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KKR beat RR by 7 wickets | Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Highlights And Cricket Score 15th T20 Match - Commentary
Indian Premier League, 2018
Date: Apr 18, 2018 Start Time: 20:00 IST | 14:30 GMT | 20:00 LocalVenue: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
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Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders Highlights And Cricket Score 15th Match - T20 Commentary
So, with how things have panned out so far in the season, it wouldn't be wrong to predict that Kolkata should fancy their chances to chase it down, given they have a deep batting line-up. But, hey, this is the ground where Rajasthan managed to defend the target and became the first team to do so this year. Will their bowlers be able to do it once more? Join us back in a bit to find out...
The move from the hosts to send Tripathi ahead of Stokes didn't work as they would have liked. The big Englishman did try his best but couldn't last long either. The innings never gathered steam and a result they could only manage 10 more of 150. Nitish Rana, the man with the golden arm, delivered once again for his captain as he got two wickets again tonight and is slowly popping into the spinners' den. Curran and Mavi bowled well too, but the latter went for a bit too many.
A good effort from Kolkata after electing to bowl. Dinesh Karthik has to be credited for the way he has taken the decisions on the field. His spinners, Chawla and Kuldeep gave him a perfect start as not a single boundary was scored in the first three overs but the fourth over from Narine released all the pressure. Rahane took him to the cleaners and that marked a move on for his side. D'Arcy Short started off in a scratchy manner but soon found his rhythm once his skipper departed.
Shivam Mavi to Jos Buttler. A dot to finish an over which was quite a big one. Big one in terms of balls but not in terms of runs, just 9 came off it. Slanted a bit wide, another slower one at 109.5 kph, Buttler gets down to play the mighty slog but fails to get any bat on it. That wasn't too far away from a wide either. The Englishman is not quite pleased with the umpire's decision. Anyway, RAJASTHAN MANAGE 160/8 ON THE BOARD!
Jaydev Unadkat is the new man in.
Shivam Mavi to Jos Buttler. OUT! Run out! Fuller delivery, a bit wider outside off, Buttler goes fishing after it. He knocks one down to long off and wants two. Kulkarni has no option but to run. The throw comes from the deep to the bowler who fails to collect in the first attempt but still manages to do so in the second. It's referred upstairs and the replays find Dhawal is well short.
A run out appeal has been taken upstairs. Mavi fumbles on the first attempt but still manages to take the bails off.
Shivam Mavi to Jos Buttler. Another wide delivery, this time Buttler reaches out for that one as he hits it through extra cover. Gets two for doing so.
Shivam Mavi to Jos Buttler. Third wide of the over! Once again Mavi sprays it across Buttler, it's too wide to make Jos go after it. He leaves it alone. This is turning out to be quite a long over. The youngster is under the pump here, feeling the heat.
Shivam Mavi to Jos Buttler. Good ball! A lot of venom behind this short ball. It bounces a touch more and beats the attempted pull of Buttler. A good take from DK behind with a leap.
Shivam Mavi to Jos Buttler. Wide! Back-to-back wides! Slower delivery from Mavi, slanted outside the tramline.
Shivam Mavi to Jos Buttler. Wide! Sprays it wide outside off, Buttler looks to go after it but then decides to take the extra run.
Shivam Mavi to Jos Buttler. Buttler swivels inside the crease and pulls this short delivery towards deep mid-wicket. Calls for two and gets it comfortably in the end, good running.
Shivam Mavi to Dhawal Kulkarni. In and out of Lynn's hands! Slower delivery from Mavi, Kulkarni slices it in the air towards backward point where the Kolkata opener shells it out. The ball bursts through his hands and a single is taken as well.
Shivam Mavi to bowl the final over.
Tom Curran to Jos Buttler. FOUR! Buttler makes the most of the juicy full toss. Backs away and thrashes it over Curran's head to end the penultimate over with a boundary. 150 up for Rajasthan, is it enough?
Tom Curran to Jos Buttler. Slower delivery, outside off, Buttler reaches out to that one and slams it wide of the long off fielder to make sure he picks up two.
Tom Curran to Dhawal Kulkarni. Bowls a full toss, swinging back in, driven through extra cover for a single.
Tom Curran to Jos Buttler. Fuller ball on off, chipped down to long off for a single. It's called as a no ball as Tom Curran oversteps. Free Hit time!
Tom Curran to Dhawal Kulkarni. Kulkarni doesn't allow Curran to get a hat-trick. He uses the pace and runs it down to third man for one.
Dhawal Kulkarni is the new man in. And he will face the hat-trick ball.
Tom Curran to Shreyas Gopal. OUT! Bowled 'em! Two-in-two for Tom Curran! Takes out Gowtham with the slower one and now beats Gopal for pace. So the two Gs depart. On a length and angling in at 137.9 kph, Gopal tries to keep it out sans any feet movement and that's enough for the white object to sneak through and rip the off pole apart. Will Curran pick up a hat-trick.
Shreyas Gopal is in next.
Tom Curran to Krishnappa Gowtham. OUT! Rajasthan are falling apart as Curran comes into the attack and opens his account, too! Bowls the back of the hand slower delivery, executes it well. Gowtham looks to slash it through the line but ends up slicing it in the air towards backward point for Shivam Mavi to take a dolly.
Tom Curran is back into the attack.
Sunil Narine to Jos Buttler. FOUR! Ends the bad day with the ball for Narine with a boundary. 48 in 4 overs, now that's something you don't see often from the West Indian. This time Buttler makes space on the off side and thwacks it towards wide long off for a boundary.
Sunil Narine to Krishnappa Gowtham. This time Narine bowls the traditional off spinner and Gowtham aims to slog it over mid-wicket but gets an inside edge past short fine leg. Three runs taken.
Sunil Narine to Krishnappa Gowtham. Turning away from the batsman, Gowtham tries to swing it over the leg side but misses.
Sunil Narine to Krishnappa Gowtham. SIX! Just clears the fielder, in fact it's a dropped catch technically, by Gill. Narine flicks in a carrom ball, around off and it's curving away a bit, Gowtham gets down the track and lofts it over extra cover. Not the best of connections and Shubman moves across to his left from long off to attempt for the catch. He stretches his hand out but it brushes it and falls beyond the rope. Good attempt by the young man.
Sunil Narine to Jos Buttler. Short this time, wide outside off, a mistimed cut shot by Buttler on the off side and they cross for a single.
Sunil Narine to Jos Buttler. Quicker one, full and on middle and leg, Buttler makes room to hit it across the line but fails to connect.
Piyush Chawla to Jos Buttler. The batsman has punched that ball through the offside. One run added to the total. 18 from 4 overs and a wicket of Stokes, that's Chawla for tonight.
Piyush Chawla to Krishnappa Gowtham. Goes for the big slog across the line but gets it off the inside edge towards deep mid-wicket for a single.
Piyush Chawla to Krishnappa Gowtham. Gets forward and drives it wide of long off for a brace.
Piyush Chawla to Krishnappa Gowtham. Gowtham goes deep in the crease and slaps it towards deep point for a single.
Piyush Chawla to Jos Buttler. Googly again, JB punches it wide of the cover fielder for one.
Krishnappa Gowtham is the new man in.
Piyush Chawla to Ben Stokes. OUT! Chawla does Stokes in with a googly! Nicely slides it across as he anticipates Stokes to give the charge. The Big Ben does so and ends up slicing it high up in the air over extra cover. Nitish Rana backtracks from that position, keeps his eyes on the ball and stretches his hands at the right time to take a well-judged catch. Well bowled, Piyush. This blow will surely hamper the hosts from getting a big total.
Piyush Chawla is back into the attack.
Kuldeep Yadav to Ben Stokes. Moves leg side and eases it down to long off for a single. Kuldeep is done for the night, 4-0-23-1 read his figures.
Kuldeep Yadav to Ben Stokes. SIX! Stokes with a hammering blow! Sees the flight and decides to take it on. Gets down on one knee and smites it over long on for a maximum.
Kuldeep Yadav to Jos Buttler. This one stays a touch low, Buttler is quick to go back and pull. Finds the deep mid-wicket fielder which means just a single is on offer.
Kuldeep Yadav to Ben Stokes. Goes back and forces it towards long off, a single results.
Kuldeep Yadav to Jos Buttler. Goes back and pulls it wide of long on does Jos. Wants two but it isn't on.
Kuldeep Yadav to Jos Buttler. Tossed up on off, Buttler plays the reverse sweep but finds backward point.
Sunil Narine to Ben Stokes. Quicker delivery, fired at 96.5 kph, punched off the back foot to long on for a couple. 6 from the over, a good comeback from Narine.
Sunil Narine to Jos Buttler. The batsman has driven it through mid off. They pick up a single.
Sunil Narine to Jos Buttler. Buttler places it through the gap at mid-wicket and comes back for a double.
Sunil Narine to Ben Stokes. Drilled down to long on for a single.
Sunil Narine to Ben Stokes. Comes down the track and pushes it back to Narine.
Sunil Narine to Ben Stokes. Around middle and leg, flicked towards short mid-wicket.
Jos Buttler joins his English team-mate in the middle.
Kuldeep Yadav to Rahul Tripathi. OUT! Chipped... oh boy, that's an excellent take from Andre Russell! What a catch, you just can't keep him out of the game. He will always come up with something special. Tossed up on the stumps, turning in a bit, Rahul makes room and looks to lift it inside out over extra cover. He makes fine connection but there is Dre Russ stationed at short extra cover who times his leap to perfection and plucks it out and then goes bam on the ground. Made it look so easy, but it wasn't by any means. Another timely breakthrough for Kolkata.
Kuldeep Yadav to Rahul Tripathi. The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.
Kuldeep Yadav to Rahul Tripathi. FOUR! Hit with disdain! Kuldeep Yadav drops it short on middle, Rahul is quick to go back and pull it. Finds the gap between long on and mid-wicket and picks up a boundary to his name.
Kuldeep Yadav to Ben Stokes. Flatter outside off, punched through extra cover for a single.
Kuldeep Yadav to Rahul Tripathi. Tripathi goes back to pull but this one seems to have stopped a touch. He chips it over mid-wicket and it goes safely in the deep. A single taken.
Kuldeep Yadav to Ben Stokes. Tossed up delivery, outside off, Stokes takes a nice stride forward and drives it down to long off for a single. 100 comes up for Rajasthan.
Kuldeep Yadav returns.
Strategic break!
Nitish Rana to Ben Stokes. Stokes works this slider through mid-wicket and gets to the other end. 4 runs and a wicket off it, fruitful one for Kolkata.
Ben Stokes is the new man in.
Nitish Rana to D'Arcy Short. OUT! The man with the golden arm strikes! Nitish Rana is making it a habit to provide breakthroughs when the opposition is taking the game away. Bowls a slider, at 90.6 kph, it skids off the surface and cramps Short for room. D'Arcy goes back to pull but is done in by the pace. The ball clatters the furniture behind and Rana lets out a huge roar. The southpaw departs for 44 from 43 balls. Not the kind of knock we associate with him.
Nitish Rana to D'Arcy Short. Dropped short outside off, punched back to Rana, it's a mistimed one.
Nitish Rana to Rahul Tripathi. Driven down to long on for just one.
Nitish Rana to D'Arcy Short. Flatter and quicker through the air outside off, slapped square on the off side for a single.
Nitish Rana to Rahul Tripathi. Floated ball outside off, pushed through extra cover. They want two but won't get it.
Nitish Rana is recalled.
Shivam Mavi to D'Arcy Short. Backs away to another short ball and punches it wide of long off for two. 14 off the over!
Shivam Mavi to D'Arcy Short. FOUR! Deft! After showing his power on the previous ball he decides to show his deftness. Waits on the back foot for a short of a length delivery and steers it down to third man for back-to-back boundaries. Moves into the 40s with that.
Shivam Mavi to D'Arcy Short. SIX! That's off the screws! Back of a length delivery on middle, D'Arcy Short backs away and picks the bones out of that one as he powers it over deep square leg fence for a maximum. Wow, that was some hit! His first in this league.
Shivam Mavi to Rahul Tripathi. On a fuller length outside off, drilled towards sweeper cover for a single.
Shivam Mavi to D'Arcy Short. Slower delivery around the pads, nurdled through backward square leg for a single.
Shivam Mavi to D'Arcy Short. Back of a length, angling across, a mistimed pull back to the bowler.
Sunil Narine to Rahul Tripathi. FOUR! Narine isn't looking at his best tonight! Once again bowls a half-tracker and is duly punished! Tripathi camps deep in the crease and pulls it off the meat through mid-wicket. Gone for 28 in the two overs, Sunil Narine!
Sunil Narine to D'Arcy Short. Darted around middle and leg, clipped in front of square on the leg side for a single.
Sunil Narine to D'Arcy Short. Floated delivery outside off, pushed towards cover.
Sunil Narine to D'Arcy Short. Flatter delivery around middle and off, stabbed out.
Sunil Narine to D'Arcy Short. FOUR! Boom! Narine once again drops it short on middle, Short stands back and pummels it with a short-arm jab. One-bounce and over the deep square leg fence. He's getting a move on now.
Sunil Narine to Rahul Tripathi. Tossed up outside off, driven along the ground towards long off for a single.
Sunil Narine is back. He was taken for 18 in his first over. Time for redemption?
Tom Curran to D'Arcy Short. FOUR! Easily done! Short needs many more of these. Gets a delivery on the pads and he just helps it off his pads behind square on the leg side to end the 10th over with a boundary. 71/2 at the halfway stage!
Tom Curran to D'Arcy Short. Shortish delivery on middle, Short goes for the big pull but gets it off the inner half towards deep mid-wicket for a brace.
Tom Curran to Rahul Tripathi. Back of a length delivery outside off, Rahul looks to run it down but gets it off the outer edge down to third man. The ball was destined to race away to the fence before Mavi cuts it off with a dive.
Tom Curran to D'Arcy Short. Fuller delivery on the pads, Short whips it towards deep mid-wicket and was happy with one. Tripathi wanted another one and was halfway down the track but luckily for him he turns back quickly and dives to make it in.
Tom Curran to D'Arcy Short. Good length delivery on middle and leg, tucked towards short mid-wicket.
Tom Curran to Rahul Tripathi. Fuller and angling in on the stumps, wristed down to long on for a single.
Tom Curran is brought into the attack.
Shivam Mavi to D'Arcy Short. The batsman gets an inside edge and the ball hits him on the pads.
Shivam Mavi to D'Arcy Short. This could have been touch and go! Short flicks it towards short mid-wicket and wants a single. Tripathi isn't too keen and sends him back. Russell, in the meanwhile has a shy at the striker's end but misses. Had that hit, D'Arcy could have been a goner.
Rahul Tripathi is the next man in. So they have decided to change the batting order. They have promoted the young man above Stokes.
Shivam Mavi to Sanju Samson. OUT! In the air... gone! Shivam Mavi gets the man in red-hot form! It's dropped on a back of a length, once again it skids off the surface and it's angled in on middle and leg. Sanju looks to play the short-arm pull but doesn't make clean contact. He knew as soon as he hit that he is a goner here. The ball goes towards deep square leg where Kuldeep Yadav takes an easy catch. So no Samson show tonight.
Shivam Mavi to Sanju Samson. FOUR! That's called using the pace of the bowler, says Clarke on air! On a back of a length, at some good pace, Samson just waits for it and at the right moment opens the bat face to run it down behind point for a boundary. Uthappa at third man had no chance to cut it off.
Shivam Mavi to Sanju Samson. Fuller and angling in, bunted back to Mavi.
Shivam Mavi to Sanju Samson. On a length and outside off, skidding off the surface, Samson looks to run it down but is beaten for pace.
Shivam Mavi is back into the attack.
Kuldeep Yadav to D'Arcy Short. Nicely tossed up outside off, blocked solidly off the front foot. Just 3 from the over, good one from Yadav. His figures read 2-0-6-0!
Kuldeep Yadav to Sanju Samson. Loops it up outside off, Samson dinks it down to long on for a single.
Kuldeep Yadav to Sanju Samson. A shout for an LBW! Tossed up around leg, Samson looks to flick but misses and is hit on the pads. Yadav appeals but it's turned down by the umpire. Maybe, it was pitching outside leg.
Kuldeep Yadav to D'Arcy Short. Wrong one from Kuldeep, Short punches it down to long on for a single.
Kuldeep Yadav to D'Arcy Short. The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball.
Kuldeep Yadav to Sanju Samson. Nudged through square leg by Sanju for a single.
Kuldeep Yadav is back on.
Nitish Rana to Sanju Samson. A good over from Rana! Samson gets going with a single down to long on. But only 7 from the over of a part-timer and a run out.
Sanju Samson, the man in form walks in next.
Nitish Rana to Ajinkya Rahane. OUT! Sensational work from Karthik! Really top notch! He provides his side with a much-needed breakthrough. Rana sees Rahane giving the charge and hence he fires it around leg, Ajinkya walks forward with the flick shot but can't put it away as the ball goes off the pads towards the left of the keeper. Rahane is too far down the track and before he could turn and come back in, Dinesh takes his one glove off, pounces on the ball and back-flicks it onto the stumps. They don't even go upstairs as Jinx is well short. Once again Rahane falls in the 30s, something that we have seen quite often.
Nitish Rana to D'Arcy Short. Punched off the back foot by the batsman. One run added to the total.
Nitish Rana to D'Arcy Short. Bumped ball! Tossed up outside off, Short looks to drive it away but gets an inside edge on the boots as the ball lobs and Karthik takes it. He claims for the catch and the umpire takes it upstairs. Replays find that the ball hits the boot and then bounces before going into the mitts of the keeper.
There is a referral taken by the visiting side. I think it's for the caught behind against Short. Oh yes, it's for the same. Has the ball bounced? Or will it be an unfortunate dismissal for D'Arcy.
Nitish Rana to D'Arcy Short. FOUR! From around the wicket comes Rana! Drifting down leg, all Short had to do is to get some bat on it. He gets enough to send it across the fine leg fence to raise 50 for his side. This is a good start, an ideal one for them.
Nitish Rana to Ajinkya Rahane. Tossed up outside off, pushed down to long off with a nice lean forward. A single taken.
Nitish Rana to bowl now. This is interesting tactic from Karthik. It paid off the last time when he asked Rana to roll his arm over in a game against Bangalore where he removed de Villiers and Kohli of successive balls. Can he provide a breakthrough again?
Strategic break!
Piyush Chawla to Ajinkya Rahane. Crouches low to a quicker delivery, at 93 kph, it's dabbed towards backward point for a single. 9/0 in 3 overs to 48/0 in the Powerplay, good recovery from Rajasthan!
Piyush Chawla to D'Arcy Short. Tossed up around middle and off, hit powerfully down to long off but will get just one.
Piyush Chawla to D'Arcy Short. Sliding across Short who goes back and punches it towards extra cover where the fielder dives to cut that off. Rahane immediately walks up to him to have a chat.
Piyush Chawla to Ajinkya Rahane. Hits a quicker one down to long on for a single.
Piyush Chawla to Ajinkya Rahane. FOUR! Shot! All timing and placement! Flighted ball, served outside off, Rahane leans ahead and with sheer timing he drives it along the ground through extra cover for a boundary. Pierced the gap to perfection!
Piyush Chawla to D'Arcy Short. Wrists this tossed up ball through mid-wicket and gets to the other end.
Chawla to bowl the final over of the Powerplay.
Shivam Mavi to D'Arcy Short. On a length and skidding through the surface, Short looks to pull it but gets an inside edge on the pads as the ball rolls towards the leg side. The bowler charges towards the ball and Rahane is quick to get to the other end. Another good over as 13 came from it.
Shivam Mavi to D'Arcy Short. FOUR! Short joining in the fun now! Stand and deliver stuff, this! Fuller delivery, in the arc, Short stands put and lifts it cleanly over mid off for a boundary, his first of the innings.
Shivam Mavi to Ajinkya Rahane. Short and angling in, Rahane arches back to run it down but it's too close to his body. Still manages to tap it away towards point and scampers through for one.
Shivam Mavi to Ajinkya Rahane. SIX! Ohhh! That's a classic hit from Rahane! Back of a length delivery on middle and off, at 138.3 kph, Rahane jumps down the track and smokes it with a flat-bat over the bowler's head to pick the first biggie of the match. He has found his mojo back and is up and running quickly.
Shivam Mavi to D'Arcy Short. Short of a length delivery on middle and leg, pulled through square leg for a single.
Shivam Mavi to D'Arcy Short. Starts off from over the wicket, skiddy delivery, Short flat-bats it to mid on.
Shivam Mavi into the attack. Pace on the ball, something that the Aussie southpaw will fancy...
Sunil Narine to D'Arcy Short. Flatter on middle, punched down to long on to end the over. 18 off it, a good one for the hosts.
Sunil Narine to Ajinkya Rahane. Sensible from the skipper. He milks a single down to long on and is happy to get off strike.
Sunil Narine to Ajinkya Rahane. FOUR! Pressure on Narine! He has conceded 16 off the over already with two balls to go. The crowd finds its voice back. Dropped short again, Rahane is quick to pick it up as he rocks back and flays it between cover and point for the fourth boundary on the trot. What's coming next?
Sunil Narine to Ajinkya Rahane. FOUR! This is not good from Narine! All the pressure that was created in the previous three overs has been released. Short and outside off, slapped it square on the off side. No stopping these.
Sunil Narine to Ajinkya Rahane. FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries! Good use of the feet again, Jinx! Tossed up outside off, Rahane dances down the track and belts it cleanly past Russell at mid off for a boundary.
Sunil Narine to Ajinkya Rahane. FOUR! And there's the first boundary of the night! Much-needed one after three dry overs from Kolkata! Narine comes into the attack and serves it around middle, Rahane gets down the track and paddles it over backward square leg for a boundary.
More spin. So, Karthik has decided to keep the hosts silent in the Powerplay as he brings Sunil Narine into the attack.
Piyush Chawla to D'Arcy Short. D'Arcy goes after a wide one but misses. Three overs gone, not a single boundary scored. Pressure mounting on the home team!
Piyush Chawla to D'Arcy Short. Floated delivery, around middle and leg, worked straight to Uthappa at square leg. Good tight stuff from the spinners.
Piyush Chawla to D'Arcy Short. Googly, sliding across, it beats Short on the back foot punch.
Piyush Chawla to Ajinkya Rahane. Ajinkya runs out of patience and attempts to go for the big shot by skipping down the track. Ends up dragging it off the inner half towards wide mid on for a single.
Piyush Chawla to Ajinkya Rahane. Tries to be cheeky here, Jinx! Understandably so as the boundaries aren't coming. Looks to play the reverse sweep but misses it completely.
Piyush Chawla to D'Arcy Short. Around middle and leg, nudged away towards mid-wicket for a single. They are yet to score a boundary, the hosts.
Kuldeep Yadav to D'Arcy Short. Quicker through the air, sliding in on middle and leg, Short tries tucking it away but misses and wears it on the pads. It rolls towards square leg and they take a leg bye. Good start for Kolkata, giving nothing away.
Kuldeep Yadav to D'Arcy Short. Flatter through the air outside off, punched off the back foot but straight to the man at extra cover.
Kuldeep Yadav to Ajinkya Rahane. Good use of the feet! Has to hurry but all's well in the end. Rahane pushes one towards mid off and takes off. Russell picks up the ball and throws it at the striker's end but D'Arcy makes it in.
Kuldeep Yadav to D'Arcy Short. Some more loop this time, Kuldeep is tossing it right up there. Short tries to defend but gets an inside edge past the leg pole for a single.
Kuldeep Yadav to D'Arcy Short. Tossed up delivery outside off, D'Arcy Short winds up for the big shot over cover but gets a thick inside edge on the pads.
Kuldeep Yadav to Ajinkya Rahane. Floated delivery around middle, swept in front of square on the leg side for a single.
Spin from both the ends. It will be Kuldeep Yadav to have a go from the other end.
Piyush Chawla to Ajinkya Rahane. Worked away through mid-wicket to end the first over. Excellent start from Chawla.
Piyush Chawla to Ajinkya Rahane. Quicker through the air and served outside off, Ajinkya goes back to cut but this one skids through and stays a touch low as well. The ball sneaks under his bat and it's a good take from the keeper behind.
Piyush Chawla to D'Arcy Short. Flatter and shorter in length outside off, crunched off the back foot through cover. Short is off the mark with a 'well-run' single. Got the pun? If not, go check out his first two innings.
Piyush Chawla to D'Arcy Short. Beaten! Bowls the wrong one, sliding across the southpaw, Short goes back to punch but is done in by it.
Piyush Chawla to D'Arcy Short. Too full in length, it's tossed up again, Short digs it out towards extra cover.
Piyush Chawla to Ajinkya Rahane. Rajasthan are underway! Chawla tosses it up on the stumps, Rahane shimmies down the track, takes it on the full and works it neatly down to long on for a single.
We are all set for the action to begin. The players and umpires are out in the middle and spreading to take their positions. Now come the two openers - Ajinkya Rahane and D'Arcy Short. Watch out for the latter, who was in tremendous form in the Australian T20 League and is yet to make a statement. Could be his night, we reckon.
Rajasthan skipper, Ajinkya Rahane says even he wanted to bowl first but since the wicket looks good so he doesn't mind to put runs on the board. Reckons it's a different experience to captain a side which has players from all over the world.
Kolkata skipper, Dinesh Karthik says they will bowl first. Adds the wicket looks good and they would be looking to chase down the target later. Informs the pitch is made of the black soil and he and Rahane have played a lot on such surfaces. States it's quite dark underneath to bind the surface together. Opines he's enjoying his role as the skipper of Kolkata but there are a few challenges, one is getting the right playing XI.
Toss - Ajinkya Rahane flips the coin but it's the opposition skipper, Dinesh Karthik who wins it. Kolkata elect to field!
Pitch report - The Aussie World Cup winning captain of 2015, Michael Clarke says that it looks a beautiful surface. Adds that under the tinge of grass, it's dry and will help the spinners. Further says that the pitch is hard in nature and hence there will be even bounce. Feels that it will be good for stroke making.
Hello and welcome to the 15th game of the Indian T20 League. Rajasthan will host Kolkata in what should be a good contest. The hosts have played a game less and are on the same points as the Dinesh Karthik-led side. So, a win tonight can take them to the second spot at least. Both teams are coming off the back of superb wins. They are quite evenly balanced, with almost every player contributing and standing up at some stage, with both bat and ball. No reason to assume there would be any changes this evening, barring any injuries of course. With the kind of performances Rajasthan and Kolkata have been producing, we for sure are in for a ride.
Yet another one-sided game in this week. Kolkata scaled down the target without breaking a sweat. Rajasthan just didn't turn up with the ball in this match and as a result, faced a big defeat. Next up, Punjab will be taking on Hyderabad on 19th April at 2000 local (1430 GMT). Do join us then. Cheers!
Nitish Rana gets his consecutive Man of the Match award. If it was for his batting against Delhi, today it's for his all-round show. He picked up the wickets of Rahane and D'Arcy Short and then played a responsible knock to see his side through. An award well deserved.
A stroll in the park for Kolkata and they have broken the 9-match winning streak of Rajasthan at home. Very convincingly done by the visiting side. They suffered an early blow in their chase but the 69-run stand between Sunil Narine and Robin Uthappa kept them on track. Later on, skipper Dinesh Karthik and Nitish Rana combined to construct a match-winning partnership. Apart from Krishnappa Gowtham, there was nothing in Rajasthan's bowling as they looked completely flat.
Ben Laughlin to Dinesh Karthik. SIX! That's enormous! DK finishes it off in style. Anticipates a slower one again, gets it in his half on a fuller length and he hoists it over long on for a maximum. KOLKATA WIN BY 7 WICKETS!
Ben Laughlin to Nitish Rana. An off pace delivery which is on the shorter side outside off, a mistime shot by Rana as it goes towards backward point off the bottom edge. Another run taken.
Ben Laughlin to Dinesh Karthik. Nopes, he drills a full ball down to long on and jogs across to other end.
Ben Laughlin to Nitish Rana. Full and around off, slower in pace again, it's lofted down to long off for a run. 6 more needed, can DK finish it with one blow?
Ben Laughlin to Nitish Rana. Wide! Slips a length ball down the leg side, Rana swings and misses.
Ben Laughlin to Nitish Rana. Fuller in length around off, Rana strokes it to wide long off for a brace. 50-run stand comes up!
Ben Laughlin to bowl out.
Ben Stokes to Nitish Rana. A length ball around off, 144.7 kph, Rana drops it with gentle hands to third man for a single. 10 more needed for a win.
Ben Stokes to Nitish Rana. Rana aims big but fails to connect. Stokes from 'round the wicket darts in a short ball, Nitish moves back to slam it over the off side but fails to make any sort of connection.
Ben Stokes to Dinesh Karthik. Slower delivery, on a length around off, Karthik dabs it down on the off side and rotates the strike.
Ben Stokes to Dinesh Karthik. FOUR! Karthik is doing it quickly here. Stokes serves a friendly full toss outside off, DK climbs onto it and smacks it square of the wicket on the off side for a rollicking boundary.
Fine leg drops back. Third man is up.
Ben Stokes to Dinesh Karthik. DK is playing the pick up shots quite well. On a shortish length around middle and leg, Karthik drop kicks it over square leg for a couple.
Ben Stokes to Nitish Rana. Steams in from around the wicket and bowls a short ball on middle, Rana pulls it in front of square leg for a single.
Ben Stokes to have another go.
Jaydev Unadkat to Nitish Rana. Sensible! Just pushed a full ball through cover and will keep strike. 16 off the over, 19 needed off 18.
Jaydev Unadkat to Nitish Rana. SIX! Finesse! He has timed it really, really well. Fuller ball, landed outside off, Rana stays deep in the crease and with a straight bat he lofts it cleanly over extra cover to send it over the fence. Holds the pose as well, this could be instagrammed, if he wants. Superb! That should be the game for Kolkata, unless anything silly happens.
Jaydev Unadkat to Dinesh Karthik. Makes a bit of room and pushes it wide of the cover fielder for one.
Jaydev Unadkat to Dinesh Karthik. SIX! Thank you very, very much, says DK! Unadkat changes the pace, delivers it around leg on the shorter side. Karthik moves inside the line and lifts it over backward square leg for a maximum all the way. All the pressure built has been released from this biggie.
Jaydev Unadkat to Nitish Rana. Very full, almost a yorker, Rana jams it off the inner half down to long on. A single taken.
Jaydev Unadkat to Dinesh Karthik. Dances down the track to a length delivery which is slanted across him, Karthik still manages to chip it against the angle over mid-wicket. Stokes comes rushing in to take the catch but it dips in front of him.
Strategic break. Kolkata are going on nicely in spite of a few quiet overs. They just need 35 off 24 balls. Rajasthan need wickets, that too in a heap, to make a match out of it from this situation.
Ben Laughlin to Dinesh Karthik. Short and outside off, Karthik stands tall and flat-bats it past backward point for a run.
Ben Laughlin to Nitish Rana. Very full and outside off, Rana drills it to sweeper cover and crosses for a run. Wants the second run but then decides against taking Stokes' arm.
Ben Laughlin to Nitish Rana. Fullish and on middle, Rana pushes it off his front foot to short extra cover.
Ben Laughlin to Dinesh Karthik. A length ball on middle, Karthik forces it down to long on and crosses.
Ben Laughlin to Dinesh Karthik. Full and outside off, Karthik drives it off his front foot but finds the cover fielder.
Ben Laughlin to Dinesh Karthik. Slower delivery to begin this spell, it's hit in the vacant region at mid-wicket and by the time the fielder in the deep rushes forward, they take a couple of runs. Good running between the wickets.
Ben Laughlin is back into the attack.
Jaydev Unadkat to Dinesh Karthik. Helps it around off his pads towards short fine leg and keeps strike with a single. 40 needed off 30 balls.
Jaydev Unadkat to Dinesh Karthik. Back of a length delivery outside off, an off pace ball, Karthik goes back and mistimes his shot towards the off side.
Jaydev Unadkat to Nitish Rana. Played to the point region by the batsman. One run added to the total.
Jaydev Unadkat to Nitish Rana. Run out chance, missed! Rana just taps a length ball on the off side and tries to steal a run right under the bowler's nose. He is sent back and tries to dive to make it in as Jaydev has a shy at the striker's end. He misses and the replays show that Rana would have been a goner in case of a direct hit. Karthik is having a word with Nitish, trying to calm him down, maybe.
Jaydev Unadkat to Dinesh Karthik. DK is timing his shots beautifully. This time pulls a short ball and it races away. Finds Stokes at deep mid-wicket and he has to be satisfied with only a single.
Jaydev Unadkat to Dinesh Karthik. Angles across a shortish ball outside off, Karthik punches it to sweeper cover and by the time Samson gets to the ball, they take a couple.
Jaydev Unadkat is back on.
Shreyas Gopal to Dinesh Karthik. The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single.
Shreyas Gopal to Nitish Rana. A googly on the shorter side, outside off, Rana forces it down to long on for a single.
Shreyas Gopal to Dinesh Karthik. A bit short and angling down the leg side, DK moves back and pulls it through square leg for a run.
Shreyas Gopal to Dinesh Karthik. Leans forward and pushes it straight to the cover fielder.
Shreyas Gopal to Dinesh Karthik. Flatter delivery, on the pads, it's nudged to fine leg for a couple.
Shreyas Gopal to Nitish Rana. Short and on middle, Rana kneels and pulls it to deep mid-wicket. Stokes collects it on one bounce and they cross for a run.
Shreyas Gopal is back on.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Dinesh Karthik. FOUR! Delicate. Gowtham fires in a quicker one outside off, 102.2 kph, Karthik plays a late little cut, past the keeper and it screams away to the third man fence. 13 from the over, spoils Gowtham's figures tonight, still he ends with a brilliant performance, 4-0-23-2!
Krishnappa Gowtham to Dinesh Karthik. Once again DK goes on the back foot and strokes it through the gap on the off side for two.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Dinesh Karthik. Goes on the back foot and punches it square of the wicket on the off side for a brace.
Skipper Dinesh Karthik is the new batsman. 59 needed off 45 balls.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Robin Uthappa. OUT! Clean catch! Brilliant stuff by Ben Stokes! The crowd surely loves it and is making a lot of noise. Flighted ball landing full on middle, Uthappa tries to smack it downtown but fails to give it the full whack of the bat. It's travelling flat to Stokes in the deep at long on who takes it over his head but then starts to lose his balance. Realizes that he will touch the rope and hence releases the ball immediately. Tosses it up and then goes on to catch it once again. He is absolutely pumped up. The umpires check it upstairs and finds it to be a neat catch. There was a half century for the taking, but Robin departs!
Ben Stokes has taken a catch near the fence. Has he touched the boundary line? The umpires go upstairs to check that...
Krishnappa Gowtham to Nitish Rana. Goes down on one knee and sweeps it behind square leg for a run. Not quite from the middle of the bat and Rana is not too happy with himself.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Nitish Rana. FOUR! Easy pickings! This one is sliding down the leg side, Rana eases it fine off his pads and it speeds away to the fence in no time.
Ben Laughlin to Nitish Rana. Too full and around leg, Nitish helps it through mid-wicket and crosses for a single. 10 runs in the last two overs, Rajasthan trying to pull things back. They need wickets though.
Ben Laughlin to Robin Uthappa. Presses forward and across to flick it over wide mid on for one.
Ben Laughlin to Robin Uthappa. Slower one again, around off and on a length, Uthappa defends it off his front foot.
Ben Laughlin to Nitish Rana. Slower one, outside off, Rana taps it down to covers and rushes across to the other end. Rahane has a shy at the bowler's end but fails to find the target. Anyway, Nitish was well in.
Ben Laughlin to Nitish Rana. Rana has played that off the front foot and into the ground.
Ben Laughlin to Nitish Rana. FOUR! Glorious shot! Not an overpitched delivery, it's outside off, Rana strides forward and creams his cover drive through the gap. The fielder in the deep runs across to his left but has no chance. That's timed to perfection.
Ben Laughlin returns.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Robin Uthappa. Safe! Shortish and outside off, Uthappa stretches forward and tries to pull across the line but misses. Buttler is quick to dislodge the bails and appeals delightfully. It's taken upstairs but the replays find Robin safe.
Stumping appeal. It's been referred upstairs...
Krishnappa Gowtham to Robin Uthappa. Tossed up ball on off, punched right back towards the bowler. It's a bit aerial but doesn't carry to Gowtham.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Nitish Rana. Flighted and on middle, worked behind square leg for a run.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Robin Uthappa. Driven towards the mid on region. One run added to the total.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Robin Uthappa. Goes deep inside the crease and punches it back to the bowler.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Nitish Rana. Drives it down the ground for a single.
Ben Stokes to Nitish Rana. A slower delivery, on the shorter side outside off, Rana rocks back and slaps it through cover-point for one. We have reached the halfway mark and Kolkata are going strong in spite of losing a couple of wickets.
Ben Stokes to Robin Uthappa. Fullish and angling in on middle, Uthappa flicks it aerially wide of mid on and takes a run.
Ben Stokes to Robin Uthappa. Wide! Slips one down the leg side, the batsman has left it.
Ben Stokes to Nitish Rana. Keeps out the yorker safely and rotates the strike. Smart batting.
Ben Stokes to Robin Uthappa. Played to the mid-wicket region by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single.
Ben Stokes to Robin Uthappa. FOUR! Not in control but a misfield earns him a boundary. Stokes shakes his head in disappointment. Too full in length around off, Robin slices his attempted square drive over backward point. Never looks comfortable while playing square of the wicket. It lobs over the infield, Unadkat rushes across to his right from third man, slides but fails to stop it. Has gone for a boundary.
Ben Stokes to Nitish Rana. Short and wide outside off, Rana plays it off his back foot through cover-point for a run.
Shreyas Gopal to Robin Uthappa. SIX! That's sent into orbit. Full floated ball dropping on middle, Uthappa kneels and smokes his slog sweep over mid-wicket for a biggie. Great connection on that occasion. That just kept sailing into the stands.
Shreyas Gopal to Nitish Rana. Tickles it off his pads to the leg side and rotates the strike to get off the mark.
Nitish Rana is the new man to the crease.
Shreyas Gopal to Sunil Narine. OUT! Narine is run out! Not cleanly done by Buttler but that will do. A flighted ball landing on middle, Narine tries to unfurl a fancy reverse sweep but fails to connect. It goes off his pads to short third man and he blindly runs down the track in search of a run. Uthappa sends him back and in the meanwhile Unadkat sends in a flat throw to the keeper. Buttler collects it and breaks the stumps with forearm. He has the ball in his gloves though. It's referred upstairs and the replays show that Narine is well short. A big breakthrough for Rajasthan as a Narine-type of a batsman, who has nothing to lose, proves to be very dangerous.
Appeal for a run out. It's referred upstairs. Jos Buttler is confident.
Shreyas Gopal to Sunil Narine. Quicker and flatter on middle, Narine walks forward and pushes it to extra cover.
Shreyas Gopal to Robin Uthappa. Loopy leg spinner around off, Uthappa quietly dabs it to short third man and steals a single.
Shreyas Gopal to Sunil Narine. Flighted and down the leg side, Narine fails to flick and it goes off his pads to square leg. They cross for a leg bye.
Ben Stokes to Robin Uthappa. Once again play and a miss to end the over. Stokes pulls back his length and lands it outside off, Uthappa plays inside the line and misses. Once again good pace from Ben. Only 6 runs from his first over.
Ben Stokes to Robin Uthappa. A pacey delivery, 145.1 kph, Uthappa is beaten for pace as he fails to put away a full toss outside off.
Ben Stokes to Sunil Narine. Fullish and on off, Narine once again has his entire weight on the back foot as he drills it past Rahane at extra cover for a single.
Ben Stokes to Sunil Narine. FOUR! A streaky one! Stokes steams in from around the wicket and serves it wide outside off. Narine hops back to swing his bat and it flies off the outside edge to third man for a boundary.
Ben Stokes to Robin Uthappa. Straighter in line and it has been clipped in front of square leg for a single.
Ben Stokes to Robin Uthappa. A stifled appeal for an lbw! Good length ball landing around off, angling in, Uthappa tries to flick but misses and is hit high on the pads.
Ben Stokes to bowl.
Shreyas Gopal to Sunil Narine. Turning the other way, from outside off, Narine lifts it over extra cover and Stokes rushes across to his right from long off to stop the ball. Two taken to end the over. 9 from it.
Shreyas Gopal to Sunil Narine. This one skidding away towards off after landing on middle, Narine hits it back.
Shreyas Gopal to Robin Uthappa. A googly around off, well read by Uthappa who flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.
Shreyas Gopal to Robin Uthappa. SIX! Don't even look there Shreyas! You have committed the crime of bowling short and now Robin has made you suffer. He immediately goes deep inside the crease to power it all the way over mid-wicket for a maximum.
Shreyas Gopal to Robin Uthappa. Turning away from the batsman around off, Uthappa gets back and plays it with the spin to covers.
Shreyas Gopal to Robin Uthappa. Probably a flipper around off, Uthappa cuts but finds the fielder square on the off side.
Shreyas Gopal, the leggie, to bowl now.
Strategic break. Rajasthan have failed to build on an early wicket and are under the pump at the moment. Runs are flowing thick and fast and they need wickets to return in the match.
Ben Laughlin to Sunil Narine. SIX! Into the stand! Narine has absolutely smoked it. Laughlin for some reason best known to him bowls a short delivery right in Narine's half. The southpaw shows no mercy and bludgeons it over wide long off. 50 up for Kolkata, a superb beginning for them after losing Lynn early.
Ben Laughlin to Sunil Narine. Magnificent delivery. Follows the batsman down the leg side and sends across a perfect yorker. Narine cannot do much and just digs it out back to the bowler.
Ben Laughlin to Robin Uthappa. Slower delivery, full and on off, Robin is on the front foot as he gently pushes it to mid off for a single.
Ben Laughlin to Sunil Narine. On the pads of the southpaw and Narine helps it to square leg for a run.
Ben Laughlin to Robin Uthappa. A little short again, Uthappa forces it down the ground to long on and rotates the strike.
Ben Laughlin to Robin Uthappa. FOUR! Laughlin starts on a false note. A gentle delivery, short and angling in, Uthappa turns inside the crease and hammers it past short fine leg for a boundary.
Ben Laughlin into the attack now.
Jaydev Unadkat to Robin Uthappa. Laughlin with a fantastic diving stop. Uthappa strokes a full ball straight down the ground and it's racing away. Ben puts in a full length dive from mid off and makes a one-handed stop. A single taken. 13 from this over, 25 in the last two.
Jaydev Unadkat to Robin Uthappa. FOUR! Smartly played. He stays back again to a shortish ball outside off, uses the pace of the bowler and runs it fine past the diving keeper for a boundary at third man.
Jaydev Unadkat to Robin Uthappa. FOUR! That's admonished. Rahane played a similar shot earlier in the game. He used his feet but not Robin. Stand and deliver stuff from him. Holds his ground to a short ball in his half and pummels it straight down the ground.
Jaydev Unadkat to Robin Uthappa. Beaten! That's the line. A zippy delivery, short and outside off, Uthappa tries to run it down but misses.
Jaydev Unadkat to Robin Uthappa. FOUR! Superb hit! He just loves playing on the leg side. A touch short and around leg, Uthappa just picks it up and smashes it over mid-wicket for a boundary. That nearly went all the way. Unadkat bowling to his strength ain't a good idea, should look to make him play on the off side. We have often seen Robin hesitant to play square of the wicket on the off side. Nevertheless, a milestone for Uthappa as he surpasses Yusuf Pathan in the all time leading run-scorer list for Kolkata. He's currently second on that list.
Jaydev Unadkat to Robin Uthappa. Angling away from the batsman, around off, Uthappa hits it back towards the bowler.
Jaydev Unadkat is into the attack now.
Dhawal Kulkarni to Sunil Narine. Too full and outside off, Narine is beaten for pace as he tries to dig it out. 12 from the over.
Dhawal Kulkarni to Sunil Narine. FOUR! Hat-trick of boundaries! Narine dictating terms now. Change in field every ball is not helping Rahane. He needs to give one field to his bowler and tell him to concentrate on one line. This one is short and around middle, Narine drags it out with a horizontal bat and sends it rocketing to the deep mid-wicket fence. No chance for the fielder in the deep.
Dhawal Kulkarni to Sunil Narine. FOUR! Boom! Narine will be feeling a lot better about himself now. Kulkarni feeds him room outside off, Sunil just stays inside the crease and muscles it through covers for yet another boundary.
Dhawal Kulkarni to Sunil Narine. FOUR! Up and over! That's one way of finding the fence. If you cannot pierce the gap, go aerial over the infield. Narine does exactly that. He remains on the back leg to a short ball and pummels it over cover-point.
Dhawal Kulkarni to Sunil Narine. A bit short in length around off, Narine hangs on the back foot and punches it through the line. Finds the cover fielder. This will be frustrating for the West Indian. He has found the fielders quite a lot of times.
Long on getting straighter.
Dhawal Kulkarni to Sunil Narine. Beaten! Kulkarni angles across a length ball outside off, not much bounce, Narine tries to cut but it goes under his bat.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Sunil Narine. Uses his feet this time and nudges it through mid-wicket for a single. Good over by Gowtham again.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Sunil Narine. Another back foot punch by the West Indian but he fails to pierce the gap.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Sunil Narine. Shortish on off, Narine punches it to covers, straight to the fielder.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Robin Uthappa. Gowtham continues to drag his length short and Uthappa this time pulls it over mid on for a run.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Robin Uthappa. Once again Gowtham bowls it flat and short outside off, Uthappa punches but finds the fielder inside the ring on the off side.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Robin Uthappa. FOUR! Shot! He was in terrific form in the last match and is showing the same here also. Latches onto a short ball and punches it sweetly through extra cover.
Dhawal Kulkarni to Robin Uthappa. Remains back and punches it to mid on for another run to end the over.
Dhawal Kulkarni to Sunil Narine. Knocks a length ball down to mid off and rotates the strike.
Square leg comes up, mid on drops back.
Dhawal Kulkarni to Sunil Narine. EDGY FOUR! Narine got out playing a similar shot in the last game, that time Pant parried it to the first slip fielder. Here, Buttler failed to do the same. Short and on middle and off, Narine makes room to crack it through the line but gets a thick outside edge behind. Buttler jumps, stretches his one hand out but it brushes his glove and screams to the fence at third man.
Dhawal Kulkarni to Sunil Narine. Back of a length delivery outside off, Narine punches it from the back foot but mistimes it to the cover fielder.
Dhawal Kulkarni to Sunil Narine. Uppish and just over extra cover. A length ball angling away from the batsman, Narine gets forward and chips it over the infield. The fielder jumps but to no avail. It's chased down in the deep and in the meanwhile Narine wants the third run. He comes mid-way down the track but is sent back. All that happens in time and Kolkata survive a scare.
Dhawal Kulkarni to Sunil Narine. Play and a miss! Kulkarni sprays it wide outside off, Narine flashes and misses. That was just inside the tramline, just.
Who will bowl from this end? Unlike Kolkata, Rajasthan are using the combination of spin and pace. Dhawal Kulkarni to run in...
Krishnappa Gowtham to Robin Uthappa. A little short and on off, Uthappa goes deep inside the crease and steers it through the line. Finds the point fielder. Lovely over, a run and a big wicket of Lynn from it.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Robin Uthappa. Flatter and a bit shorter on off, Uthappa hits it from the back foot to mid off.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Robin Uthappa. Arrows it down towards middle and leg, Uthappa tries to flick but misses. Is hit on the pads, no appeal made as it's missing leg.
Robin Uthappa is in next at number 3.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Chris Lynn. OUT! Stumps destroyed and Gowtham celebrates it with his arms stretched, a bit like Shahid Afridi. Another delivery bowled in the flatter trajectory and in the line of the sticks, Lynn makes space to power it through the line but is beaten completely. Two stumps pegged down and it's an excellent start for the home team.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Chris Lynn. Fires in another quicker one, around off, it's punched down the ground to mid off.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Sunil Narine. Starts with a slider around off, skidding in, Narine gets forward to defend but it takes the inside edge and rolls through mid-wicket for a run.
Time for the run chase. No flirting with the opening pair by Kolkata. Sunil Narine it is with the Australian, Chris Lynn. In the last game, the West Indian didn't do much damage with the bat but will try to compensate today. Didn't have a good outing with the ball, so would be itching to take out his frustrations with the bat. Krishnappa Gowtham to begin with the ball. Here we go again...