What a remakable turnaround for Kings XI Punjab. With five successive wins they have moved from the bottom of the points table all the way to fourth. Kolkata Knight Riders after being so long at fourth spot finally slip and are now fifth. The competion is heating up for the fourth spot. Which team will qualify? Will it be KXIP? Will it be KKR? Or could it be Rajasthan Royals?
That concludes the coverage of this match. Thank you for joining us. Good night!
Chris Gayle: I have been doing some off-field training with the trainer when I wasn't playing. You have to have the good feeling. We are happy now, still a long way to go. It was important to assess the conditions as quickly as possible. Two very good spinners, it was important to adjust quickly. Once you get the first boundary going, I was always going to get into the zone. I eased a bit of pressure off Mandeep bit, he batted really well and it was a great partnership. Sunil has got me out so many teams. You got to make best use of it because the wicket wasn't suiting for him. The last game, we told we wanted to won it for him (Mandeep). Really happy for him. We needed some sort of momentum to get that willl power.
Player of the Match
Chirs Gayle is the Player of the Match. He scored 51 from just 29 balls hitting 5 sixes and 2 fours to guide KXIP to the win.
KL Rahul: We decided to play positive cricket. We believed that things can turn around. A complete team performance. Batting looking good, bowling looking good, fielding has always been good. With the bubble, you don't have your closed ones. The way he (Mandeep) played, it makes everyone emotional. When you have Anil Kumble as the coach, it's not surprising that we have two leg-spinners. Complete team effort, a lot of effort has go to the coaches. It was a very hard decision not to play him (Chris). This is the hungriest I have ever seen him. He's always positive, pushing the youngsters. We have Chris in the dressing room. Just his presence means a lot to us. When we started five games ago, we knew we had to win all the games. One game at a time, keep the confidence going and keep the energy going.
Eoin Morgan: Particularly here at Sharjah, you have to counterattack if you lose early wickets, you got to identify the wicket early. Disappointedwith the partnerships, thought we could have scored more. When we were three down, we wanted a partnership going. Around 180 would have been a good score, but we kept losing wickets. That's one of the challenges this year, going from ground to ground. Hopefully we adjust to the conditions in Dubai. That's the nature of the tournament, there are not many bad sides. Our faith is in our own hands in the last two games. I think Gill scoring runs and restricting the Kings till the 11th or 12th over, those were the positives.
Result
Kings XI Punjab win by 8 wickets
KXIP 150/2 after 18.5 overs.
Ferguson to bowl. Gayle has the strike.
18.1 WICKET! Gayle c Prasidh b Ferguson 51(29)
Slow bouncer on Gayle's body. Gayel looks to work the ball to third-man. The ball hits the meat of the bat and lobs to Prasidh Krishna to short third-man. He dives forward and takes a good catch.
Nicholas Pooran has the new batsman.
18.2 Good fuller delivery which goes past Pooran.
18.3 Short delivery outside off stump. Pooran plays the ball down to third-man for a single.
18.4 Short delivery on off stump. Mandeep plays the ball to backward point. An over throw from the fielder gifts KXIP a single.
18.5 Short delivery and Pooran plays the ball to leg side for a single to seal the win for KXIP.
KXIP 147/1 after 18 overs.
Pat Cummins to bowl his last over. Gayle has the strike.
17.1 Top yorker on off stump. Gayle brings his bat down in time to block the ball.
17.2 Fuller delivery on leg stump. Gayle plays the ball to leg side for a single.
17.3 Fuller delivery outside off stump. Mandeep looks to play the ball to off side but misses.
17.4 FOUR! Fuller delivery outside off stump Mandeep plays the ball over extra cover for a boundary.
17.5 Short delivery outside off stump. Mandeep looks for cut but the ball goes past the keeper.
17.6 SIX! Fuller delivery on middle and leg. Mandeep clears his front leg and slogs the ball over deep midwicket for a maximum.
KXIP 135/1 after 17 overs.
Ferguson to bowl. Gayle has the strike.
16.1 FOUR! Ferguson bowls a bouncer. Gayle goes for pull. The ball takes the top edge and runs down to third man for a bounadry.
16.2 SIX! Brute power from Gayle. Good length delivery outside off stump. Gayle hammers the ball straight down the ground for a maximum.
16.3 Short delivery on leg stump. Gayle blocks the ball.
16.4 Good length delivery on middle stump. The ball takes the inside edge and falls just short of the keeper. Gayle takes a single and complete his fifty.
16.5 Fuller delivery on middle stump. Mandeep flicks the ball to leg side for a single.
16.6 1 Leg Bye! Short ball on leg stump. Gayle looks to pull. The ball hits his pads and goes to third-man. Gayle takes a single.
KXIP 123/1 after 16 overs.
Prasidh Krishna is back in the attack. Mandeep has the strike.
15.1 Short ball outside off stump. Mandeep cuts the ball to the fielder at backward point.
15.2 FOUR! Good length delivery outside off stump. Mandeep swings his bat and sends the ball down to deep midwicket for a boundary.
15.3 Short delivery and Mandep plays the ball to off side.
15.4 Fuller delivery and Mandeep works the ball to leg side for a single and get to his fifty.
15.5 Fuller delivery on middle and leg stump. Gayle plays the ball to cover and takes a run.
15.6 FOUR! Crunched through midwicket. Good length delivery outside off stump. Mandeep swings his bat and sends the ball beyond deep midwicket boundary.
KXIP 113/1 after 15 overs.
Chakravarthy is back in the attack. Mandeep has the strike.
14.1 FOUR! Fuller delivery outside off stump. Mandeep lifts the ball over cover for a boundary.
14.2 Fuller delivery and Mandeep drives the ball to cover.
14.3 Short delivery and Mandeep plays the ball to leg side for a single.
14.4 Fuller delivery outside off stump. Gayle guides the ball down to third-man for 2 runs.
14.5 Short delivery. Gayle goes deep in his crease to hit the ball down the ground. Tripathi stops the ball at the boundary rope. Gayle takes a single.
14.6 Short delivery and Mandeep plays the ball to deep midwicket for a single.
KXIP 104/1 after 14 overs.
Ferguson continues. Mandeep has the strike.
13.1 Slow delivery on good length outside off stump. Mandeep works the ball to third-man for a single.
13.2 Good length delivery outside off stump. Gayle plays the ball to backward point.
13.3 Good length delivery outside off stump. Gayle plays the ball to backward point for a single.
13.4 FOUR! Fuller delivery angling in. Mandeep clears his front leg and smashes the ball down to deep midwicket for a boundary.
13.5 Good fast bouncer outside off stump. Mandeep goes for a cut but the ball goes past the bat.
13.6 WIDE! Bouncer way above Mandeep's height.
13.6 1 Leg Bye! Slow short ball on leg stump. The bal hits Mandeep's pads and goes to leg side. Mandeep takes a single.
KXIP 96/1 after 13overs.
Sunil Narine to bowl. Gayle has the strike.
12.1 Godo lenggth delivery. Gayle plays the ball to cover and takes a quick single.
12.2 Fuller delivery and Mandeep plays the ball to sweeper cover for a single.
12.3 SIX! Short delivery outside off stump. Gayle rocks back in his crease and hammers the bal over deep midwicket boundary for a maximum.
12.4 Good length delivery and Gayle plays the ball to cover.
12.5 Short ball and Gayle plays the ball to square leg for 2 runs.
12.6 Fuller delivery and the ball hits on the pads. The ball is drifting down the kleg side.
KXIP 86/1 after 12 overs.
Lockie Ferguson to bowl. Mandeep has the strike.
11.1 FOUR! Fuller delivery on middle and leg stump. Mandeep flicks and sends the ball down to deep midwicket for a boundary.
11.2 BEATEN! Good length delivery swinging back in. Mandeep goes on backfoot to block the ball. The ball goes throgh the gap bertween the bat and Mandeep's body to the keeper.
11.3 Short delivery. Mandeep goes for pull but the ball goes to the keeper.
11.4 Fuller delivery. Mandeep makes room and plays the ball to off side for a single.
11.5 FOUR! Fuller delivery outside off stump. gayle opens the face of his bat to send the ball behind cover point for a boundary.
11.6 Short delivery and Gayle guides the ball down to third-man for a single.
KXIP 76/1 after 11 overs.
Narine continues. Mandeep has the strike.
10.1 Fuller delivery. Mandeep chips the ball to long-off for a single.
10.2 Short delivery and Gayle plays the ball to leg side.
10.3 Short delivery and Gayle works the ball to short fine leg for a single.
10.4 Fuller deivery and Mandeep plays the ball to short fine for a single.
10.5 Fuller delivery juts outside off stump. Gayle leaves the ball for the keeper.
10.6 SIX! Fuller delivery in Gayle's arc. Gayle smakcs the ball to send it soaring over deep midwicket boundary for a maximum.
KXIP 67/1 after 10 overs.
Chakravarthy to bowl. Mandeep has the strike.
9.1 Short delivery and Mandeep cuts the ball to the fielder at backward point.
9.2 FOUR! Fuller delivery and Mandeep reverse sweeps the ball to send it down to third-man for a boundary.
9.3 Fuller delivery and Mandeep plays the ball down to sweeper cover for a single.
9.4 BEATEN! Good length delivery. Gayle looks for a front foot defensive shot but the ball goes past the outside edge.
9.5 SIX! Fuller delivery on off stump. Gayle swings his heavy bat and sends the ball flying over long-on boundary for a maximum.
9.6 SIX! Another mighty shot from the bat of Gayle. Fuller delivery and Gayle dispatches the ball over the bowler's head for a maximum.
KXIP 50/1 after 9 overs.
to bowl. Mandeep has the strike. Chris Gayle is the new batsman.
8.1 Short delivery and Mandeep plays the ball to cover.
8.2 Fuller delivery and Mandeep plays the ball to leg side for a single.
8.3 Good length delivery. Gayle guides the ball wide of the fielder at first slip down to third man for a single.
8.4 Fuller delivery. Mandeep looks to play the ball to leg side but misses.
8.5 Fuller delivery. Mandeep chips the ball over Narine down to long-off and takes a single.
8.6 Fuller delivery. Gayle blocks the ball.
KXIP 47/1 after 8 overs.
Chakravarthy continues. Rahul is on strike.
7.1 Short delivery. Rahul plays the ball to leg side and takes a run.
7.2 Fuller delivery. Mandeep hits the ball wide of Chakravarthy down to long-off for a single.
7.3 Short delivery and KL Rahul hits the ball to the bowler.
7.4 FOUR! Short delivery. Rahul cuts and sends the ball racing past backward point down to third-man for a boundary.
7.5 Good length delivery and Rahul hits the ball to cover.
7.6 WICKET! Rahul lbw b Chakravarthy 28(25)
Fuller delivery fired on leg stump. Rahul rocks back to work the ball to leg side but the ball hits the pads. There is a loud appeal. The umpire raises his finger. KL Rahul decides against taking the review.
KXIP 41/0 after 7 overs.
Sunil Narine to bowl. Rahul has the strike.
6.1 Short delivery. Rahul goes for a cut but misses.
6.2 Fuller delivery and Rahul drives the ball to the fielder at sweeper cover for a run.
6.3 Fuller delivery and Mandeep pushes the ball to cover.
6.4 Good length delivery. Mandeep works the ball to deep midwicket and settles for a single.
6.5 Good length delivery. Rahul plays the ball to leg side and pushes for 2 runs. He gets 2 runs easily.
6.6 Short delivery. Rahul goes for a cut. The ball takes the inside edge of the bat and goes to short third man. Rahul takes a quick run.
KXIP 36/0 after 6 overs.
Varun Chakravarthy to bowl. Mandeep has the strike.
5.1 Short delivery and Mandeep pushes the ball off his backfoot.
5.2 Good length delivery and Mandeep hits the ball to cover.
5.3 Fuller delivery and Mandeep plays the ball to cover.
5.4 Fuller delivery and Mandeep plays the ball to deep midwicket for a single.
5.5 Short delivery and Rahul cuts the ball to backward point.
5.6 Short delivery and Rahul works the ball to deep midwicket for a single.
KXIP 34/0 after 5 overs.
Cummins to bowl his third over. Mandeep has the strike.
4.1 SIX! Good length delivery on middle stump. Mandeep stands firm in his crease and pulls the ball to send it flying over deep midwicket for a maximum.
4.2 Fuller delivery. Mandeep makes room and drives the ball to cover. The fielder at cover stops the ball.
4.3 Good length delivery. Mandeep goes on the backfoot to play the ball to third man. Mandeep takes first run quickly and turns back for the second run. Tripathi throws the ball from the deep and the keeper collects the ball and dismantels the stumps . There is a check for run out. The replay shows Mandeep is safe.
4.4 FOUR! Short delivery and Madeeep plays the ball to deep midwicket for a boundary.
4.5 Fuller delivery and Mandeep plays the ball to deep backward square leg for a single.
4.6 Short delivery and Rahul cuts the ball to backward point.
KXIP 21/0 after 4 overs.
Prasidh Krishna to bowl his second over. KL Rahul has the strike.
3.1 FOUR! Fuller delivery on off stump. Rahul flicks the ball. Rahul has not timed the shot well but the ball has enough to go beyon deep midwicket boundary.
3.2 FOUR! Back to back boundaries. Fuller delivery on off stump. Rahul drives the ball through mid-off for a boundary.
3.3 Good length delivery on off stump. Rahul plays the ball to off side.
3.4 Short delivery on off stump. Rahul takes a step out of his crease and makes room to play the ball throuugh point but the ball flies past the bat.
3.5 Short delivery and Rahul plays the ball to backward point for a single.
3.6 Fuller delivery on off stump. Mandeep punches the ball towards the fielder at cover point and takes a single.
KXIP 11/0 after 3 overs.
Cummins to bowl his second over. Mandeep has the strike.
2.1 Fuller delivery on middle stump. Mandeep blocks the ball.
2.2 Swing and a miss. Good length delivery outside off stump. Mandeep goes for a shot to send the ball to leg side but the ball goes past the bat.
2.3 Fuller delivery outsdie off stump. Mandeep makes room and drives the ball to the fielder at cover.
2.4 Fuller delivery on off stump. Mandeep takes the aerial route and plays the ball over mid-off. Ferguson runs backward to attempt the catch. The ball falls away from him. Mandeep complets a single.
2.5 Good length delivery on off stump. Rahul plays the ball to off side and takes a single.
2.6 Short delivery outside off stump. Mandeep plays the ball to off side.
KXIP 9/0 after 2 overs.
Prasidh Krishna to bowl from the other end. Rahul has the strike.
1.1 Short delivery on off stump. Rahul plays the ball to midwicket and takes a single.
1.2 Good length delivery on off stump. Mandeep pays the ball to cover.
1.3 Fuller delivery outside off stump. Mandeep drives the ball to cover.
1.4 Fuller delivery on off stump. The ball takes the inside edge of the bat and hits the pads.
1.5 Fuller delivery on middle and off stump. Mandeep drives the ball to mid-off and takes a single.
1.5 Good short delivery on off stump. Rahul punches the ball off his back foot through cover. The fielder at cover gives the ball a chase and manages to drag the ball back and stop the boudnary. Rahul gets 2 runs.
KXIP 5/0 after 1 over.
Pat Cummins to bowl the firs over of the inning. KL Rahul has the strike.
0.1 FOIUR! Short delivery outisde off stump. Rahul goes on the backfoot and plays the ball to third-man. Prasidh Krishna at third-man makes a mess and the ball goes for a boundary.
0.2 Good length delivery on off stump. Rahul blocks the ball.
0.3 BEATEN! Good length delivery outside off stump. The ball moves back in and goes past the outside edge of the bat on its way to the keeper.
0.4 Good length delivery outside off stump. Rahul goes on the backfoot and plays the ball to backward point.
0.5 Good length delivery on off stump. Rahul edges the ball. The ball rolls down to third-man and Rahul takes a single.
0.6 Fuller delivery on middle stump. Mandeep drives the ball to the fielder at point.
KXIP's chase is about to get underway. The two umpires make their way to the middle. KKR players are out on the field. KL Rahul waits for his opening partner. Will it be Mandeep Singh or will it be Chris Gayle. Turns out it is going to be Mandeep Singh.
KKR 149/9 after 20 overs.
Jordan to bowl the last over. Ferguson has the strike.
19.1 Low full toss. Ferguson plays the ball to mid-off and Ferguson takes a single.
19.2 2 Leg Byes! Good length delivery. Chakravarthy goes for a swing. The ball hits the pads and Ferguson takes 2 runs.
19.3 Fuller delivery fired on leg stump. Chakravarthy plays the ball to deep midwicket for a single.
19.4 Fuller delivery and Ferguson plays the ball down to long-on for a single.
19.5 WICKET! Chakravarthy b Jordan 2(4)
Fuller deliveryon leg stump. Chakravarthy moves across his stump to flick the ball to fine-leg. He exposes all three stumps and the ball hits the stumps.
Prasidh Krishna is the new batsman.
19.6 Fuller delivery fired on the leg stump. Krishna goes for a big shot but misses. The ball goes to KL Rahul and Krishna doesn't take any run.
KKR 144/8 after 19 overs.
Shami to bowl. Ferguson has the strike.
18.1 Full length delivery and Ferguson plays the ball to mid-on for a single.
18.2 Full delivery on middle and leg. Gill plays the ball to mid-on.
18.3 WICKET! Shubman Gill c Pooran b Shami 57(45)
Low full toss fired down the leg stump. Gill goes for a big shot. The ball flies straight into the hands of Nicholas Pooran at deep midwicket.
Varun Chakravarthy is the new batsman.
18.4 Full toss on leg stump. Chakravarthy pushes the ball through off side for a single.
18.5 SIX! Fuller delivery fired on leg stump. Ferguson makes room and hammers the ball over extra cover for a maximum.
18.6 1 Leg Bye! Short delivery going down leg stump. Ferguson plays the ball to fine leg for a single.
KKR 135/7 after 18 overs.
Jordan is back in the attack. Ferguson has the strike.
17.1 FOUR! Fuller delivery outside off stump. Ferguson punches the ball through cover for a boundary.
17.2 FOUR! Short delivery outside off stump. Ferguson cuts and sends the ball to vacant third-man aread for a boundary.
17.3 Good well directed yorker on leg stump. Ferguson plays the ball to leg side for a single.
17.4 Fuller delivery which hits the pads. There is a loud appeal. The umpire is unmoved.
17.5 Fuller delivery and Gill plays the ball to backward square leg for a single.
17.6 Fuller delivery on middle stump. Ferguson plays the ball to leg side for a single.
KKR 124/7 after 17 overs.
Ashwin to bowl. Gill has the strike.
16.1 Fuller delivery and Gill plays the ball to cover.
16.2 Full and quick delivery. Gill goes for a reverse sweep but misses.
16.3 Fuller delivery and Gill plays the ball through cover for a single.
16.4 FOUR! Short delivery and Ferguson cuts the ball to send it past wide of the fielder at slip down to third-man for a boundary.
16.5 Fuller delivery and Ferguson flicks the ball to deep midwicket for a single.
16.6 FOUR! Fuller delivery outside off stump. Gill plays an inside out shot over cover for a boundary.
KKR 115/7 after 16 overs.
Bishnoi to bowl. Cummins has the strike.
15.1 Fuller delivery and Cummins misses his shot.
15.2 Googly and Cummins plays the ball to mid-wicket.
15.3 Good length delivery on middle stump. Cummins leans in to push the ball. The ball hits the front pad and the KXIP players appeal for LBW. KL Rahul takes the review and the review shows the ball is going down the leg side.
15.4 WICKET! Cummins lbw b Ravi Bishnoi 1(8)
Good wrong'un from Ashwin. Cummins goes for a drive but misses out on his intended shot. The ball raps on the pads and the KXIP players appeal. The umpire raises his finger to send back Cummins.
Lockie Ferguson is the new batsman.
15.5 Good length delivery and Ferguson goes for a shot but misses.
15.6 Fuller delivery and Ferguson sweeps. Gill refuses a single.
KKR 114/6 after 15 overs.
to bowl. Nagarkoti has the strike.
14.1 Fuller delivery and Nagarkoti plays the ball straight. Ashwin stops the ball.
14.2 WICKET! K Nagarkoti b Murugan Ashwin 6(13)
Good wrong'un from Ashwin. The ball pitches on off stump and turns back in sharply. Nagarkoti goes for a drive but fails to connect. The ball hits the stumps.
Pat Cummins is the new batsman.
14.3 Good delivery which squares up Cummins. The ball takes the outside edge and goes to off side.
14.4 Good length delivery and Cummins drives the ball to cover.
14.5 Fuller delivery and Cummins pushes the ball back to Ashwin.
14.6 Short delivery. Cummins gets an inside edge and the ball goes to leg side. Cummins takes a single.
KKR 113/5 after 14 overs.
Bishnoi to bowl. Gill has the strike.
13.1 Fuller delivery and Gill pushes the ball to cover.
13.2 Good length delivery and Gill cuts the ball to the fielder at sweeper cover for a single.
13.3 Fuller delivery. Nagarkoti gets an inside edge and the ball rolls down to fine-leg. Nagarkoti takes a single.
13.4 Fuller delivery and Nagarkoti chips the ball over Bishnoi. Nagarkoti takes a single.
13.5 Short delivery. Gill plays the ball to leg side and takes 2 runs.
13.6 Tossed up delivery outside off stump. Gill drives the ball to the fielder at cover.
KKR 107/5 after 13 overs.
M Ashwin to bowl. Nagarkoti has the strike.
12.1 Short delivery and Nagarkoti goes on the backfoot and plays the ball back to Ashwin.
12.2 Short delivery. Nagarkot cuts and the ball goes on one bounce to the fielder at slip.
12.3 Short delivery and Nagarkoti goes to play the ball to leg side but the ball hits the pads.
12.4 Fuller delivery and Nagarkotoi plays the ball in the air on the off side. Nagakoti takes a single.
12.5 Short delivery. Gill pulls and sends the ball to leg side for a single.
12.6 Fuller delivery. Nagarkoti goes for drive. The ball takes the inside edge and goes to leg side. Gill refuses a single.
KKR 105/5 after 12 overs.
Bishnoi to bowl. Gill has the strike. Kamlesh Nagarkoti is the new batsman.
11.1 Short delivery and Gill punches the ball through cover for a run.
11.2 Good length delivery. Nagarkoti gets the inside edge and the ball hits the pads.
11.3 Fuller deivery and Nagarkoti leans to push the ball with soft hands.
11.4 Tossed up delivery. Nagarkoti plays a crisp drive and takes a single.
11.5 Fuller delivery and Gill hits the ball down to long-on for a run.
11.6 Short delivery and Nagarkoti tucks the ball on the on side for a run.
KKR 101/5 after 11 overs.
Chris Jordan to bowl his second over. Gill has the strike.
10.1 Fuller delivery outside off stump. Gill fails to connect his bat onto the ball and the ball goes to the keeper.
10.2 Change of pace from Jordan. Short slow delivery outside off stump. Gill plays the ball through cover and takes a run.
10.2 WIDE! Short delivery going down the leg side.
10.3 Short deliery on middle stump. Narine swings and sends the ball to deep midwicke. Narine gets 2 runs.
10.4 Short delivery outside off stump. Narine plays the ball to point.
10.5 FOUR! Short delivery outside off stump. Naire plays a late cut to send the ball wide of KL Rahul down to third-man for a boundary.
10.5 WIDE! Bouncer outside off stump but the ball is too high for Narine. Nairne leaves the ball for the keeper.
10.6 WICKET! Narine b Jordan 6(4)
Played on! Fuller deivery outside off stump. Nairne goes for swing. The ball takes the inside edge of the bat and goes to hit the stumps.
KKR 92/4 after 10 overs.
Ravi Bishnoi to bowl. Gill has the strike.
9.1 Fuller delivery outsdie off stump. Gill comes down the track and hits the ball down the ground. Gil gets a single.
9.2 Fuller delivery outside off stump. Morgan sweeps the ball and sends it to deep midwicket and settles for a single.
9.3 SIX! Length delivery outside off stump. The ball is in Gill's arc. Gill swings his bat and sends the ball flying over long-on boundary for a maximum.
9.4 Fuller delivery on off stump. Gill pushes the ball to long-off for a single.
9.5 WICKET! Morgan c Murugan Ashwin b Ravi Bishnoi 40(25)
Fuller delivery on middle stump. Morgan plays one shot too many. Morgan sweeps the ball. The ball goes straight down the throat of M Ashwin at square leg.
Sunil Narine is the new batsman.
9.6 Fuller delivery outside off stump. Gill plays the ball to the fielder at sweeper cover and takes a single.
KKR 82/3 after 9 overs.
Chris Jordan to bowl his first over. Gill has the strike.
8.1 Good length delivery outside off stump. Morgan plays the ball through off side and takes a single.
8.2 BEATEN! Good length delivery outside off stump. Gill throws his bat to play the ball through off side. The ball goes past the outside edge of the bat.
8.3 Good length delivery outsdie off stump. Giil goes after the ball. The ball takes the inside edge of the bat and goes on one bounce to KL Rahul.
8.4 Slow short delivery outside off stump. Gill pulls and sends the ball to leg side and takes a single.
8.5 BEATEN! Slow short delivery wide outside off stump. Morgan goes for a cut but the ball goes to the keeper.
8.6 Fuller delivery on middle and off stump. Morgan pushes the ball to cover.
KKR 80/3 after 8 overs.
M Ashwin to bowl. Gill has the strike.
7.1 Fuller delivery on middle stump. Gill pushes the ball to long-off and takes a run.
7.2 Fuller delivery on off stump. Morgan plays the ball with soft hands.
7.3 SIX! Fuller delivery. Morgan dances down the track and hits the ball. The ball has the height and the distance to fly over long-on boundary.
7.4 Fuller delivery outsdie off stump. Morgan cuts the ball and takes a run.
7.5 Fuller delivery on off stump. Gill slogs the ball and the ball goes to the fielder at midwicket.
7.6 SIX! Fuller delivery on off stump. Gill slogs and the ball flies out of the park.
KKR 66/3 after 7 overs.
Maxwell is back in the attack. Morgan has the strike.
6.1 Fuller delivery and Morgan plays the ball to off side.
6.2 FOUR! Fuller delivery and Morgan takes 2 steps out of his crease and creams the ball over cover for a boundary.
6.3 Short delivery and Morgan works the ball to leg side for a single.
6.4 Good length delivery on middle stump. Gill guides the ball to deep midwicket for a single.
6.5 Short delivery outsdie off stump. Gill plays the ball to off side.
6.6 SIX! Short delivery on middle and leg line. Morgan pulls and sends the ball flying over fine-leg for a maximum.
KKR 54/3 after 6 overs.
Shami to bowl his third over. Morgan has the strike.
5.1 FOUR! Fuller delivery outside off stump. Morgan comes down the track and hits the ball over mid-on for a boundary.
5.2 Good response from Shami. Good bouncer. Morgan goes for pull but the ball flies past him on its way to the keeper.
5.3 FOUR! Good counter-attacking batting from Morgan. Good length delivery on middle stump. Morgan plays a late cut to send the ball racing down to third-man for a boundary.
5.4 Fuller delivery and Morgan hits the ball to mid-on. Morgan takes a quick single.
5.5 SIX! What a shot from the bat of Gill. Shami goes full and Gill lifts the ball over mid-on for a maximum.
5.6 SIX! And another from Gill. This time the ball is out of the park. Fuller delivery and Gill swings his bat to send the ball flying over deep midwicket boundary and out of the park.
KKR 33/3 after 5 overs.
Arshdeep continues. Gill has the strike.
4.1 Short delivery outside off stump. Gill punches the ball to cover and the ball rolls to the fielder.
4.2 Fullish delivery on off and middle. Gill pushes the ball to off side and takes a quick single.
4.3 FOUR! Shortish delivery wide outside off stump. Morgan comes down the track and edge s t he ball. The ball takes thick outside edge and runs down to third-man for a boundary.
4.4 Fullish delivery and Morgan flicks the ball to leg side and takes a run.
4.5 FOUR! Stand and deliver. Short delivery on leg stump. Gill stands still and pulls the ball to square leg for a boundary.
4.6 Fuller delivery on off stump. Gill plays the ball to leg side.
KKR 23/3 after 4 overs.
Shami to bowl. Gill has the strike.
3.1 Good length delivery on off stump. Gill plays the ball to off side.
3.2 Fuller delivery on leg stump. The ball hits on the pads and there is half a shout from the KXIP players.
3.3 Fuller delivery on middle stump. Gill plays the ball through leg side and takes a run.
3.4 FOUR! Crunches through point. Width on offer and Morgan punishes the ball. Short and wide and Morgan cuts the ball for a boundary.
3.5 Good length delivery outside off stump. Morgan cuts the ball. The fielder at point stops the ball.
3.6 Good length delivery outside off stump. Morgan flashes and the ball goes to the fielder at cover.
KKR 18/3 after 3 overs.
Arshdeep Singh to bowl. Gill is on strike. Eoin Morgan is the new batsman.
2.1 FOUR! Fuller delivery on middle and leg stump. Gill guides the ball down to fine-leg for a boundary.
2.2. Good length delivery outside off stump. Gill is not bothered about the ball and leaves it for the keeper.
2.3 WIDE! Poor delivery by Arshdeep as he bowls way outside off stump.
2.3 Good length delivery on middle stump. Gill plays the ball down to third-man and is happy with a single.
2.4 Good length delivery outside off stump. Morgan is happy to leave the ball for Rahul.
2.5 Good length delivery on off stump. Morgan blocks the ball.
2.6 Good length delivery outside off stump. Morgan steps out of his crease and plays the ball to leg side. Morgan gets a couple of runs to end the over.
KKR 10/3 after 2 overs.
Mohammed Shami to bowl from the other end. Gill has the strike.
0.1 Good length delivery outside off stump. Gill leaves the ball for the keeper.
0.2 Good length delivery on middle stump. The ball nips back in and hits the pads. The ball goes to off side.
0.3 Good length delivery on middle and off stump. Gill punches the ball to off side. Maxwell at mid-off puts in a dive and stops the ball. Gill takes a single.
0.4 WICKET! Tripathi c Rahul b Shami 7(4)
Top ball from Shami. Good length delivery just outside off stump. Tripathi pokes his bat. The ball takes the outside edge of the bat and goes into KL Rahul's gloves.
Dinesh Karthik is the new batsman.
0.5 Good length delivery outsdie off stump. Karthik lets the ball go to the keeper.
0.6 WICKET! Karthik c Rahul b Shami 0(2)
Good length delivery outside off stump. The ball goes past the outside edge of the bat and into KL Rahul's gloves. KXIP players are up in appeal in unison. They think that this is out and so does the umpire. Karthik takes the review and the review shows that there was an edge. The third-umpire says that it is OUT.
KKR 9/1 after 1 over.
Glenn Maxwell to bowl the first over for KXIP. On strike is Gill.
0.1 Fuller delivery on leg stump. Gull works the ball to leg side and takes a single to get the inning underway.
0.2 WICKET! Nitish Rana c Gayle b Maxwell 0(1)
Maxwell strikes!!! Fuller delivery drifting down the leg side. Rana sweeps and the ball flies to CHhris Gayle standing at short fine-leg.
Rahul Tripathi is the new batsman.
0.3 Fuller delivery on leg stump. Tripathi plays the ball to leg side and he is off the mark.
0.4 Fuller delivery on middle stump. Gill plays the ball to deep midwicket and takes a run.
0.5 SIX! Fuller delivery on middle stump. Tripathi slog sweeps the ball and it flies over deep midwicket boundary for a maximum.
0.6 Fuller delivery and Tripathi blocks the ball.
The two umpires are out on the field. The KXIP players are in a huddle with KL Rahul inspiring his lads. And out come Shubhman Gill and Nitish Rana to open the inning for KKR.
So, important news is that Mayank Agarwal and Andre Russell are still missing in action for KXIP and KKR respectively due to the injuries that they have sustained.
KKR Playing XI
Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, Dinesh Karthik(w), Eoin Morgan(c), Sunil Narine, Pat Cummins, Lockie Ferguson, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Prasidh Krishna, Varun Chakravarthy
KXIP Playing XI
KL Rahul(w/c), Mandeep Singh, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Glenn Maxwell, Deepak Hooda, Chris Jordan, Murugan Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh
Eoin Morgan: We would have bowled as well, pretty muchh for the same reasons. We did well against DC, played the way we wanted. Our fate is still in our hands, that's good. We have depended a lot on match-ups, it works at times, it doesn't at times. Andre Russell is unfortunately still not fit, so same team
KL Rahul: We will bowl first. Like to have a target on the board, the dew might have an effect as well in the second innings. Winning gives a lot of confidence to the group, it makes them keep performing better and better. The back-room staff have been phenomenal right from even the tournament started. No changes to our team
Toss
KXIP skipper KL Rahul wins the toss and opts to bowl.
Pitch Report
A slow track on offer. The captain winning the toss should prefer chasing. There could be dew late in the evening so defending totals woun't be easy.
Deccan Herald’s Dream XI
KL Rahul, Chris Gayle, Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan (c), Nicholas Pooran (wk), M Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Lockie Ferguson, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy
Impact player for KXIP
KL Rahul: KXIP’s match against SRH clearly highlighted how important it is for KL Rahul to get runs. When KL Rahul gets out early the team struggles to get runs. Rahul needs to get big runs to put pressure on KKR.
Impact player for KKR
Lockie Ferguson: Ever since Lockie Ferguson has made his way to KKR’s playing XI, the bowling unit looks sharper. Ferguson bowls at a mean pace. He has picked 5 wickets. Moreover, with him attacking from one end has made the bowlers bowling from the other end pick wickets.
Form Guide (last five matches)
Kolkata Knight Riders: W-L-W-L-L
Kings XI Punjab: W-W-W-W-L
KXIP have been enjoying great form lately. It has been a remarkable turnaroud for the KL Rahul-led side. From facing defeats in five consecutive matches they are now at the cusp of stitching together a string of five successive wins.
What happened in the reverse fixture?
Dinesh Karthik's Man of the Match performance of 58 from 29 balls set up a thrilling 2-run win for the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Speaking about the playoffs, the schedule for the playoffs has been announced yesterday. Read more about the schedule of the playoffs here.
The match is very important cause it could decide which team would finish fourth on the league table. Kolkata Knight Riders are fourth on the points table with 12 points from 11 games. Kings XI Punjab are fifth with 10 points from 11 matches. If KKR win they would inch closer to the playoff spot but in KXIP win tonight it would be their fifth win on the trot and bring them level on points with KKR and give them a realistic chance of qualifying for the playoffs.
Good evening and welcome to the coverage of match 46 of the Indian Premier League. Tonight Kolkata Knight Riders face Kings XI Punjab at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Head to head:
Matches played: 26
Kolkata Knight Riders: 18
Kings XI Punjab: 8
The SWOT for KXIP
Strengths: The team is on an upswing at the moment. They seem to be doing everything right. Their form is their biggest strength. KL Rahul has made all the right moves in last four matches. It is difficult to tackle a team which is approaching every match with so much belief and confidence.
Weaknesses: Over reliance on KL Rahul to get runs and form of Glenn Maxwell with the bat. KL Rahul has done the bulk of the scoring this season. Other batsmen too should start contributing runs. Also, Maxwell’s dry run with the bat has also hurt the team’s cause.
Opportunities: If the team manages win in this match, then it would be level on points with KKR and very much in contention for a play-off spot. No better opportunity to shut the critics up than a win in this match. Also, an opportunity for KL Rahul to show that he can be a good captain.
Threats: The team should approach the match with caution. They should not get overwhelmed by the sense of occasion. All the good work done of previous matches would mean nothing if the team fails in this match.
The SWOT for KKR
Strengths: The bowling seem to be coming good. Spinner Varun Chakravarthy now has the best bowling figure for any bowler in this year’s IPL. Lockie Ferguson has given much needed confidence to the pace department. Pat Cummins has bowled tight over and is now reaping rewards of his hard work. Return of Sunil Narine would bode well. The Indian pace trio of Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Shivam Mavi and Prasidh Krishna have been impressive too.
Weaknesses: The batting has not been consistent for KKR. KKR have been able to produce just 8 fifties from all the batsmen those who have batted for the team this season. Captain Eoin Morgan is yet to hit a fifty. Shubman Gill’s early form has evaporated. KKR are shuffled their batting order almost every match which highlights the management is still not sure which batsmen needs to perform what role.
Opportunities: The team could kill KXIP’s hope and inch closer to a play-off if they win this match. The team would not want a late scamper for the play-off spot.
Threats: KKR’s performance has swung like a pendulum this season. From an embarrassing 8-wicket defeat against RCB to 59-run thumping to DC, KKR fans have experienced it all. Eoin Morgan would hope that the pendulum doesn’t swing the other way and the team puts up a clinical show.