IPL Highlights: KXIP v KKR | Gill stars in win

Just 5 games left in the league stage including this one, Match number 52 of the Indian T20 League sees number 6 and number 7 on the points table go up against each other and yet, both of them have a chance to still make the playoffs. Such has been the beauty of this edition of the League. Punjab host Kolkata in one of the most vital encounters for either team so far, if not the most! The home side comes into this game with a trail of 3 defeats behind them whereas the away team has put the bad rut of 6 losses to rest with a morale-boosting victory over Mumbai in their last match, which was also their final home League game. Punjab desperately need two wins in their remaining two games as their net run rate is not really in a great position but the one factor that will work in their favor is that they play both of these matches at home in Mohali where they have a really good record, winning 4 out of 5 there. Ashwin will hope that his men can somehow shrug off the bad form and get back on track. They will need a lot from their bowlers who have been conceding too much at the death. Their opening batsmen have been in good form but their middle order has blown hot and cold and the home-team faithful would give anything to see them amass the runs in this contest as well as the next. As for the away side, they will look to build on the victory that took really long coming. Kolkata smashed a massive total of 232 before defending it. They did have a small scare in the end by Hardik Pandya and they would want their bowling to sort out their issues if they want to stay alive in this tournament. This particular match-up has been a lopsided one in the history of the League, with Kolkata winning 16 out of 24 games played between these two. In fact in the last 12 games, the boys from Bengal have won 10! Punjab though, won the last time both played at the PCA stadium in Mohali. With almost everything on the line, this one should definitely pan out to be a cracker! You do not want to miss out...

That's all from me, Akarshak Roy, hope you enjoyed the coverage of this crunch encounter.

KKR win by 7 wickets

17.6 Curran to Karthik, FOUR! That's it! That's tickled to fine leg for FOUR!

17.5 Curran to Karthik, back of a length, picks it well, pulled for SIX!

17.4 Curran to Karthik, slashed away past backward point, two runs taken

17.4 Curran to Karthik, wide ball, way above the batsmen's head

17.3 Curran to Karthik, yorker, gets the outside edge and beats the keeper, FOUR!

17.1-17.2Three singles, they are doing it easy here, with the hope of an occasional boundary

166/3 after 17 overs

16.6 Tye to Karthik, single

16.5 Tye to Gill, single, sensible

16.4 Tye to Gill, shorter ball, jabbed to deep midwicket, FOUR! That's some placement!

16.3 Tye to Karthik, full toss on the pads, flicked away to midwicket, one run

16.2 Tye to Gill, full length, driven to mid on, they take a run easily

16.1 Tye to Karthik, good length on his hips, guided to the leg side for a single

157/3 after 16 overs

Kolkata Knight Riders require another 27 runs with 7 wickets and 24 balls remaining

15.6 Curran to Gill, again on the pads, again hit well in the gap, two taken

15.5 Curran to Gill, slower ball bouncer, wide off the stump, goes for the big slash but misses

15.4 Curran to Gill, tries to slice it but finds the inside edge, no run, couldn't get the timing from the slower ball

15.3 Curran to Gill, full toss on leg stump, clipped away to the midwicket boundary, two runs taken. Well-placed.

15.2 Curran to Karthik, and he's off the mark with an easy single

15.1 Curran to Gill, one run

151/3 after 15 overs

Kolkata Knight Riders require another 33 runs with 7 wickets and 30 balls remaining

14.6 Shami to Gill, drifting down leg, one leg bye

14.5 Shami to Russell, bouncer on helmet, and he's GONE! Bouncer on his head, top-edged to midwicket! There's the plan, and there's the wicket!

14.4 Shami to Russell, swing and a miss

14.3 Shami to Russell, back of a length, doesn't rise as much, slapped over covers, no chance for the fielder, FOUR!

14.2 Shami to Russell, bouncer, goes for the hook, misses

14.1 Shami to Gill, on middle stump, flicked to fine leg for a single

145/2 after 14 overa

Kolkata Knight Riders require another 39 runs with 8 wickets and 36 balls remaining

13.6 Tye to Russell, DROPPED! He has DROPPED the match! It was full, and he hit it straight down the throat of long off. Instead, he's parried it for SIX!

13.5 Tye to Russell, bouncer! Ducks, dot ball

13.4 Tye to Russell, wide, just beside the wide line, missed

13.4 Tye to Russell, wide

13.3 Tye to Russell, full toss on leg stump, and you know the rest! SIX! We don't need to explain where that went!

13.3 Tye to Russell, wide

13.2 Tye to Russell, full, tries to smash it away, in the gap for two

13.1 Tye to Gill, fuller ball, pushed down the ground, for one

128/2 after 13 overs

Kolkata Knight Riders require another 56 runs with 8 wickets and 42 balls remaining

110/2 after 12 overs

Kolkata Knight Riders require another 74 runs with 8 wickets and 48 balls remaining

11.6 Curran to Russell, slower ball bouncer, goes for the same slap, but misses

11.5 Curran to Russell, there's the bouncer! Fine comeback. Dot ball.

11.4 Curran to Russell, short and wide, slapped past deep point, full of brute force, FOUR!

11.3 Curran to Gill, wider ball, slashed past point for a single

11.2 Curran to Gill, on the stumps, good length, takes a run

11.2 Curran to Gill, wide

11.1 Curran to Gill, angling in, flicked to the deep for one

98/1 after 10 overs

9.4-9.6 Good comeback, just two runs given

9.3 Curran to Gill, four! Oh my word, that is sublime!

9.2 Curran to Uthappa, full length, outside edge to third man, one run

9.1 Curran to Gill, around the stumps, angling in, helped on its way to deep square, one run

90/1 after 9 overs

8.5-8.6 Two singles

8.4 M Ashwin to Uthappa, drops it short, gives himself room, slices it past backward point and point, FOUR! What a shot!

8.3 M Ashwin to Uthappa, SIX! Audacious!

8.2 M Ashwin to Uthappa, full length, clipped away to deep midwicket in the gap, FOUR! A big misfield from long on!

8.1 M Ashwin to Gill, tossed up, cannot get under it, inside edge, one run

73/1 after 8 overs

69/1 after 7 overs

6.5 M Ashwin to Uthappa, hit down the ground for one

6.5M Ashwin to Gill, full length, googly, pushed to long on, one run

6.4M Ashwin to Uthappa, easy single

6.3 M Ashwin to Gill, steered down the ground for a single

6.2 M Ashwin to Gill, good length, crisply punched to covers, slight misfield, allows a couple

6.1 Murugan to Robin Uthappa, clipped to deep midwicket, one run

62/1 after 6 overs

47/0 after 5 overs

4.6 Ashwin to Lynn, full toss, flicked to deep midwicket in the gap, two runs

4.4 Ashwin to Lynn, a couple of dots

4.3 Ashwin to Lynn, SIX! Good length, carrom ball, SIX! That has been clobbed over long off

4.2 Ashwin to Lynn, stock delivery, goes for the big one but misses

4.1 Ashwin to Lynn, good ball, gives himself room, finds the outside edge, FOUR!

35/0 after 4 overs

183/6 after 20 overs

19.6 Gurney to Curran, full toss, flicked to deep square, FOUR! What an innings! What a fine talent!

19.5 Gurney to Curran, paddle comes out! Innovation! FOUR!

19.4 Gurney to Curran, slower ball, picked off the length, deposited to long on, SIX! That was high and handsome!

19.3 Gurney to Curran, full, wide off the stump, opens the face and slashes over covers, FOUR!

19.2 Gurney to Curran, again hit to the same region, two again

19.1 Gurney to Curran, yorker, clipped away to deep square in the gap, couple of runs

161/6 after 19 overs

18.6 Russell to Tye, sharp bouncer, misses the pull

18.5 Russell to Curran, one run to long on

18.4 Russell to Curran, full, in the slot, clobbered straight back, FOUR!

18.3 Russell to Curran, goes across, good length, clears short fine, FOUR!manoeuvring the field!

18.2 Russell to Tye, quicker ball, trps him on the pads, one leg bye

18.1 Russell to Ashwin, slower ball, goes across and tries to slog on the leg side, inside edge on to the stumps, OUT!

151/5 after 18 overs

17.6 Gurney to Ashwin, steered to cover, one run

17.5 Gurney to Ashwin, shorter one, slower, tries to pull but misses

17.4 Gurney to Curran, very full, pushed down the ground for a single

17.3 Gurney to Mandeep, slower ball on good length, tried to go over short cover but found him instead! OUT!

17.2 Gurney to Curran, shorter ball, slogged away to deep square, one run again

17.1 Gurney to Mandeep, slower ball yorker, tapped to point, one run

147/4 after 17 overs

16.6 Narine to Curran, swings big, pierces the gap between long on and deep midwicket, FOUR! What a fabulous strike!

16.5 Narine to Mandeep, flicked off his pads again, one run

16.4 Narine to Curran, tries the big one again, went very high up in the air, hit the toe end, DROPPED by Rinku Singh!

16.3 Narine to Curran, fuller length, outside off, struck well to the right of long off, they take a couple of runs

16.2 Narine to Curran, goes down the ground and heaves it over midwicket, that's probably the longest one of the evening! SIX!

16.1 Narine to Mandeep, flicked to deep midwicket, single taken

132/4 after 16 overs

15.5-15.6 A couple of dot balls

15.4 Russell to Curran, full length, mid off is up, driven powerfully in the gap for FOUR!

15.3 Russell to Curran, goes across again but Russell responds with a sharp bouncer, dodged, dot ball

15.2 Russell to Curran, moves across, clips it in the gap to deep midwicket for a couple, good running

15.1 Russell to Mandeep, runs it down for a single

125/4 after 15 overs

14.6 Chawla to Mandeep, single taken

14.5 Chawla to Mandeep, full length, but he reads it and somehow generates enough power to hoick it over long off for SIX! Shot of the day!

14.4 Chawla to Curran, similar length, hit to deep midwicket for one

14.3 Chawla to Curran, googly, hit straight back to the bowler, dot ball

14.2 Chawla to Mandeep, single taken

14.1 Chawla to Curran, very full, down to long on for a single

115/4 after 14 overs

13.6 Narine to Mandeep, works it in the gap on the leg side, two taken, well run this time

13.5 Narine to Curran, full length, driven down the ground for one run

13.4 Narine to Mandeep, chipped to midwicket, one run

13.3 Narine to Mandeep, steered to deep midwicket, and they try to take a double but he's well short! Mayank Agarwal is run out by Rinku Singh!

13.2 Narine to Agarwal, worked off his pads to deep midwicket, one run

13.1 Narine to Agarwal, good length on off stump, straight to short cover, no run

109/3 after 13 overs

12.6 Warrier to Agarwal, fuller length, clipped off his pads, one run

12.5 Warrier to Mandeep, good length, pulled away to deep midwicket, one run taken

12.4 Warrier to Mandeep, fuller length, opens his face at the very last moment, helps it past short third, excellent, deft! FOUR!

12.3 Warrier to Agarwal, pitched up, off driven to long off, one

12.2 Warrier to Mandeep, back of length, flat-batted down the ground, one run

12.1 Warrier to Agarwal, steered to deep cover for one

100/3 after 12 overs

84/2 after 10 overs

73/2 after 9 overs

8.6 Narine to Agarwal, tossed up, again worked to deep midwicket by him, no run

8.5 Narine to Pooran, fuller, on middle, inside edge to short leg, one run

8.4 Narine to Pooran, again on the same line, this time he misses, hits the pads, dot ball

8.3 Narine to Pooran, on leg stump, easily pushed to the midwicket zone, dot ball

8.2 Narine to Pooran, stock ball, pushed to cover for one

8.1 Narine to Agarwal, drifting down leg, nudged to the on side, one run

68/2 after 8 overs

7.6 Chawla to Agarwal, worked on the leg side by him again, for a single

7.5 Chawla to Pooran, a tad fuller, tries to cut but doesn't get the timing, only one

7.4 Chawla to Pooran, googly once more to the left hander, hangs back and cuts hard in the gap, FOUR!

7.3 Chawla to Agarwal, googly, pushed to deep midwicket, one run

7.2 Chawla to Pooran, googly again, the length is pulled back by a couple of yards, patted on the off side for a run

7.1 Chawla to Pooran, googly but way too full, picked off the length, over long off, SIX!

54/2 after 7 overs

6.6 Russell to Pooran, full outside off, fifth stump line, off drive, one run

6.5 Russell to Pooran, dot ball

6.5 Russell to Pooran, wide outside off, given wide

6.4 Russell to Pooran, bouncer, tried to pull, gets the under-edge, goes fine down third man for FOUR!

6.3 Russell to Pooran, wider delivery, slashes hard but misses

6.2 Russell to Pooran, good length, nothing wrong with the ball, but hammered down the ground, SIX!

6.1 Russell to Agarwal, full length, on the pads, flicked to deep square for a run

41/2 after 6 overs

28/2 after 5 overs

4.6 Warrier to Pooran, wider ball, helped off his pads for one

4.5 Warrier to Pooran, shorter ball, this time he gets on top of it and pulls it past midwicket, FOUR!

4.4 Warrier to Pooran, similar length, guided to point, easily fielded, dot ball

4.3 Warrier to Pooran, good length, just outside the off stump, sublime bounce, well bowled! Dot ball.

4.2 Warrier to Pooran, on middle and leg, defended well off his front foot

4.1 Warrier to Gayle, OUT!Warrier gets his second and both the openers are back for early shower. Sandeep is having a night to remember. First Rahul and now Gayle. Credit has to be given to Dinesh Karthik as well for brilliant fielding placement.

22/1 after 4 overs

19/1 after 3 overs

2.6 Warrier to Gayle, good length, on his hips, tapped on the leg side for a single

2.5 Warrier to Agarwal, drifting on leg, clipped away, midwicket is there, just one

2.4 Warrier to Agarwal, back of a length, he steers it exquisitely well in the gap past point, FOUR!

2.3 Warrier to Rahul, slower one, chipped to mid on, caught by Lynn! OUT! It was the knuckleball, pitched up.

2.2 Warrier to Rahul, wider and shorter, doesn't get hold of it, under-edged, dot ball

2.1 Warrier to Rahul, back of a length again, gets on top of it and punches, no run

13/0 after 2 overs

1.6 Gurney to Gayle, dot ball

1.5 Gurney to Gayle, dot ball, slower one, holds up on the pitch, just short of point, dot ball

1.4 Gurney to Gayle, driven past cover again, doesn't go all the way, two runs taken

1.3 Gurney to Gayle, length ball, punched back to the bowler, dot ball

1.2 Gurney to Rahul, single taken

1.1 Gurney to Rahul, dot ball, starts with the slower one, gets the edge but doesn't carry to Karthik

Start of the KXIP innings - 10/0 after 1 over

0.6 Warrier to Gayle, similar length, but wider, and punished! FOUR! This was even better!

0.5 Warrier to Gayle, pitched up again, he powerfully drives it past point, FOUR! Minimal footwork but fine hand-eye coordination!

0.4 Warrier to Rahul, length ball outside off, tapped to backward point, one quick run taken

0.3 Warrier to Rahul, pitched up, driven extremely well, but straight to cover, dot ball

0.2 Warrier to Gayle, pitched up, great delivery, hits the inside half of the bat, one run taken

0.1 Sandeep Warrier to Chris Gayle, back of a length, hip-high, defended back, no run

We are all set to begin. The umpires make their way out in the middle.

Punjab skipper, Ravichandran Ashwin says he would have bowled first as well but also adds that they were confused but Ashwin feels it won't be much of a difference. On why they make changes regularly, Ashwin laughs and says that if he could have got players straight into the team from the hospital he would have. Ashwin feels that if they get a win here the momentum will change.

KKR win the toss and choose to bowl first

Kings XI Punjab XI: KL Rahul, Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Mandeep Singh, Sam Curran, R Ashwin (c), M Ashwin, Andrew Tye, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh

Kolkata Knight Riders XI: Chris Lynn, Shubman Gill, Robin Uthappa, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik (c) (wk), Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Piyush Chawla, Harry Gurney, Sandeep Warrier