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KKR beat RR by 6 wickets | Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Highlights And Cricket Score 49th T20 Match - Commentary
Indian Premier League, 2018
Date: May 15, 2018 Start Time: 20:00 IST | 14:30 GMT | 20:00 LocalVenue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
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Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders Highlights And Cricket Score 49th Match - T20 Commentary
Rajasthan kept on losing wickets in a heap and went into a slumber. A handy cameo from Unadkat at the end helped them to cross the 140 run-mark. Kolkata were lethal in the field. Kuldeep was in his elements and spun a web around the visiting batsmen to take a 4-fer, his best figures in the Indian T20 League. Russell and Narine provided him good company. So, this target seems to be an easy one on a true surface. Will Rajasthan prove us otherwise? Join us in a while.
Who would have thought that Rajasthan will slump to 142 after the rollicking start? That's the uncertainty and dynamism of the T20 format. It was an eventful start as Tripathi was dropped on the very first ball of the innings. After that, he along with Jos Buttler took the attack to the opposition and muscled the bowlers away. The duo accounted for 63 runs from 4.5 overs. Once Tripathi fell, Rajasthan completely lost their way. Buttler also failed to score a big one in this game and that took a toll on them.
Prasidh Krishna to Jaydev Unadkat. OUT! That's the final nail in the coffin! Beautifully executed off cutter around off, coming in. Unadkat attempts an agricultural slog across the line but gets beaten to have his stumps pegged back. The umpire checks for the front foot no ball but it is fine. RAJASTHAN ARE BOWLED OUT FOR 142!
Prasidh Krishna to Anureet Singh. Another full toss, this time outside off, Anureet strikes it nicely but picks the man at deep cover. One run taken.
Prasidh Krishna to Jaydev Unadkat. Low full toss, Unadkat can only jam it down to long on to take a single.
Change of bat for Unadkat.
Prasidh Krishna to Anureet Singh. Leg bye! Angling in sharply, pings Singh on the pads and rolls besides the pitch on the leg side. A run stolen.
Prasidh Krishna to Jaydev Unadkat. Low full toss, Unadkat backs away to drive it but mistimes it to covers. A single taken.
Prasidh Krishna to Anureet Singh. Pushed to the cover region by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single.
Andre Russell to Anureet Singh. Low full toss, dipping in, slapped away to deep cover for a single.
Andre Russell to Jaydev Unadkat. Angling into Jaydev who works it through mid-wicket for a single.
Andre Russell to Jaydev Unadkat. Dropped! That should have been taken. Well-directed short ball, Unadkat attempts the pull but top edges it towards mid off. Krishna runs across from covers, gets to the ball but makes a mess of it.
Anureet Singh is the last man in.
Andre Russell to Jofra Archer. OUT! Archer fails to make an impact! Off pace delivery on a shorter length around off, Jofra goes for the big pull across the line but gets a big top edge. The ball flies towards deep square leg. Shubman Gill stationed there runs in a few yards and takes a fine catch diving forward.
Andre Russell to Jofra Archer. Punched off the back foot by the batsman.
Andre Russell to Jaydev Unadkat. Short of a length ball outside off, placed off the back foot through covers for an easy single.
Andre Russell is back on.
Prasidh Krishna to Jofra Archer. Full ball attacking the stumps, Archer chips it over the bowler to come back for a couple.
Prasidh Krishna to Jofra Archer. The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.
Prasidh Krishna to Jofra Archer. FOUR! What a start! Short ball on middle, Archer pulls it with authority through backward square leg for a rocketing boundary.
Jofra Archer comes out to bat. Can he make an impact?
Prasidh Krishna to Ish Sodhi. OUT! Caught behind! Prasidh Krishna joins the wicket column. Very full delivery, tailing in sharply, Sodhi tries to dig it out but seems to have got an inside edge. The ball lobs towards Karthik who takes it and appeals. The umpires talk to each other and refer it to the third umpire. The replays show that the inside edge went straight into the boots. Another one bites the dust.
Close call! Can be an LBW or a caught behind as well. It is not clear and hence, the umpires take it upstairs.
Prasidh Krishna to Ish Sodhi. Sodhi gets outfoxed again! This time courtesy a slower ball. Fullish in length, cutting in. Sodhi goes for an agricultural slog but misses. The ball goes past the leg stump by a whisker.
Prasidh Krishna to Ish Sodhi. A skiddy back of a length ball outside off, Sodhi gives it the full swing of his bat trying to pull it across but gets beaten.
Strategic break signaled. Meanwhile, Krishna is back for his final spell.
Sunil Narine to Jaydev Unadkat. FOUR! Just out of reach of the fielder! Shorter in length outside off, turning away. Unadkat camps back and goes for a hard slap but ends up getting it off the outer half. The man at backward point leaps but the ball flies over him to the fence behind. Good spell from Narine. His figures read, 4-0-29-1.
Sunil Narine to Ish Sodhi. Sits deep in the crease to the shorter ball and works it through mid-wicket. A single taken.
Sunil Narine to Ish Sodhi. Fired in this time, dabbed away to short third man.
Sunil Narine to Jaydev Unadkat. The short of a length delivery has been cut away through square on the off side. They pick up a single.
Sunil Narine to Jaydev Unadkat. FOUR! Shot! Unadkat is playing a good knock. Similar delivery outside off, Unadkat rocks back and cuts it behind point to find the rope. 17 from 10 for Unadkat.
Sunil Narine to Jaydev Unadkat. Spinning away from Jaydev, he reads it well and cuts it to point.
Narine to bowl out his quota of overs.
Shivam Mavi to Jaydev Unadkat. Punches this one to deep cover for a single.
Shivam Mavi to Jaydev Unadkat. Fuller in length, pushed towards cover. Sodhi wants a run but he is sent back.
Shivam Mavi to Jaydev Unadkat. It's been driven superbly through the covers.
Shivam Mavi to Jaydev Unadkat. SIX! Take that, Mavi! Short ball, sits up nicely for Jaydev. He stands tall and pulls it with aplomb. It clears the square leg fence with ease. Handy runs these.
Shivam Mavi to Jaydev Unadkat. FOUR! Great shot! Back of a length ball, Unadkat with a high backlift punches it past cover for a rocketing boundary.
Shivam Mavi to Jaydev Unadkat. Fuller in length, played with a closed bat face to mid-wicket.
Kuldeep Yadav to Ish Sodhi. Tossed up outside off, defended solidly. Might be a match-winning spell, finishes with figures of 4-0-20-4.
Ish Sodhi strides out to bat. Surprise that Archer hasn't come out yet.
Kuldeep Yadav to Ben Stokes. OUT! Best figures for the chinaman in this League! Take a bow, Kuldeep Yadav. He has outfoxed the batsmen from the word go with his wide array of variations. Stokes' poor run with the bat continues. Bowls a tossed up ball in line of the stumps from around the wicket, Stokes doesn't have any space to work with. Closes his bat face too early and ends up chipping it back to Yadav. He pouches it safely, tumbles down and kisses the ball. Michael Clarke on air mentions that there was a set plan in place. Kuldeep bowled 5-6 balls from this angle to the Englishman, cramping him up and got the reward.
Kuldeep Yadav to Jaydev Unadkat. On a shorter length, the wrong one, punched through covers for a run.
Kuldeep Yadav to Ben Stokes. The batsman gets an inside edge and the ball hits him on the pads. The batsmen have run through for a single.
Kuldeep Yadav to Jaydev Unadkat. Tossed up delivery, Unadkat doesn't pick it but gets away with his sweep shot. Perhaps, a safe shot to play when you are not sure. A run taken.
Kuldeep Yadav to Ben Stokes. Fullish ball, Stokes eases it towards long off for a single.
Jaydev Unadkat comes out to bat.
Shivam Mavi to Krishnappa Gowtham. OUT! The young man strikes! Deserves this wicket. He has bowled his heart out. Ran out of plans in his second over against Buttler but has hit good areas apart from that. Bowls a sharp bouncer, trying to tuck Gowtham up. He falls into the trap as the ball gets really big on him. Takes his eyes off and ends up gloving it behind to Karthik who makes no mistake. The downslide continues for the visitors.
Shivam Mavi to Ben Stokes. A bit of shape in on this good length ball, Stokes punches it hard through wide mid off for a run.
Shivam Mavi to Krishnappa Gowtham. Short of a length ball well outside off, Gowtham cuts it away towards third man to pick up a single. Only 2 runs off the over so far.
Shivam Mavi to Ben Stokes. Erring on the pads this time, worked away with ease in front of square leg to rotate strike.
Shivam Mavi to Ben Stokes. Similar length ball, cramping Stokes for any space. Punched out off the back foot.
Shivam Mavi to Ben Stokes. Back of a length ball, angling across, Stokes mistimes his cut to the point region.
Shivam Mavi returns for a bowl.
Kuldeep Yadav to Ben Stokes. Slow through the air, worked against the spin through mid-wicket for a run. 100 up for Rajasthan.
Kuldeep Yadav to Krishnappa Gowtham. Works this one with the spin to the leg side for a run.
Kuldeep Yadav to Krishnappa Gowtham. Superb bowling! Bamboozles Gowtham with a sharp away turner but the batsman does well to maintain his back foot inside the crease.
Kuldeep Yadav to Ben Stokes. Very full this time, Stokes tries to clip it but gets a soft leading edge towards mid on. A run taken.
Kuldeep Yadav to Krishnappa Gowtham. Driven towards the mid on region. One run added to the total. Gowtham is off the mark.
Krishnappa Gowtham is the new man in.
Kuldeep Yadav to Stuart Binny. OUT! 3-fer for Kuldeep Yadav! He is having a ball out there. That was a really poor shot selection from Binny. The chinaman bowls the wrong one well outside off, Stuart is on the move and tries to clip it through mid-wicket. A really risky thing to do and he pays the price for it. Gets beaten and Karthik behind the stumps is sharp as a hawk. Whips the bails off in a flash to catch the batsman short. This has been a turnaround of sorts.
Sunil Narine to Stuart Binny. Waits for the ball to turn in and strokes it to long on for a single.
Sunil Narine to Stuart Binny. The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.
Sunil Narine to Stuart Binny. The other one from Narine. Binny lets it go tentatively.
Stuart Binny comes out to bat.
Sunil Narine to Sanju Samson. OUT! Surprise, surprise! Yes, it is hitting the stumps. Brilliant use of the DRS. Drops this one on a shorter length outside off and gets it to spin in nicely. Samson is caught in the crease as he attempts to work it across the line. Misses to get hit flush on the back pad. Karthik looks convinced and after talking with the bowler, challenges the decision. Time for the review. The height is not a factor. Hawk Eye shows three reds and Samson is a dead duck. Rajasthan have lost 4 wickets for 32 runs.
Seems that it is going to go over the stumps but Karthik after a consultation with Narine takes the DRS. Is it hitting the stumps?
Sunil Narine to Ben Stokes. Hangs back to the quicker delivery and whips it away to deep mid-wicket to rotate strike.
Sunil Narine to Ben Stokes. Played to mid-wicket region by the batsman. Two runs added to the total.
Sunil Narine comes back for a bowl.
Kuldeep Yadav to Sanju Samson. FOUR! Nicely executed! Slow through the air on off, allows Samson to line it up. He kneels and sweeps it hard through square leg and the ball races to the fence.
Kuldeep Yadav to Ben Stokes. Loopy delivery, milked down to long on for a run.
Kuldeep Yadav to Sanju Samson. The batsman has driven it straight down the ground. One run added to the total.
Kuldeep Yadav to Ben Stokes. Pushes this one towards mid off for a single to get off the mark.
Ben Stokes strides out to bat.
Kuldeep Yadav to Jos Buttler. OUT! Kuldeep gets the big fish! This is a really, really vital breakthrough for the hosts. He gets his second wicket and is bringing his side back into the contest. Smartly bowls a cross seam ball in line of the stumps, Buttler who gets into position to reverse sweep it, is perhaps foxed by the extra pace on it. Ends up mistiming it towards backward point where Javon Searles is safe as a house. The yellow flags are up in the crowd. A gem of a knock from Jos is cut short. After scoring five consecutive fifties, he fails to score one this time.
Kuldeep Yadav to Jos Buttler. Floated outside off, pushed off the front foot to wide mid off.
Strategic break taken. Rajasthan are flourishing at the moment. Though Kolkata have pulled things back a bit after the Powerplay, the damage had already been done. The hosts need to get rid of Buttler soon to get back into the contest.
Prasidh Krishna to Sanju Samson. Brilliant bowling! Bowls a pinpoint yorker on off, Samson is equal to the task and blocks it. Krishna collects the ball and mimes a throw. Good to see some aggression.
Prasidh Krishna to Sanju Samson. Hangs back to the skiddy delivery and blocks it watchfully.
Prasidh Krishna to Sanju Samson. FOUR! There is still space for the touch game in this dynamic format! Back of a length ball outside off, Samson just uses the pace and runs it down. The fielder at third man is pretty fine and has no chance to cut it off.
Prasidh Krishna to Jos Buttler. Very full ball, tailing in, Jos jams it down to long on to pinch a single.
Prasidh Krishna to Jos Buttler. Persists with the same line and length outside off, Buttler cuts it straight to Rana at backward point.
Prasidh Krishna to Sanju Samson. Short of a length ball outside off, Sanju glides it down to third man for a single.
Prasidh Krishna comes for a bowl.
Kuldeep Yadav to Sanju Samson. Shorter in length on middle, Samson sits back and tucks it towards backward square leg. A single taken. A wicket and 5 runs from Kuldeep's first over.
Kuldeep Yadav to Jos Buttler. Slow through the air, clipped with the spin through the same region to rotate strike.
Kuldeep Yadav to Sanju Samson. Samson works the tossed up ball through mid-wicket for a single. Gets off the mark.
Kuldeep Yadav to Sanju Samson. Loopy delivery, Samson goes for the sweep but is hit on the gloves.
Sanju Samson is the new man in.
Kuldeep Yadav to Ajinkya Rahane. OUT! Needless from Rahane! Throws his wicket away. Yadav slips in a googly around the leg stump, Rahane gets into position and picks up the wrong one as well. Tries the unorthodox reverse sweep but ends up missing it completely to get his stumps lit up. A mini comeback from Kolkata. They would be aiming to chip away at the wickets.
Kuldeep Yadav to Ajinkya Rahane. Starts off with a loopy ball around off, swept with precision towards deep mid-wicket for a couple.
Kuldeep Yadav to roll his arm over now.
Andre Russell to Jos Buttler. Buttler got surprised there! Wasn't expecting a full toss. Manages to defend it somehow. Another good over from Russell, only 6 from it.
Andre Russell to Ajinkya Rahane. Good length ball, angling in, Rahane punches it past the diving Russell towards mid on to pick up a run.
Andre Russell to Ajinkya Rahane. Good running! Low full toss on off, Rahane works it through wide mid on. A lot of work in the deep for Mavi and that allows the batsmen to come back for a couple.
Andre Russell to Ajinkya Rahane. What an effort! Saved a certain boundary there. Gets a pat on the back from his teammates. Very full on middle, Rahane makes room and absolutely smashes it towards covers. Uthappa dives to his right like a goalkeeper and stops it.
Andre Russell to Ajinkya Rahane. Played to mid-wicket region by the batsman. The batsmen have picked up a couple of runs.
Andre Russell to Jos Buttler. Back of a length outside off, slapped hard to deep cover for a single.
Sunil Narine to Ajinkya Rahane. FOUR! Nicely played! Good way to get off the mark. Spinning into Rahane, he brings his wrists into play and beats the man at 45. Brilliant Powerplay for Rajasthan, they're 68/1.
Sunil Narine to Ajinkya Rahane. Well fielded! Turning in sharply, clipped towards mid-wicket where the fielder stops it with a dive.
Sunil Narine to Ajinkya Rahane. Karthik excited the crowd there! Tossed up outside off, Rahane goes for the big sweep but misses. Karthik fails to collect the ball and takes the bails off with his gloves. Rahane's back foot was inside the crease.
Sunil Narine to Ajinkya Rahane. Shorter in length and on a flatter trajectory, slapped straight to mid on.
Sunil Narine to Ajinkya Rahane. The batsman has played it towards mid-wicket.
Sunil Narine to Jos Buttler. Punched off the back foot through cover-point for a single.
Andre Russell to Ajinkya Rahane. Good fielding position! Back of a length outside off, dabbed to short third man who is standing a touch up. Great start from Russell, a wicket and 4 runs from it.
The skipper, Ajinkya Rahane, comes out to bat. He has the platform to launch.
Andre Russell to Rahul Tripathi. OUT! Gone against the run of play! Though, a brilliant start from Tripathi comes to an end. The big West Indian makes an impact straightaway. This was badly needed for Kolkata. Russell steams in hard and bowls a well-directed short ball on middle and leg. It is at an uncomfortable height for Tripathi. Tries to pull it away half-heartedly but only manages to glove it behind. Karthik pouches it safely. 150 catches for the skipper in T20 cricket, good stuff.
Andre Russell to Jos Buttler. Back of a length outside off, cut away past backward point for a single.
Andre Russell to Rahul Tripathi. Shaping in substantially, induces an inside edge from Tripathi's bat and rolls down to third man. A single taken.
Andre Russell to Rahul Tripathi. Angling in on a good length, tucked with a closed bat face through mid-wicket for a brisk couple.
Andre Russell to Rahul Tripathi. Length ball well outside off, Rahul thinks of playing at it but doesn't flirt with it at the end.
Andre Russell comes in to the attack.
Sunil Narine to Jos Buttler. FOUR! He is watching the ball like a football! Overpitched around off, Buttler with a beautiful extension of his arms caresses it past the diving mid off fielder to find the fence.
Sunil Narine to Jos Buttler. Slow through the air, Buttler presses forward in defense.
Sunil Narine to Jos Buttler. Wide! Loses his radar and bowls this one way down leg, good take by the keeper.
Sunil Narine to Rahul Tripathi. Sensible stuff! Outside off, glided to short third man to rotate strike.
Sunil Narine to Rahul Tripathi. Pushed to the cover region by the batsman.
Sunil Narine to Rahul Tripathi. FOUR! 50 up for Rajasthan and it has come in a jiffy! Tossed up around off, Tripathi kneels and slog sweeps it over the mid on fielder to find the fence.
Sunil Narine to Rahul Tripathi. Floated outside off, pushed to covers.
Sunil Narine comes for a bowl.
Shivam Mavi to Jos Buttler. FOUR! Make it 28! You couldn't have asked for more. Back of a length outside off, cut away past backward point for another boundary. Buttler has ripped Mavi apart. Massive, massive over for Rajasthan.
Shivam Mavi to Jos Buttler. SIX! His mind is functioning like a computer at the moment! Full on middle and leg, Jos moves inside the line and scoops it over fine leg for a biggie. 24 from the over already.
Shivam Mavi to Jos Buttler. FOUR! Inexperience is showing from Mavi! He bowled with pace in the first over and succeeded. Bowls another off pace ball on a shorter length, Buttler lines it up and heaves it through wide mid on.
Shivam Mavi to Jos Buttler. FOUR! Carnage! No matter where you bowl, it is travelling. Off cutter well outside off, Buttler cuts it past the point region to get the desired result.
Shivam Mavi to Jos Buttler. SIX! Buttler special! Pitched up outside off, Buttler moves across in anticipation. The execution is even better. Paddle scoops it over the fine leg fence with a lot of finesse.
Shivam Mavi to Jos Buttler. FOUR! 4 boundaries in a row! The runs are coming now. On a length outside off, Buttler backs away and throws his bat at it but ends up outside edging it. The ball flies through the vacant third man region to pick up a boundary.
Prasidh Krishna to Rahul Tripathi. FOUR! That's the best shot of the day so far! Pleasing to the eyes! Overpitched on off, Tripathi allows his hands to flow through and presents the full face of the bat. Strokes it straight as an arrow to find the fence. 19 from the over.
Prasidh Krishna to Rahul Tripathi. FOUR! 14 runs in the last three balls! Doesn't matter how they come. This is a better ball though. Fullish and a hint of away movement. Tripathi goes for an ambitious drive down the ground but gets a thick outside edge that flies through the third man region for a boundary.
Prasidh Krishna to Rahul Tripathi. FOUR! That's the kind of momentum that Rajasthan need! Shortish ball well outside off, asking to be hit. Rahul obliges and slaps it past point for a rocketing boundary.
Prasidh Krishna to Rahul Tripathi. SIX! Going, going and gone! Tripathi relishes the fullish length and absolutely smashes it. In his arc around the off stump channel, he backs away and slices it over cover-point for a maximum.
Prasidh Krishna to Jos Buttler. Buttler is not timing the ball well at the moment. On a driveable length around off, Buttler goes for a booming drive but mishits it to extra cover. The batsmen scurry across for a run.
Prasidh Krishna to Jos Buttler. Full length ball attacking the stumps, Buttler leans ahead and caresses it to mid on.
Prasidh Krishna to bowl from the other end.
Shivam Mavi to Rahul Tripathi. What a ripper! Shortish ball on off, takes off and keeps on climbing on Rahul. He takes his eyes off the ball and is hit on the bottom hand. That will shake him up. Mavi has definitely recovered from his finger injury and is troubling the batsmen. A wonderful start, only 2 from the first over.
Shivam Mavi to Rahul Tripathi. Skiddy length ball, seaming in at 144 clicks, Tripathi is late to react and is hit on the thigh pad.
Shivam Mavi to Jos Buttler. Well bowled! Mavi has hit the right notes. Gets the good length ball to swing in substantially. Buttler is tentative in his foot movement and gets an inside edge onto his pads. The ball rolls besides the pitch and the batsmen sneak in a run.
Shivam Mavi to Jos Buttler. Back of a length outside off, played with an open bat face to point.
Shivam Mavi to Jos Buttler. Mistimed! Fuller in length around off, swinging in. Buttler goes at it with hard hands and only manages to play it down the pitch.
Shivam Mavi to Rahul Tripathi. Dropped! What an eventful start. A tough chance goes down! Got to feel for the youngster. Bowls a good length ball on middle and leg, and gets it to shape away a touch, thereby squaring Tripathi up. He has no option but to play at it and gets a thick outside edge. The ball flies towards Rana at wide first slip who dives to his right but fails to hold on. A run taken.
We are set to get rolling. Jos Buttler has a new partner in Rahul Tripathi at the top of the order. Shivam Mavi to begin the proceedings with the ball. A slip in place.
Rajasthan skipper, Ajinkya Rahane, says that they are happy to bat first. Mentions it is a do-or-die game for both teams. Announces that there are three changes. Ish Sodhi, Anureet Singh and Rahul Tripathi come in for D'Arcy Short, Shreyas Gopal and Dhawal Kulkarni.
Kolkata skipper, Dinesh Karthik, says that they are gonna bowl first. Mentions that they are a good chasing team and want to follow that. States that there is one change as Piyush Chawla has a side strain and Shivam Mavi makes the team in his place.
TOSS - Kolkata win the toss and opt to field.
On the other hand, Rajasthan are soaring at the moment courtesy Jos Buttler. The Englishman has been prolific and his sensible batting has led them to three back-to-back wins. However, there is a downside to it as well. The other batsmen have not been that consistent and it puts that extra pressure on Buttler to fire once again. Whichever team sticks to the basics and puts in a well-oiled performance, will emerge on top.
Hello and a warm welcome to the coverage of game 49 between Kolkata and Rajasthan at the Eden Gardens. At this stage, a dip in form will be enough to force the curtains on either side. Kolkata, who have had an inconsistent season so far, can't afford any more slip ups. The good patch of Dinesh Karthik is an encouraging sign for them and they will rely on their skipper to show them the way.
That's it then from this. Kolkata win and stay third on the table, whereas Rajasthan too remain fourth. But, they lose Stokes and Buttler for the remainder of the campaign as the Englishmen depart for national duty. Would be interesting to see how they adapt without them. Anyway, on 16th of May, Mumbai host Punjab at 2000 local (1430 GMT). Another important battle, one you don't want to miss. Tune in for that. Cheers!
Kuldeep Yadav is announced as the Man of the Match for this game. His outstanding 4-fer, which included the likes of Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes, was instrumental in inflicting a Rajasthan collapse.
Rajasthan were never really in this contest to be fair. A big question they'd have on their minds is where was the real Ben Stokes all this while, because he was superb tonight. Was the pick of the Rajasthan bowlers as he scalped 3 to his name and was quite economical too. Ish Sodhi contributed too, but the others couldn't apply as much pressure and that became their undoing. Earlier in the evening, Jos Buttler and Rahul Tripathi took the visitors off to a flying start, but Kuldeep Yadav's impressive 4-fer dented their innings and eventually, restricted them to a total which wasn't enough.
A crucial win for the home side. The performance tonight was clinical, one which it has needed for quite some time now. The target wasn't a big one. With 143 to chase, Narine did some early damage but then he and Uthappa departed early. The hosts recovered well with Lynn and Rana shoring things up. The wickets came at timely intervals, but Lynn held one end up. He then formed another partnership with Karthik and that more or less sealed the deal. Russell joined in and with his skipper, saw Kolkata across the line with two overs to spare.
Jofra Archer to Dinesh Karthik. SIX! There are the winning runs! DK finishes things off in style. Back of a length on middle and off, the Kolkata skipper stays back and heaves it across the line. Clears wide long on and sends it into the stands. KOLKATA WIN BY 6 WICKETS!
Jofra Archer to Dinesh Karthik. FOUR! That's a boundary. Length ball swinging away around off, Karthik tries to drive it on the up and gets an edge down to third man. Gowtham looks to stop it with a dive but he touches the rope as he does so.
Jofra Archer to Dinesh Karthik. Played to mid-wicket region by the batsman.
Jofra Archer to Andre Russell. Full toss on middle, hit to long on for a single.
Jofra Archer to Andre Russell. FOUR! Overpitched and Dre Rus puts this away. Outside off, the big man stays leg side and crashes it through the left of the mid off fielder. No stopping that, it wins the race to the fence.
Jofra Archer to Dinesh Karthik. Back of a length quite straight in line, Dinesh pulls it through backward square leg for a single.
Jofra Archer back into the attack.
Jaydev Unadkat to Dinesh Karthik. Angling in at first and then straightening up a touch, this time DK manages to work it to third man. Single taken and he'll retain strike.
Jaydev Unadkat to Dinesh Karthik. Looks to guide to third man once more, is beaten yet again.
Jaydev Unadkat to Dinesh Karthik. Beaten! Angling in from around off, Karthik hangs his bat out and fails to make contact.
Jaydev Unadkat to Dinesh Karthik. FOUR! Deft from the skipper. Plays this really late. Waits for the length ball to come to him before opening the face and running it past Jos Buttler, to the third man boundary.
Jaydev Unadkat to Andre Russell. Angling in, takes the inside edge of Russell's bat before thudding into the pads. A quick single is stolen.
Jaydev Unadkat to Andre Russell. FOUR! Shortish in length outside off, Russell wastes no time in going after Jaydev as he carves this over backward point. The umpire wants to check whether it bounced inside the rope or not, and replays show it did. So a boundary. 20 needed in 23.
Jaydev Unadkat returns to the attack.
Ben Stokes to Dinesh Karthik. Angling in on off, Karthik gets right behind the ball and defends. A terrific spell from Ben Stokes comes to an end, he finishes with figures of 4-1-15-3.
Ben Stokes to Dinesh Karthik. Full on off, coming in, dug out back down to mid on.
Ben Stokes to Andre Russell. Quite full on the stumps, worked by Russell through mid-wicket after going deep inside the crease. Single taken.
Ben Stokes to Dinesh Karthik. Safe! There it is, umpire's call. No trouble for DK. Angling in on leg, Karthik looks to flick but misses and it goes off his pads. The batsmen take a leg bye as the fielding side appeals for a leg before. They review it as the umpire shakes his head and replays show it's clipping leg.
Review taken. It's going down leg for sure. Karthik looks quite safe here. Umpire's call at best.
Andre Russell walks into the middle.
Strategic break signalled.
Ben Stokes to Chris Lynn. OUT! Another one for Stokes, that's his third of the night. Outstanding. The off cutter outside off, shorter in length, Lynn backs away to cut it and he does, but lofts it over point. Not much distance on this, it flies towards Anureet Singh in the deep who moves inside and takes a simple catch.
Ben Stokes to Dinesh Karthik. Works this towards mid on and gets to the other end.
Ben Stokes to bowl out.
Ish Sodhi to Chris Lynn. Beaten again! Sodhi lands it on a driving length and it turns away, the batsman comes forward and gets beaten past the outside edge. The leggie finishes with figures of 4-0-21-1.
Ish Sodhi to Chris Lynn. Quite loopy and very full on the stumps, Chris moves across and paddles sweeps it through short fine leg. Two easy runs taken.
Ish Sodhi to Chris Lynn. Swing and a miss! Sodhi gives this a lot of air as he floats it around off, Lynn looks to go big downtown but fails to connect.
Ish Sodhi to Dinesh Karthik. The batsman has played it to the point region. One run added to the total.
Ish Sodhi to Dinesh Karthik. FOUR! When his counterpart tried something similar, it didn't pay off. Not the case for DK though. Exquisite. He kneels down and brings out the reverse sweep, connects well and sends it across the third man boundary.
Ish Sodhi to Dinesh Karthik. Loopy and full around off, softly pushed into the covers for nothing.
Ish Sodhi called back into the attack.
Jofra Archer to Chris Lynn. FOUR! Edged and away! When it's your day, it's your day. Another time, it would have gone straight up. Back of a length on the stumps, Lynn swings and gets an edge over Buttler's head for a boundary. 34 from 36 now.
Jofra Archer to Dinesh Karthik. Length ball on off, shaping in, with an open bat face it's run down to third man for one.
Jofra Archer to Dinesh Karthik. Short of a good length close to the off stick, Dinesh rises and taps it down in front of point.
Jofra Archer to Chris Lynn. Tad short around off, Lynn backs away and muscles it down to long on for a single.
Jofra Archer to Chris Lynn. Lynn flashes at this hard but it's straight to point. Archer has caught a break here, either side and that would have ended on the other side of the rope.
Jofra Archer to Chris Lynn. FOUR! The 100 comes up for Kolkata in style! Archer offers width outside off, Lynn fiercely cuts this square past the diving point fielder and across the fence for a boundary.
Jofra Archer back on.
Anureet Singh to Dinesh Karthik. FOUR! In the gap and that's away to the boundary. Deserved the treatment. Full and wide outside off, Karthik steps out of his crease and smacks it through the gap in the covers.
Anureet Singh to Chris Lynn. A bit too full on the base of off stump, drilled off the inner portion to long on. Single results.
Anureet Singh to Dinesh Karthik. Worked away through the mid-wicket region for one more.
Anureet Singh to Dinesh Karthik. Nice. DK drives this through towards sweeper cover and takes two for it.
Anureet Singh to Chris Lynn. Short ball in line of the stumps, Lynn plays a tennis-like pull shot through mid-wicket. Slaps it basically, collects a single as the man in the deep mops it up.
Anureet Singh to Dinesh Karthik. Fuller length ball on off, flicked through mid-wicket for an easy run.
Anureet Singh comes on to roll his arm over.
Jaydev Unadkat to Chris Lynn. Pushed off the back foot to point to end the over. Kolkata still in firm control, 54 needed off 48 deliveries.
Jaydev Unadkat to Dinesh Karthik. Slower length delivery on the off stump, tucked with a closed face square on the leg side. One run collected.
Jaydev Unadkat to Chris Lynn. Wider outside off, steered behind point with an angled blade for a single.
Jaydev Unadkat to Chris Lynn. FOUR! A much, much, much-needed boundary for Chris Lynn. He really needed that. Slower short ball into the body from Unadkat, the Aussie swivels and pulls it along the ground through backward square leg. Was in good control of that, good shot.
Jaydev Unadkat to Chris Lynn. Another dot. Pressure building on the home side now. Around off, Lynn pushes it to point this time.
Jaydev Unadkat to Chris Lynn. Around the wicket, length delivery angling in on off, Lynn on the up pushes it straight to the man at cover.
Ish Sodhi to Chris Lynn. Another mistimed shot from Chris Lynn. He's unable to find good timing here. Rocks back and lofts it short of Gowtham at long on, who tries to get underneath it. Single taken.
Ish Sodhi to Dinesh Karthik. Full outside off, with an extension of the arms Karthik drives it through to sweeper cover for one run.
Ish Sodhi to Dinesh Karthik. Turning away from the batsman once more, dabbed to point for no run.
Ish Sodhi to Dinesh Karthik. Good adjustment from Dinesh Karthik. Seeing it landed a bit short, he rocks back to heave it away but it turns a long way. Adjusts and taps it down in front of Stokes at first slip.
Ish Sodhi to Chris Lynn. Quite full on off, Lynn whips it through mid-wicket before it even turns. Gets a single for doing so.
Ish Sodhi to Chris Lynn. Beautiful! Tossed up leg break on off, spins away enough and beats the outside edge of Lynn's hanging bat.
Jaydev Unadkat to Dinesh Karthik. Big swing and a miss! Length ball outside off, going further away, Karthik swings and fails to make connection.
Jaydev Unadkat to Dinesh Karthik. FOUR! That's a really nice shot. All timing. Class from DK. He stands tall to this back of a length delivery angling away, punches it on the up past the diving cover fielder and beats the man in the deep to the fence. Superb.
Jaydev Unadkat to Chris Lynn. Pushes this square of the wicket, through cover-point. One run added to the total.
Jaydev Unadkat to Chris Lynn. Picked up well by Lynn, even if it was a little late. Unadkat brings out the short one but it's a slower one. Lynn was going to go into the pull shot but then lets the ball pass.
Jaydev Unadkat to Dinesh Karthik. Length delivery, fraction straighter in line, allows Karthik to work it on the leg side and take a single.
Jaydev Unadkat to Chris Lynn. Starts off full and attacks the stumps, Chris Lynn drills it back down the ground. Calls for the run and gets to the other end easily.
Jaydev Unadkat to have a go with the ball.
Ish Sodhi to Dinesh Karthik. Too full outside off, DK drags the slog through mid-wicket. Runs the first one hard and manages to come back for the second. Good running. The hosts need 70 in 66.
Ish Sodhi to Dinesh Karthik. Slower through the air from Ish, full on the stumps, DK presses forward and blocks it on the off side.
Ish Sodhi to Chris Lynn. The leg break again, outside off, Lynn firmly punches it through the cover area for one run.
Ish Sodhi to Dinesh Karthik. Spinning away from Dinesh Karthik, he goes back and taps it down in front of point for a single.
Dinesh Karthik to bat next.
Ish Sodhi to Nitish Rana. OUT! Rana is gone! Not as much turn then as the umpire thought. Sodhi with his first of the night. He serves a loopy ball on middle and off, it spins back in and catches Rana on the front pad who misses his defensive shot. Loud shout, it's denied. The leggie is sure though he's got his man so asks his skipper to review it. It's taken upstairs and replays show the ball to be crashing into the leg stump. Another timely strike for the away side.
A review is taken by Rajasthan for an lbw decision against Nitish Rana. Looks close, could go either way. Let's see now...
Ish Sodhi to Chris Lynn. On a flatter trajectory, shorter in length, worked off the back foot by Lynn through mid-wicket for a run.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Chris Lynn. Knocks this full ball through mid on and retains strike.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Nitish Rana. Quicker and flatter outside off, punched square to point for a single.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Nitish Rana. SIX! Superb. Has the courage to come down the wicket. It's floated by Gowtham, Rana lofts it cleanly inside out over extra cover and gets a biggie.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Chris Lynn. Turning in, Lynn goes at this with hard hands and punches it to long on. He gets to the other end.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Nitish Rana. Makes good use of his feet, gets close to the pitch of the ball and works it through mid-wicket for another one.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Chris Lynn. Plays with the spin and turns it through the mid-wicket region. One run to the total.
Krishnappa Gowtham called back on to roll his arm over.
Strategic break. Rajasthan have started well with two wickets via Stokes, but the hosts have recovered somewhat with Lynn and Rana scoring a few. The former is struggling a bit, but is still out there. Rajasthan need wickets, that's the only way they'll win, and they'll try to grab one or two more in the next 3-4 overs.
Ish Sodhi to Nitish Rana. Flighted right up there, Rana is forward to defend.
Ish Sodhi to Nitish Rana. The wrong 'un, around off, Nitish attempts to kneel down and slog it away, but ends up getting it off the inside edge onto his pads.
Ish Sodhi to Nitish Rana. FOUR! That's a superb shot! Excellent placement. Short and outside off, Rana backs away and cuts it square. There is a man at point, but he places it well wide of him to send it across the boundary line.
Ish Sodhi to Chris Lynn. Short around off, turning away, whipped aerially through mid-wicket to get off strike.
Ish Sodhi to Chris Lynn. Just short! Lynn is living a bit dangerously here. Struggling a bit. Sodhi tosses it up on the stumps, the Australian prods forward to block and chips it back as the ball holds up a bit. Sodhi moves forward to take it but it falls short.
Ish Sodhi to Nitish Rana. Googly on a shorter length outside off, Rana cuts it into the off side for a single.
Ish Sodhi brought on to bowl.
Ben Stokes to Nitish Rana. Seaming back in on middle stump, clipped away through the vacant mid-wicket area for one. Kolkata are 51/2 at the end of the Powerplay, where Rajasthan were 68/1.
Ben Stokes to Nitish Rana. Shortens the length a touch on this occasion, keeps it close to off, Rana blocks it down with soft hands in front of cover.
Ben Stokes to Nitish Rana. Wide! Down the leg side, Rana looks to help it on its way but misses. Easy call for the umpire to signal it as a wide.
Ben Stokes to Chris Lynn. On the fuller side of things, outside the line of off stump, cut fiercely to sweeper cover. Easy run for the batsmen.
Ben Stokes to Nitish Rana. Switches the angle from around the wicket, makes it come in on middle and leg, Rana works it gently on the leg side and crosses over.
Ben Stokes to Chris Lynn. Back of a length angling in on middle and off, the batsman rises on his toes and punches this on the up past a diving Ajinkya Rahane at cover. Single collected.
Ben Stokes to Chris Lynn. Clever. Stokes bowls it full and takes the pace off this one, Lynn does well to bring his bat down in time and jams it out.
Jofra Archer to Nitish Rana. Length delivery on off, cut through towards sweeper cover for a brace. Kolkata need 97 in 90 balls.
Jofra Archer to Nitish Rana. FOUR! This time Rana finds the gap. It's on a length outside off, he has some room to work with so he makes room and cuts this aerially past a diving Samson at backward point. Away to the fence and that's a boundary.
Jofra Archer to Nitish Rana. Superb stop! Rana hammers this full delivery outside off to the covers. Tripathi there dives to his left and stops it from going past him. Saves a sure boundary.
Jofra Archer to Nitish Rana. Close! Almost. Angles in the length delivery at first and then makes it go away, Rana hangs his bat out and gets beaten past the outside edge.
Jofra Archer to Nitish Rana. Length delivery outside off, play and a miss from Rana.
Jofra Archer to Nitish Rana. Archer from around the wicket welcomes Rana with a bumper. It's ducked and evaded.
Ben Stokes to Chris Lynn. FOUR! Boundary to end the over, but Stokes produces another good over. 8 runs and a wicket off it. Fuller outside off, Lynn crashes it through the covers to find the fence.
Nitish Rana walks into the middle next.
Ben Stokes to Robin Uthappa. OUT! Second of the innings for the Big Ben! Good start for Rajasthan. Hits the deck hard and bangs it in short, Uthappa swivels and pulls, but gets a big top edge. It flies over backward square leg but it doesn't have enough distance. Tripathi out in the deep moves to his right and takes a safe catch.
Ben Stokes to Robin Uthappa. Touch fullish in length on off, Uthappa flicks it elegantly through mid-wicket and comes back for the second.
Ben Stokes to Chris Lynn. In the air but it's safe! Just behind a length again, on middle and leg, Chris mistimes the heave just wide of mid-wicket. Single taken.
Ben Stokes to Chris Lynn. It's skid on quite a bit. Big Ben angles it in on leg, doesn't bounce as much as it's a cross seam delivery. Lynn swings, it goes under his bat and hits him on the box. Must have stung, those are never nice.
Ben Stokes to Robin Uthappa. Pushed this fuller one towards mid on and gets to the other end quickly.
Jofra Archer to Chris Lynn. Back of a length on off, shaping back, blocked back down the track. 11 from the over. Kolkata need 111 runs to win.
Jofra Archer to Chris Lynn. FOUR! Another one from Lynn. Archer pounds the deck hard, the Aussie makes a little room for himself and ramps it over short third man's head. It's across the rope but not sure if it's a boundary or a maximum. The umpire checks it upstairs, replays show it's bounced just inside. So a boundary.
Jofra Archer to Chris Lynn. SIX! Lynn gets off the mark in some style! Short of a length angling in on middle and leg, Lynn backs away and gives it everything he has. Swings and right off the meat, clears backward square leg with absolute ease.
Jofra Archer to Robin Uthappa. Runs this down to third man, gets a comfortable single.
Jofra Archer to Robin Uthappa. Edged but it falls short! Less pace on this one which saves Uthappa. Short of a length outside off, Uthappa dabs it behind, on the bounce to Buttler.
Jofra Archer to Robin Uthappa. Fires it full and attacks the stumps instantly, driven back down the track with a straight blade.
Jofra Archer comes into the bowling attack.
Ben Stokes to Chris Lynn. Takes the pace off this one, on the pads, worked to square leg. End of a superb over from Stokes. A wicket maiden.
Ben Stokes to Chris Lynn. Keeps it quite full, angles it in on middle and leg, Lynn mistimes the loft just in front of mid on.
Ben Stokes to Chris Lynn. Some width offered outside off, Lynn cuts it hard but finds the man at point.
Ben Stokes to Chris Lynn. Touch fuller from over the wicket, pushed in front of cover.
Robin Uthappa walks in next.
Ben Stokes to Sunil Narine. OUT! GONE! Stokes dismisses Narine within no time. This is how Sunil has gotten out before as well, the Englishman has done his homework. Bangs it in short and cramps Narine for room. He backs away to pull across the line but gets a big top edge. It balloons towards short cover where Gowtham takes it. Lets out a huge roar, relieving a little frustration.
Ben Stokes to Sunil Narine. Good length delivery in the channel outside off, from around the wicket, Narine plays and misses.
Ben Stokes to bowl from the other end.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Chris Lynn. Quick and flat on off, kept out watchfully. 21 from the first over, dream start for the hosts.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Sunil Narine. Uses his feet to this one and Gowtham fires it in. Knocked down to long on for a run.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Sunil Narine. FOUR! Hit with disdain! Typical response from Gowtham again. Drags his length back and Sunil is waiting for it. Rocks back and slaps it past wide mid off for a boundary.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Sunil Narine. SIX! 16 from the first 3 balls! He is on a carnage. Tossed up ball, Narine skips down the track and lifts it nonchalantly over wide long on. Clears the fielder in the deep with ease.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Sunil Narine. FOUR! Oh, Narine! He plays a fearless brand of cricket and succeeds often at it. Shorter in length, Narine pulls it over square leg for a boundary.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Sunil Narine. SIX! What a start! That has gone a long, long way back, 82 meters to be precise! Tossed up on off, Narine kneels and swings his bat to tonk it over mid-wicket for a massive maximum.
We are back for the chase. The dangerous pair of Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine make their way to the middle. Krishnappa Gowtham to begin the proceedings with the ball. Here we go...