is bowling with. |
| Okay. Whom are you with? Gut feeling says Hyderabad. The pitch is slow but Kolkata's bowling has not been at its best. Stay tuned... |
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