KXIP beat KKR by 9 wickets (D/L method) | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab, Highlights And Cricket Score 18th T20 Match - Commentary

Punjab were all over the place with their bowling but pulled things back quite well. Both their spinners did a commendable job while Andrew Tye proved to the best of the lot. A tough task for Punjab in front but they have the firepower to chase this down. Will we witness yet another Chris Gayle show? Do join us in a short while to find out.

The innings for Kolkata started on a wrong note as they lost Sunil Narine very cheaply but then the pair of Robin Uthappa and Chris Lynn started to score freely and put on a 72-run stand in quick time. A couple of wickets fell after that but once again Kolkata kept the momentum going. Dinesh Karthik looked in fantastic touch from the word go and along with Lynn, he raised another quickfire stand. Chris Lynn was in scintillating form and missed out on a century. Andre Russell failed to get going at the death and as a result, Kolkata fell short of the psychological 200-run mark.

That's an excellent recovery by Punjab to restrict Kolkata under 200. They didn't allow Kolkata to finish the way they would have liked to. 45/4 in the last five overs. Still, it's a big total on the board and they will have to bat really well to overhaul it.

Ian Bishop catches up with Andrew Tye near the sidelines. The pacer starts by crediting Chris Lynn for the way he played. Is happy to pull things back towards the end. On bowling in the heat, he says it's a tough ask and he isn't used to bowling in such conditions. Feels it's a par score but reckons they have the batting line-up who he hopes can chase it.

Andrew Tye to Shubman Gill. Good length delivery on middle and off, punched through cover and will get one. KOLKATA FINISH ON 191/7!

Andrew Tye to Piyush Chawla. Piyush Chawla lifts one down to long off sans any timing. Another single.

Andrew Tye to Shubman Gill. Fuller on middle, driven towards long on for just one. Turning out to be another good over.

Andrew Tye to Piyush Chawla. Was that a chance? Chawla waits back for the slower one, he looks to ramp it away but doesn't get any meat behind it. Mujeeb looks to come forward from short third man and take it but fails to hold on. He has dropped a simple catch and the batsmen cross over.

Andrew Tye to Piyush Chawla. Wide! Slower and wider from Tye, Chawla swings and misses.

Piyush Chawla is the next man in.

Andrew Tye to Tom Curran. OUT! Squeezes out straight to short third man. Yorker length outside off, Curran looks to squeeze it out but gets it off the edge. The ball spoons towards short third man where Rajpoot takes a sitter. Kolkata have lost the momentum completely.

Andrew Tye to Tom Curran. Tom was beaten and missed the line of the delivery.

Barinder Sran to Tom Curran. Curran punches one through the off side and picks up one. 6 runs and a wicket from it, Sran has gone for 50 but this was really a good over from him.

Tom Curran is next to the crease.

Barinder Sran to Dinesh Karthik. OUT! What an over this is turning out to be! Slower length delivery on middle and leg, Karthik goes deep in the crease to slog it away. Gets it off the inner half towards deep square leg where Andrew Tye takes it reverse cupped. Karthik departs at the wrong time for his side.

Barinder Sran to Dinesh Karthik. Wide! Sprays a wide yorker outside off, Karthik looks to squeeze it out but fails to do so.

Barinder Sran to Shubman Gill. Chance of a run out! Gill punches one towards Ashwin at cover and DK sets off from the other end. The former sends him back. The Punjab skipper picks it up and has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. There is no one backing up either and they take one on the overthrow.

Barinder Sran to Dinesh Karthik. Mistimed... safe! Short delivery without any pace behind, Karthik looks to go over long on but gets it off the toe end of the bat. It goes aerially but falls well short of Finch at long on. Three balls, three singles.

Barinder Sran to Shubman Gill. Another off pace ball, dipping in on leg, clipped off the pads towards short fine leg for one more.

Barinder Sran to Dinesh Karthik. Slower ball, slanted away, DK is happy to dab it towards short third man and bring Gill back on strike.

Ankit Rajpoot to Shubman Gill. FOUR! Shot! Shubman Gill, what a talent! Rajpoot gives tons of width and the young man latches onto it. Smacks it through covers to end a miserable over from Ankit. 17 off it, phew!

Ankit Rajpoot to Shubman Gill. Back of a length delivery outside off, slapped wide of the long off fielder for a brace.

Ankit Rajpoot to Shubman Gill. Wide! This surely must have slipped out his hands. Full toss down leg, Gill can't put that away.

Ankit Rajpoot to Shubman Gill. Wide! Tries out the slower bouncer but it's too wide outside the tramline and rightly called as a wide.

Ankit Rajpoot to Shubman Gill. Fires in a yorker, Gill could only jam it out.

Ankit Rajpoot to Dinesh Karthik. Once again dabs it but this time for just one as Mujeeb cuts it off.

Ankit Rajpoot to Dinesh Karthik. FOUR! Deft again! This is smart batting. Since the departure of Russell, Kolkata have scored 12 runs in three balls. And I thought that would slow things down, sorry, folks, I was wrong. Short of a length, served again outside off, Karthik stays back and easily runs it fine down to third man.

Ankit Rajpoot to Dinesh Karthik. FOUR! Easy-peasy! Short and outside off, Dinesh just opens the face of the bat to beat the dive of Mujeeb Ur Rahman at short third man for a boundary.

Barinder Sran to Shubman Gill. FOUR! Cracked! Superb from Gill! Got on top of the bounce and cuts it exquisitely past the diving point fielder for a boundary. 15 coming from the over with a wicket of Russell.

Shubman Gill is the new man in.

Barinder Sran to Andre Russell. OUT! Slammed hard but straight to Karun Nair! Andre Russell is gone! This can slow things down for Kolkata, I reckon. Fuller delivery, it's in the slot for Dre Russ. He backs away and hits it hard but finds Nair who runs across to his right from long off to complete the catch. It's his third of the match. Big wicket for Punjab as Russell is someone who can be really lethal at the fag end of the innings.

Barinder Sran to Andre Russell. Wide! Another one sprayed down leg, Russell doesn't go after it.

Barinder Sran to Andre Russell. FOUR! That's a poor delivery from Sran. With fine leg inside the ring he delivers it short and down the leg side - a hit-me ball. Russell swivels and makes the most of it as he pulls it past the man there and it races away.

Barinder Sran to Andre Russell. FOUR! Oh! He has timed it well! Sran looks for the yorker but slips out a full toss on the middle. Andre clears his front leg and hits it down through mid off for a boundary.

Barinder Sran to Dinesh Karthik. Dinesh milks a single down to long on.

Barinder Sran to Andre Russell. Very full on the pads, flicked to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Andrew Tye to Dinesh Karthik. And he does! Just two runs and a big wicket of Lynn from it! Slower bumper, DK is ages early into the pull shot. Gets beaten!

Barinder Sran is back into the attack.

Andrew Tye to Andre Russell. Goes for the yorker, it turns out to be a low full toss. Russell gets off the mark with a whip through mid-wicket.

Andrew Tye to Andre Russell. Slower back of the hand delivery, Andre goes hard at it as he looks to flash but is undone by the lack of pace on it.

Andrew Tye to Andre Russell. Good length delivery on off, Russell defends it down solidly.

Eden Gardens erupts as Andre Russell rushes in to bat next. More fireworks?

Andrew Tye to Chris Lynn. OUT! No century for Chris Lynn as he departs! Andrew Tye provides a much-needed breakthrough! The Aussie spots Lynn shuffling across and hence he fires it wide outside off. Chris still goes on with the mighty slog but gets an under edge this time. Easy catch for KL Rahul behind and he makes no mistake. Lynn walks back after a monstrous knock!

Andrew Tye to Dinesh Karthik. Slower delivery outside off, dabbed towards short third man for a single.

Andrew Tye is back into the attack.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Chris Lynn. Dropped short on the stumps, wristed in the gap at mid-wicket and a couple is added to the total.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Chris Lynn. FOUR! Short and outside off, Lynn blazes it through extra cover. Sran in the deep puts in a dive and tries to scoop the ball back in play but in the process, his boot touches the rope. It's taken upstairs by the umpire and the replays find the same.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Dinesh Karthik. Loopy delivery around middle and off, Dinesh goes back to work it away but gets an inside edge past mid-wicket for another single.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Chris Lynn. Very full on the stumps, jammed out down to long off for one.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Dinesh Karthik. Reaches out to a tossed up delivery and pushes it down to long off for a single.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Dinesh Karthik. Flatter one outside off, cut away straight to the point fielder.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Dinesh Karthik. Wide! Slower and wider outside off, in fact it crosses the tramline. DK leaves it alone.

Ravi Ashwin to bowl his final over.

Time for a strategic break! Kolkata continue to go strong in spite of losing a couple of quick wickets. The current pair has raced to a fifty partnership and with Andre Russell waiting in the wings, a total of 200 looks to be on the cards. Punjab will do good to restrict them below that.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Chris Lynn. Eases a full ball down to long off and scurries through for a brace. Another 50-run stand comes up for the hosts. And this has come off just 26 balls. Meanwhile, Mujeeb is done for the day, 4-0-32-1 are his figures. Another decent performance by the Afghan!

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Chris Lynn. The batsman has been hit on the pads as he tried to sweep that one.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Dinesh Karthik. Good stop, Ash! His fielding has gone a level up this year. Short and outside off, cut hard but Ashwin at point dives to his right to stop a certain boundary.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Chris Lynn. Misfield! Outside off, Lynn dabs it towards Rajpoot at short third man. There was never a run there but the fielder fumbles and they steal one.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Dinesh Karthik. Full on off, driven down to long off for one.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Dinesh Karthik. FOUR! Shot! Carrom ball from Rahman, Karthik goes half down and pulls it through backward square leg for a boundary. Runs are coming thick and fast for Kolkata.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to bowl out.

Andrew Tye to Chris Lynn. In the air... dropped! Sran is the man who gives life to Lynn. Slower back of a length delivery outside off, Lynn flashes hard at it but doesn't time it well. It goes high up in the air, Barinder moves across to his left from sweeper cover and dives to catch it but fails to hold on. Should have taken it, how costly will this prove? Two taken to end the 13th over.

Andrew Tye to Dinesh Karthik. Back of a length outside off, steered square on the off side for a single.

Andrew Tye to Chris Lynn. Slower delivery outside off, Chris Lynn mistimes his cut shot towards short third man. DK calls him through and they complete one.

Andrew Tye to Chris Lynn. FOUR! No stopping, Lynn! Tye bowls it short and outside off, Lynn makes room and carves it over cover-point for a boundary.

Andrew Tye to Chris Lynn. SIX! A 103m biggie from Lynn! Amazing talent to do so, boy! In the zone for him and he clubs it a long way over the deep mid-wicket fence for a maximum.

Andrew Tye to Dinesh Karthik. Fullish on middle, drilled down to long on for a single.

Andrew Tye is back into the attack.

Yuvraj Singh to Chris Lynn. Fifty up for Lynn, his 4th of the tournament and second against Punjab. He has been struggling since the start of the season and has finally made his presence felt. Now then, can he become the third man to score a ton in as many days? We shall wait and find out. Ball - Flatter outside off, Lynn reaches out to that one as he punches it wide of Finch at long off. Wants two and gets it comfortably in the end. Raises his bat to acknowledge the cheers from the crowd.

Yuvraj Singh to Dinesh Karthik. The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot. The batsmen have run through for a single.

Yuvraj Singh to Chris Lynn. Punches it through cover for a single.

Yuvraj Singh to Chris Lynn. FOUR! All power! Brutal batting from Lynn! Yuvi drops it short and outside off, Chris Lynn bludgeons it down the ground to make the long off fielder look useless.

Yuvraj Singh to Dinesh Karthik. Fuller on off, drilled towards sweeper cover for one more.

Yuvraj Singh to Dinesh Karthik. FOUR! Cheeky, DK! Slower delivery, outside off, Karthik makes room and at the last moment he opens the face of the bat to dab it off the keeper's gloves for a boundary towards third man. Karthik has come and is up and running in no time.

Yuvraj Singh is asked to roll his arm over.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Dinesh Karthik. Knocks one down to long off to cap off the 13-run over.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Dinesh Karthik. Tossed up again, DK hangs back and tucks it in front of square on the leg side. Once again collects a couple for doing so.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Dinesh Karthik. This is good batting from the skipper! Worked away in the gap at mid-wicket, calls for two and gets it comfortably in the end.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Dinesh Karthik. FOUR! What a shot! Precision! Tossed up delivery around middle and off, DK gets forward and across and wrists it with the turn. Timing is such that it pierces the gap at mid-wicket and goes scooting through to the fence.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Dinesh Karthik. FOUR! Swept and swept cleanly! Loopy delivery on middle, Karthik gets down and sweeps it neatly over mid-wicket for a boundary.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Dinesh Karthik. Tosses it up outside off, patted towards cover.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Dinesh Karthik. The batsman has punched that ball through the offside. The batsmen have run through for a single.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Dinesh Karthik. Tossed up on off, pushed to point.

Dinesh Karthik is next to the crease.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Nitish Rana. OUT! Nitish Rana has been run out! What happened there? Eden Gardens goes silent. Complete brain fade, says Ian Bishop on air. This is surely a waste of a wicket. Flatter delivery, outside off and shorter in length. Rana goes back and cuts it hard. As soon as he hits it, he sets off. But Ankit Rajpoot at that position stretches his right hand out and makes a one-handed stop. He was off balance but still manages to release the ball quickly to the keeper. In the meanwhile, Lynn sees all this from the other end and sends his partner back. Before Nitish could make his way back, KL Rahul dislodges the bails. Good passage of play for Punjab as they get rid of the in-form batsman.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Nitish Rana. Leans ahead and blocks it under his nose.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Chris Lynn. Shorter in length on middle, crunched down to long on for a single.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Nitish Rana. Tossed up outside off, swept behind square on the leg side for a single.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman comes back.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Chris Lynn. Carrom ball, which holds a bit on the surface, Lynn pats it back to Ashwin. Just 5 runs and a wicket off it. Ashwin's figures are 2-0-10-1!

Ravichandran Ashwin to Nitish Rana. Clipped away through square leg for an easy single.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Chris Lynn. The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot. They pick up a single.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Chris Lynn. Darted in on middle and leg, Lynn wrists it through the gap at mid-wicket and takes two. Good running!

Ravichandran Ashwin to Nitish Rana. Rana shimmies down the track and works it down to long on for a single.

Nitish Rana, the Man of the Match for his side in consecutive games is the new man to the crease.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Robin Uthappa. OUT! Ashwin removing Uthappa for the 5th time in this tournament, start the bunny talks! How many times have we seen a break breaking the concentration and providing a wicket? Flatter through the air, dropped short and was asking to be hit. Uthappa rocks back and flat-bats it off the meat but much to his dismay, it goes straight down the throat of Karun Nair stationed at deep mid-wicket who takes his second catch of the match. The threatening stand of 72 off 41 balls has been broken by Ash.

Strategic break!

Barinder Sran to Chris Lynn. SIX! Make that 23 off the over, Sran has been taken for a tour by Lynn. He tries the back of the hand delivery but it's in the Aussie's arc. He gets down on one knee and smites it over the deep square leg fence for the second maximum of the over. Chris is striking at the strike rate of around 173, beware Punjab.

Barinder Sran to Chris Lynn. Slower ball, outside off, Chris reads it well as he just pushes it away on the off side.

Barinder Sran to Chris Lynn. SIX! A 97m monster from Lynn! He has absolutely muscled that one. A length delivery on middle, Lynn swings across the line and then his power takes over to send it sailing into the square leg stand for a huge maximum.

Barinder Sran to Chris Lynn. FOUR! Power! Short of a length delivery, a bit wide outside off, forcing Lynn to reach out for that one. He does so and makes good enough contact to take it over extra cover for a boundary.

Barinder Sran to Robin Uthappa. Slants it away on a length outside off, Robin runs it down to third man for a single.

Barinder Sran to Robin Uthappa. SIX! Pummeled! What a hit from Robin! Holds back to a back of a length delivery, gets it at a good height and smacks it over deep square leg for a biggie. 50-run stand comes up between the two in just 35 balls. A good move on from the hosts after an early wicket of Narine.

Change of ends for Barinder Sran.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Robin Uthappa. Flattish in nature, on the leg stump, Robbin looks to tuck it away but it goes off the pads towards short fine leg. Interestingly, the umpire signals it as a run. The stand moves to 49.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Robin Uthappa. Leading edge... Bowls a carrom ball, Uthappa goes back to work it away but is too early into the shot. Pops out a leading edge back in the direction of the bowler. Didn't carry back to Ash.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Chris Lynn. Floated delivery, dipping in on middle and leg, whipped over mid-wicket for one.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Robin Uthappa. Uthappa is happy to tuck one into the leg side and take one.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Chris Lynn. Wrists it away towards mid-wicket to get to the other end.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Robin Uthappa. Flatter and quicker on middle, worked away through square leg for one.

Ravichandra Ashwin comes on to bowl now. He has dismissed Uthappa four times in the past. Surely he has a wood over him. His bunny is on strike.

Andrew Tye to Robin Uthappa. Uses the pace and dabs it down to third man to bring the fifty up for his side.

Andrew Tye to Robin Uthappa. FOUR! Picks up the knuckle ball and dumps it away! Swivels inside the crease and pulls it down to the fine leg fence for a boundary.

Andrew Tye to Robin Uthappa. Fullish outside off, driven on the up but finds Ashwin at cover.

Andrew Tye to Robin Uthappa. Pitches it right up on middle, Robbin drives it back to the bowler who does well to crouch low in his followthrough and cut it off.

Andrew Tye to Robin Uthappa. Short of a length delivery outside off, Uthappa stays back to steer it away but fails to get any bat on it.

Andrew Tye to Chris Lynn. Good ball! A yorker, fired full at the base of the stumps. Lynn backs away and goes hard at it but gets it off the inside edge down to long on for just a single.

Free Hit coming up and it's Lynn on strike.

Andrew Tye to Robin Uthappa. Front foot no ball to begin with for Tye! That's not an ideal start for the Aussie. Oh dear, replays show that's a harsh call as some part of the boot was inside the line. Anyway, the umpire feels otherwise. Fuller delivery on middle, drilled down to mid on for one.

Andrew Tye to bowl the last over of the Powerplay.

Barinder Sran to Chris Lynn. Angles it wider outside off, Lynn reaches out to that one as he places it straight to the man at point. Well bowled, Sran.

Barinder Sran to Chris Lynn. Clever bowling! Slower delivery, served wider outside off, Lynn wildly goes after it. Beaten again.

Barinder Sran to Chris Lynn. Some pace this time! Digs one short and it's well-directed too. Lynn swings across the line and gets beaten completely.

Barinder Sran to Chris Lynn. FOUR! Lynn was deceived by it but still manages to put that away. Back of a length, Sran once again takes the pace off. Chris is early into his pull shot but still gets it off the meat behind square on the leg side for a boundary.

Barinder Sran to Chris Lynn. Slants it on a fuller length outside off, Lynn drives it hard but finds the man at cover who is placed inside the circle.

Barinder Sran to Chris Lynn. On length and slower in pace, Lynn tucks it neatly off the pads through backward square leg for a couple.

Barinder Sran into the attack.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Chris Lynn. 15 off the over! Lynn punches it through mid-wicket for a single.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Robin Uthappa. Presses forward and across and works it in the gap at square leg to scamper through.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Robin Uthappa. Wide! Pressure! Fires it down leg, RU comes inside the line to let it be.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Robin Uthappa. FOUR! Three in a row for Uthappa! Not how he would have liked but this will certainly exert pressure on the bowler. Another one on the flatter trajectory, skidding off the surface, Robin stays back to work it away but the ball takes the inner half and races past the short fine leg fielder. He gives it a chase but to no avail.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Robin Uthappa. FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries! Quicker through the air, slanting towards leg, Robin looks to drag it away but gets it off the bottom edge. The man at short fine leg had no chance to stop it from crossing the fence.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Robin Uthappa. FOUR! Reverse swept! Nicely done from Robbie! Flatter through the air and served outside off, Uthappa is quick to get into the position and nails the reverse sweep past first slip for a boundary.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Robin Uthappa. A carrom ball from Rahman, Uthappa presses forward to work it away but it skids through to ping him on the pads.

Ankit Rajpoot to Chris Lynn. SIX! That's gone a long way into the stands! Rajpoot once again pounds in a short one but this time it comes at a comfortable height. Lynn stays back and smokes it high and over the fine leg fence for a maximum. First biggie of the match!

Ankit Rajpoot to Robin Uthappa. Short of a length ball, angling in, Robin swivels to pull but this gets big on him. Gets a top edge which lands safely near the mid-wicket region. The man from mid on mops it up as they pick one.

Ankit Rajpoot to Robin Uthappa. Digs in a short one on middle, Uthappa is happy to duck under it.

Ankit Rajpoot to Robin Uthappa. Beaten! Rajpoot goes fuller, draws Robin into a drive and he nearly falls into the trap. Is lucky not to have edged it behind.

Ankit Rajpoot to Robin Uthappa. On a length and outside off, steered towards backward point.

Ankit Rajpoot to Robin Uthappa. FOUR! Edged and past Gayle! Uthappa is off the mark in a streaky manner. Rajpoot drops it on a back of a length, it bounces a touch more and deviates a touch after pitching, Uthappa tries fiddling with it away from the body. Gets an edge which flies past Gayle at first slip who stretches his right hand out but can't reach to it. A boundary results.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Chris Lynn. Darts it in on middle and off, kept out solidly. A successful over for the young Afghan.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Chris Lynn. FOUR! Flayed! Lynn and his quick hands! Short and outside off, Chris goes back and cracks it through cover for a boundary, first one of the game.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Chris Lynn. Looped up outside off, pushed into the cover region.

Robin Uthappa is the new man in.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sunil Narine. OUT! Sunil Narine is out of here! Good captaincy from Ashwin, he kept a man in the deep and gets the reward. Mujeeb strikes on the second ball. He tosses it up around middle and leg, a back of the hand delivery, Narine steps down the track to go big on the leg side. He hits it well but Karun Nair at deep mid-wicket comes sprinting ahead, misjudges it at first but recovers soon to grab the catch with a dive forward. Good one and Punjab have begun on the right note.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sunil Narine. Quicker through the air, landed outside off, cut hard by Narine but finds Yuvraj at cover-point.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Chris Lynn. Starts off with a flatter ball outside off, Lynn punches it away off the back foot towards cover for a single.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman will bowl from the other end.

Ankit Rajpoot to Chris Lynn. Stays back and punches it to mid on for a single. A nice tidy over to begin with by Ankit.

Ankit Rajpoot to Chris Lynn. Good carry! Drags his length back, it bounces a bit and beats the attempted cut shot by Chris.

Ankit Rajpoot to Sunil Narine. Angles it in on middle and leg, Narine tries to clip it away on the leg side but misses to get hit on the pads. The ball rolls towards square leg and they cross for a leg bye.

Ankit Rajpoot to Chris Lynn. Back of a length delivery on middle, tucked uppishly past square leg for one.

Ankit Rajpoot to Sunil Narine. Narine is off the mark as well! Rajpoot comes in from around the wicket and angles it in on middle and leg, Sunil clips it through backward square leg. The player in the deep does well to pull the ball back. Just a single taken. Poor running, there was an easy two on offer.

Ankit Rajpoot to Chris Lynn. Starts off with a length delivery in the channel outside off, some away swing off the pitch, Lynn stays back and pushes it away from the body past backward point for a single to get underway.

It's really hot out there, folks. Kudos to the crowd who has come out in numbers to watch this contest. It's Chris Gayle who is doing the honours of ringing the famous bell at the Eden Gardens. Ashwin-led side is in a huddle with him sharing some words. Out walk to dashing openers - Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine. The ex-Kolkata lad, Ankit Rajpoot will steam in first up with the ball. A slip in place for him. Let's play...

Dinesh Karthik says even they were looking to bowl first. On the wicket, he says it looks a beauty and should remain the same throughout the course of the game. Is looking forward to the game as Punjab are a quality side and they need to be consistent to beat tough teams in the competition. They are going in with the same team that played against Delhi, he informs.

Ravichandran Ashwin says they have decided to change things up since it's a day game and hence they want to have a go with the ball first. Opines they need to be on top of their game today as Eden Gardens is sort of a fortress for Kolkata. Hopes to restrict the opposition to a respectable total and then chase it down later. Informs they have brought in Ankit Rajpoot in place of Mohit Sharma.

Toss - Dinesh Karthik spins the coin and it comes down in Ashwin's favor. Punjab elect to bowl!

Pitch Report - Deep Dasgupta doing the pitch report says that it is nice and hard and will have even bounce. Further says the batters should have good time in the middle but since it's a day game, the surface might play on the slower side.

It's weekend and it's time for the double-header. First up we have Kolkata taking on the men from Punjab at the Eden Gardens. Both the teams are led by new skippers and have been doing exceedingly well as far as this season is concerned. They find themselves in the top half of the table with 6 points each in the kitty. A win for either side will help them seal the first spot for the time being. With both the teams having firepower in their batting armory, you can sit back and expect a run feast afternoon. We welcome you to our coverage for Game 18. Stick around as pitch report, toss and team news coming up in just a bit...