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CSK beat KKR by 7 wickets | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings, Highlights And Cricket Score 23th T20 Match - Commentary
Indian Premier League, 2019
Date: Apr 09, 2019 Start Time: 20:00 IST | 14:30 GMT | 20:00 LocalVenue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
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Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings Highlights And Cricket Score 23th Match - T20 Commentary
Now then, Chennai should chase this down quite easily. Kolkata though have a good bowling line-up but they will really have to bowl out of their skins here. Is there an upset on the cards or will Chennai go top?
Deepak Chahar is caught for a little chat. He says it's quite hot out there. States that he has been practicing with the wet ball, so is glad it paid off in this game. Adds that he knew given the home conditions for his side, he would have to work on his variations, so prepared himself early and well for the challenge.
For the home side, Chahar was the star as he picked a three-fer. Harbhajan and Tahir too had a couple each to their name. Scott is the only bowler who finished wicketless. All-in-all an excellent effort from them.
Chennai won the toss and elected to field and were off to the perfect start as Chahar struck in the very first over. Kolkata just never recovered after that and kept losing wickets at regular intervals. At 47 for 6 it seemed 100 would be a problem, Russell however, held one end up and has given their bowlers something to bowl at with a fifty.
The pattern for Kolkata continues, once again it is Russell who comes to the fore after their batting line-up fails. This time however, I ain't sure if this is going to be enough and it is surely the hosts which will be the happier of the two sides at the break.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Andre Russell. FOUR! Fifty for Russell, once again he is the hero with the bat for Kolkata. His 7th in this League. Ends the innings with a boundary. 15 from the last over. This is a length ball and on off, Russell clobbers it past the bowler. The fielder at long off runs to his right, dives but fails to stop it. KOLKATA END WITH 108/9!
Scott Kuggeleijn to Andre Russell. A dot! Gold dust at this stage! A low full toss outside off, Russell gets it off the lower part of the bat towards covers.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Andre Russell. FOUR! Hammered! The fielder actually does well to get a hand to it. Short and on the body, Russell pulls it hard towards deep square leg. The fielder there runs to his left and looks to push it back in but the force is a lot and he fails to do so. 10 from the last two balls.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Andre Russell. SIX! He has picked the bones out of that one but seems to be in a lot of pain as he clutches his palm. This is short and on the body, Russell sends it sailing over the mid-wicket fence. 3 balls to go, 2 more?
Scott Kuggeleijn to Andre Russell. He does not on the first ball he faces in this over. It is short and on the body, Russell swings but it goes off the inner half towards deep square leg. No runs taken.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Harry Gurney. Gurney does what Kolkata would be hoping of him. He gets a single by hitting it towards sweeper cover. 5 balls to go, can Russell produce some magic?
Deepak Chahar to Andre Russell. He goes for the biggie but just does not connect. In the process, he seems to have hurt himself. He had really swung hard there. Short and outside off, Russell looks to hit it out of the park but misses. He then catches hold of his shoulder. He is fine to continue though. An excellent over, however, from Chahar. He bowled 6 balls to Russell and went for only 6 runs.
Deepak Chahar to Andre Russell. Good change in pace there. It is short and outside off, it is the slower one. Russell looks to upper cut but misses. One ball to go, will he take a single now or will he go for the biggie?
Deepak Chahar to Andre Russell. Very full, difficult for a batsman to get under it. Russell smashes it to long off and does not run.
Deepak Chahar to Andre Russell. SIX! Once again it is not off the middle but such is the power of the man that it carries all the way. Length and on middle, Russell swings, it is not off the middle. Jadeja at long on for a second thought he has a chance but the ball clears him. Need a few more. Also, replays show Jadeja was slightly inside the ropes. Had he been at the ropes, it could have been a catch.
Deepak Chahar to Andre Russell. Not off the middle again! Full and outside off, Russell throws the kitchen sink at it but it goes off the inner half towards short fine leg.
Deepak Chahar to Andre Russell. Another dot! Once again, the timing is not there. Length and on middle, Russell hits it flat and on the bounce to long on.
Deepak Chahar to bowl out.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Harry Gurney. He does play it out! A harmless delivery though that one. It is short and outside off, Gurney guides it down to third man but the batsmen do not run. A good over this, 8 from it.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Andre Russell. A single this time! Back of a length on off, Russell chops it towards covers for a run. Gurney has one ball to keep out.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Andre Russell. On the shorter side, Russell pulls it but does not get the timing, it goes all along the ground to deep mid-wicket. Once again no run.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Andre Russell. Dances around in his crease to disturb the line of the bowler. Scott is affected as he bowls it down the leg side. Wided.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Andre Russell. Good bowling! Bowls it on the body of Russell. He pulls it to deep square leg but does not take the run.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Andre Russell. DROPPED! It was bowled short and outside off, Russell smashes it towards point, Watson there drops a tough catch to his left and he saves a certain boundary. It goes through him. The batsmen get two runs.
A strange field placement here by Dhoni. He has brought another fielder on the leg side from the off side and placed him at the deep mid-wicket region. Just the long off out on the off side.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Andre Russell. FOUR! That is exactly what Russell has to do in the next 17 balls. The slower one on middle, Russell waits for it and hits it in the gap in the mid-wicket region for a boundary. Ideal start to the over.
Scott Kuggeleijn is back into the attack.
Ravindra Jadeja to Harry Gurney. Plays this one out too! Three overs to go and you would probably feel Russell would face most of the deliveries now. This is slower through the air on middle, Gurney blocks it out.
Ravindra Jadeja to Harry Gurney. One more, as he is again solid in defense.
Ravindra Jadeja to Harry Gurney. Fires it on the stumps, Gurney blocks it out. 2 more balls to play out.
Harry Gurney is the last man in. Two slips in place for him.
Ravindra Jadeja to Prasidh Krishna. OUT! No. 9 goes down and Chennai have three more balls to wrap this up with Russell stranded at the non-striker's end. A soft dismissal this. It is full and on the pads. Krishna flicks it but does not keep it down. It goes straight to Singh at short mid-wicket who makes no mistake this time.
Ravindra Jadeja to Prasidh Krishna. On the stumps, blocked.
Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell. Misfield and a single! Chennai won't mind though as Russell is off strike. Short and outside off, AR cuts it towards point. The fielder there fumbles and a run is taken.
Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell. Jadeja fires it wide outside off, it turns away even more. Wided.
Ravindra Jadeja is back on.
Harbhajan Singh to Andre Russell. Full toss on middle, Russell lofts it over mid-wicket for a single.
Harbhajan Singh to Andre Russell. Short on middle, Russell pulls it to mid-wicket.
Prasidh Krishna to bat next.
Harbhajan Singh to Kuldeep Yadav. OUT! RUN OUT! Yes, he has dislodged the bails cleanly. Two in two for the hosts. Kuldeep bags a golden duck. A crazy mix-up there. This is tossed up on off, the ball pitches and then turns away. Kuldeep looks to defend but only manages an outside edge towards short third man. Russell wants a run but Yadav is ball-watching. He eventually has to go for it. By that time though, Rayudu picks the ball up and throws it to the keeper. The throw is not a good one. Singh though has enough time to collect it and then with a dive, underarm it onto the stumps. The umpire, however, wants to check if it is clean and replays show that it is.
A run out appeal. Not sure why, because Kuldeep is miles out. Possibly the umpires want to see whether Harbhajan had the ball in his hand while knocking the stumps over. Let's see now...
Strategic break. Andre Russell has managed to stay for Kolkata and will look to go for big shots in the death overs. Chennai has restricted them but have dropped a simple catch of Andre Russell. Harbhajan has been the culprit. Kolkata are 76/7 and will look to get atleast 120-130 to put up a fight. Kuldeep Yadav is the new batsman in.
Harbhajan Singh to Piyush Chawla. OUT! Harbhajan gets his second. Not clever batting this from Chawla. He has Russell at the other end but instead of giving him the strike, he decides to be the hero. Steps out way too early. Singh spots that and slows it up wide outside off. Chawla looks to reach it but fails to do so. Dhoni makes no mistake behind.
Harbhajan Singh to Piyush Chawla. Tossed up on off, Chawla plays it on the front foot.
Harbhajan Singh to Andre Russell. It was tossed up on middle, Russell flicks it towards mid-wicket for a single.
Harbhajan Singh is back into the attack.
Imran Tahir to Andre Russell. A single and that will end Tahir's spell tonight. He finishes with figures of 4-0-21-2. Russell does well to negotiate his last ball nicely as he pushes it to long off for a single.
Imran Tahir to Andre Russell. NOT OUT! It is doing too much! Dhoni knew about it and hence, had a smile when Tahir was asking him to review. Chennai lose their only review. Once again this is nicely bowled. Slower through the air on the leg stump, this one pitches and turns away. Russell looks to play with a closed face of the bat but misses. The ball hits him on the pads. Tahir makes a loud shout but the umpire shakes his head. The leggie feels he has got his man and wants Dhoni to review. The Chennai skipper does so. Replays roll in, first there is some disturbance on Ultra Edge when the ball passes the bat. That though is of something else as there is a big gap between the two. Now it is time for Hawk Eye and it shows the ball to be missing off.
Review time. Dhoni is seen talking to Tahir and laughing as he signals the 'T'. Maybe just wants to appease his bowler. Let's see. The ball could be doing too much.
Imran Tahir to Andre Russell. Excellent bowling! Slows it up does Tahir and bowls it outside off. It is the tempter. He wanted Russell to go big. The big man though resists and lets it be.
Imran Tahir to Andre Russell. FOUR! Do not try to stop that, it would have taken your hand off. What power. Dances down the track and takes it on the full. He smashes it past Tahir and that went to the fence in a jiffy.
Imran Tahir to Andre Russell. Full on middle, Russell drives it straight towards Tahir.
Imran Tahir to Andre Russell. Tossed up on middle, Russell defends it off the front foot.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Andre Russell. On a good length on middle, Russell defends it off the back foot and takes a quick single. 7 runs have come from the over.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Andre Russell. FOUR! Powerful shot from Russell. Length delivery on middle, Russell lofts it over mid-wicket for a boundary. A much-needed boundary for Kolkata.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Piyush Chawla. Length delivery on leg, Chawla flicks it towards square leg for a single.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Andre Russell. Extraordinary stuff from Jadeja. It will go down as a DROP but too harsh to call that. A short ball on middle, Russell hoicks it towards the mid-wicket fence. Jadeja there runs to his right also a little backwards. He then sticks one hand up and then manages to push it back inside play. Saves 5 runs for his side.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Andre Russell. Bowls a good bouncer, Russell does well to duck under it.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Andre Russell. Bowls short on middle, Russell punches it to covers.
Scott Kuggeleijn is back into the attack.
Imran Tahir to Piyush Chawla. BEATEN! A googly to end the over on off, Chawla looks to drive but misses. So what could have been a successful over for the hosts has turned out to be a good one for the visitors. 7 from it.
Imran Tahir to Piyush Chawla. SIX! HUGE! What a shot from Chawla. Not only is it a maximum but it would also take some pressure off Russell. Piyush goes down on one knee and slog sweeps it over the mid-wicket fence.
Imran Tahir to Piyush Chawla. On the stumps, kept out.
Imran Tahir to Andre Russell. On the shorter side, AR pulls it through mid-wicket for a run.
Imran Tahir to Andre Russell. In the air... that has gone into orbit, Harbhajan settles under it but DROPS it. How costly is this going to be? Russell, the man who has been in exceptional form, has been given a life. Tahir bowls this one slower and lands it on middle, it is the leg spinner. Russell looks to go against the turn and over mid-wicket. Only manages a top edge towards wide mid on. Harbhajan Singh never seemed comfortable under it and he spills it.
Imran Tahir to Andre Russell. Flighted delivery on middle, Russell keeps it out.
Harbhajan Singh to Piyush Chawla. Full on off, Chawla drives it to covers.
Harbhajan Singh to Piyush Chawla. Good delivery from Harbhajan. It is tossed up on off, Chawla looks to defend but gets an outside edge towards first slip. It falls short of the fielder.
Harbhajan Singh to Piyush Chawla. Floated on off, Chawla defends it off the front foot.
Harbhajan Singh to Andre Russell. Flighted delivery on middle, Russell flicks it towards square leg for a run.
Harbhajan Singh to Andre Russell. SIX! That is out of here! This is easier for Russell, the ball turning in. He goes with the turn with a slog sweep and clears the mid-wicket fence. First of the game.
Harbhajan Singh to Andre Russell. Floated on middle, Russell flicks it to the leg side.
Harbhajan Singh is back into the attack.
Imran Tahir to Piyush Chawla. NOT OUT! Chawla is in! Hence, Dhoni was not that confident. It is the googly outside off, it pitches and then turns away. Chawla looks to drive but misses. Dhoni collects the ball and appeals but not in a very convincing manner. Tahir though is already celebrating. The umpire takes it upstairs but replays show that the batsman is safe.
A stumping appeal has been taken upstairs. Chennai do not seem that excited though.
Imran Tahir to Andre Russell. Full on off, Russell drives it towards mid off for a single.
Imran Tahir to Piyush Chawla. Floated on middle, Chawla sweeps it towards square leg for a run.
Imran Tahir to Piyush Chawla. Full on off, Chawla drives it to covers.
Imran Tahir to Piyush Chawla. Floated on middle, Chawla defends it off the back foot.
Piyush Chawla is the new batsman in.
Imran Tahir to Shubman Gill. OUT! STUMPED! Tahir gets another! Chennai now into the lower order and Kolkata haven't even crossed 50. The googly does the trick. It lands on leg stump, Gill looks to drive it down the ground but leaves a gap between bat and pad. The ball sneaks through, Gill then loses his balance and his back foot comes out of the crease. Dhoni behind collects the ball and whips the bails off.
Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell. Tossed up on off, Russell looks to defend but gets a leading edge towards the off side. Just 3 runs from the over.
Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell. Bowls a googly outside off, Russell looks to defend but gets beaten due to the turn on this one.
Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell. Tossed up on off, Andre defends it off the back foot.
Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell. Floated on off, Russell defends it off the back foot.
Ravindra Jadeja to Shubman Gill. Full on off, Gill drives it towards mid off for a run.
Ravindra Jadeja to Shubman Gill. Short delivery on off, Gill cuts it towards point. The batsmen get two runs.
Ravindra Jadeja is back into the attack.
Imran Tahir to Andre Russell. Outside off, Russell lets it go. 7 runs and a wicket from the over.
Imran Tahir to Andre Russell. Floated on off, Russell defends it off the front foot.
Strategic break. It has been a great passage of play where Chennai have taken the crux out of the Kolkata batting. The visitors are 44/5 and are on the verge of getting bowled out under 100 runs. Andre Russell will be crucial for Kolkata and he has to come to their rescue. Andre Russell is the new batsman in.
Imran Tahir to Dinesh Karthik. OUT! Tahir gets his revenge! He sends the Kolkata skipper packing! Half the side now back in the hut for the visitors. A sharp catch by Harbhajan. Chennai have been excellent in the field today. Tahir gives this a lot more air and bowls it full on middle. Karthik whips it powerfully towards mid-wicket. Singh there does really well to take it. Timely wicket as this partnership was just starting to build nicely for the visitors.
Imran Tahir to Dinesh Karthik. FOUR! Very, very delicate this from Karthik. He plays the paddle sweep. Gets it very fine, between the legs of Dhoni and into the fine leg fence. A welcome boundary this.
Imran Tahir to Dinesh Karthik. Full and outside off, Karthik drives it through covers. The batsmen get two runs.
Imran Tahir to Shubman Gill. Floated on middle stump, Gill drives it towards mid on for a run.
Imran Tahir is on now.
Harbhajan Singh to Shubman Gill. Harbhajan slows it on the middle stump line, Gill flicks it towards square leg for a run. Just 4 runs off the Harbhajan Singh over.
Harbhajan Singh to Shubman Gill. It was tossed up on middle, Gill flicks it towards square leg. The batsmen get two runs.
Harbhajan Singh to Shubman Gill. Full on off, Gill drives it to mid off.
Harbhajan Singh to Shubman Gill. Flighted delivery on off, Gill defends it off the front foot.
Harbhajan Singh to Dinesh Karthik. Tossed up on middle, Dinesh tucks it towards the leg side for a run.
Harbhajan Singh to Dinesh Karthik. Floated on middle, Dinesh keeps it out.
Harbhajan Singh is back.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Dinesh Karthik. On a length on middle, Karthik flicks it towards mid-wicket for a run.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Dinesh Karthik. Scott really bent his back on that one! Bowls it slightly short and on off, this one skids through and bounces nicely on this slow surface. Karthik does well to play it by taking one hand off the handle. He defends it towards point.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Dinesh Karthik. Length delivery on middle, Karthik flicks it through square leg. The batsmen get two runs. It was well timed by the skipper. It was a poor delivery from Scott Kuggeleijn.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Shubman Gill. Full and outside off, Gill drives it towards mid off. The fielder goes for a direct hit at the bowler's end but misses it. The batsmen take a run.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Shubman Gill. Length delivery on off, Gill keeps it out.
Scott Kuggeleijn to Shubman Gill. On a good length on off, Gill keeps it out.
Scott Kuggeleijn is on now.
Ravindra Jadeja to Dinesh Karthik. Full on off, the skipper drives it to covers. It has been an excellent powerplay for Chennai. Kolkata are 29/4 after 6 overs.
Ravindra Jadeja to Dinesh Karthik. Tossed up on middle, Dinesh defends it off the back foot.
Ravindra Jadeja to Dinesh Karthik. Floated on off, Karthik defends it off the front foot.
Ravindra Jadeja to Dinesh Karthik. FOUR! This time, he not only cuts but also finds the gap. Short and outside off, this one skids through. Karthik goes back and slaps it past the diving cover fielder and into the fence.
Ravindra Jadeja to Dinesh Karthik. That sticks in the surface. Shortish and on off, it pitches and turns away. Karthik goes back and looks to hit it through the off side but due to the slowness he had to check his shot. It goes off the bottom to covers.
Ravindra Jadeja to Shubman Gill. Tosses it up on off, Gill takes a few steps ahead and then strokes it down to long off for a single.
Deepak Chahar to Dinesh Karthik. Again on a good length on off, the skipper defends it off the front foot. 8 runs and a wicket from this over.
Deepak Chahar to Dinesh Karthik. On a good length on middle, the skipper keeps it out.
Shubman Gill is the new batsman in.
Deepak Chahar to Robin Uthappa. OUT! Another one bites the dust! Uthappa is the man walking back. He falls in the trap here. There was just one man out on the leg side and Uthappa picks him out. Another short one and on middle, Uthappa goes back and looks to pull. He had no intention to keep it down. He though does not get the distance. Jadhav at deep mid-wicket takes it with ease. A body blow this for the visitors as Uthappa is a very good player of spin and they needed him to stay out there on this wicket.
Deepak Chahar to Robin Uthappa. Another very good shot! Fuller in length and on middle, Uthappa strokes it back towards the bowler. Chahar there does well to get down and get a hand to it. Stops a run at least.
Deepak Chahar to Robin Uthappa. FOUR! Consecutive boundaries! Runs starting to come now! Slightly short again and on middle, Uthappa picks the length early and pulls it over mid-wicket.
Deepak Chahar to Robin Uthappa. FOUR! Uppish but in the gap! A hit me delivery! Short and wide outside off, Uthappa stands tall and slaps it in the air but wide of the fielder at point and for a boundary.
Ravindra Jadeja to Robin Uthappa. Full on off, Uthappa drives it towards mid off for a run.
Ravindra Jadeja to Robin Uthappa. Full on middle, Robin drives it to mid on.
Ravindra Jadeja to Dinesh Karthik. Flighted delivery on off, Karthik cuts it towards point for a run.
Ravindra Jadeja to Dinesh Karthik. FOUR! EDGY! Kolkata won't mind though as they need runs at the moment. Tossed up on off, Karthik looks to defend but gets an outside edge which goes past the first slip fielder and to the third man fence.
Ravindra Jadeja to Dinesh Karthik. Floated on off, Karthik plays it to point.
Ravindra Jadeja to Robin Uthappa. Tossed up on off, Uthappa drives it towards mid off for a run.
Ravindra Jadeja is into the attack.
Deepak Chahar to Dinesh Karthik. Another dot to end! Just a single and a wicket from this one. Length delivery and on off, Karthik is solid in defense.
Deepak Chahar to Dinesh Karthik. BEATEN! A needless stroke though by Karthik. Length and outside off, DK lunges to defend a ball he could have left. Gets beaten.
Deepak Chahar to Dinesh Karthik. A little too wide outside off, the batter lets it be.
Dinesh Karthik is the new batsman in.
Deepak Chahar to Nitish Rana. OUT! No. 3 goes down now as Rana departs without troubling the scorers. Chahar gets his second in his second over. Another very good catch, this. It is slightly short and on middle, Rana looks to pull but it goes uppishly towards mid-wicket. Rayudu there dives forward and takes it inches above the ground. Kolkata slip further, they are in desperate need of a partnership.
Deepak Chahar to Nitish Rana. WIDE! Bowls it down the leg side, Rana looks to flick but misses it.
Deepak Chahar to Nitish Rana. Bowls a good length delivery on off, Rana stands tall and defends it off the back foot.
Deepak Chahar to Nitish Rana. On a good length on off, Rana plays it to point.
Harbhajan Singh to Robin Uthappa. A dot to end another successful over for the hosts. This is flatter and on off, Uthappa keeps it out.
Nitish Rana is the new batsman in.
Harbhajan Singh to Sunil Narine. OUT! In the air... taken! Harbhajan Singh now strikes and both the openers are back in the hut inside the space of two overs. Dreadful start for the visitors. Narine continues to go after the off spinner. Steps down the track this time and looks to go over covers. The ball, however, turns a little, hits the toe-end and balloons towards the point region. Chahar from backward point and Rayudu from point are going for it. The former in the end calls for it and takes a good sliding catch. The crowd here is going bonkers.
Harbhajan Singh to Sunil Narine. BEATEN! Tossed up outside off, Narine makes room and looks to cut but misses it.
Harbhajan Singh to Robin Uthappa. Flighted delivery on middle, Uthappa drives it towards mid on for a run.
Harbhajan Singh to Sunil Narine. Tossed up outside off, Narine plays it between cover and point for a single.
Harbhajan Singh to Sunil Narine. Floated on off, Narine looks to go big but gets a bottom edge on this one. It goes towards the leg side.
Harbhajan Singh to bowl from the other end.
Deepak Chahar to Chris Lynn. OUT! This is a big breakthrough for Chahar and Chennai. The dangerous Chris Lynn is out of here in the very first over of the game. This length ball is landed in line of the stumps, it skids off the deck and keeps slightly low, which becomes Lynn's undoing as he looks to go big across the line. He's struck flush in the front of the stumps on the pads and a loud appeal goes up. The umpire's finger follows and that's it for the Aussie.
Deepak Chahar to Sunil Narine. FOUR OVERTHROWS! A bit unfortunate, really. Can't do much about it. Narine taps this length ball towards mid-wicket and takes off. Rayudu there rushes to the ball, has a shy at the bowler's end but it goes off Narine's bat and away to the other side, all the way to the boundary.
Deepak Chahar to Chris Lynn. First run of the evening. Once again it's on middle and leg, a length ball, Lynn works it off the pads on the leg side. The batsmen this time cross over to complete a leg bye.
Deepak Chahar to Chris Lynn. Swing and a miss! Three dots in a row. Back of a length with a hint of shape away, around off, Chris Lynn looks to heave it over the leg side but misses.
Deepak Chahar to Chris Lynn. A little too straight in line, on middle and leg, Lynn tries to work it across the line but is caught on the pads. Thinks about taking the run, but then decides to abort as the bowler gets to it fast.
Deepak Chahar to Chris Lynn. A fuller length delivery on middle and leg, moving away slightly, Lynn clips this straight to the man at short fine leg.
We are all set to begin. The players and umpires are out in the middle. Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine will open the batting for Kolkata. Deepak Chahar to take the ball first up for the hosts. A slip in place for him. Here we go...
Kolkata XI (Also unchanged) - Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Robin Uthappa, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik (WK/C), Shubman Gill, Andre Russell, Piyush Chawla, Kuldeep Yadav, Harry Gurney, Prasidh Krishna.
Chennai XI (Unchanged) - Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (WK/C), Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Scott Kuggeleijn, Deepak Chahar, Harbhajan Singh, Imran Tahir.
Dinesh Karthik says he too wanted to bowl first as he thinks there will be dew, but no option now but to put runs on the board first up. Adds that bowling with the wet ball is a difficult skill to master, but they will have to try their best. Ends by saying that they too are unchanged.
MS Dhoni says they will bowl first because of the dew factor at this venue. States that data and analytics play a vital part in match preparation, but it's also important to remember to stick to your own strengths. Informs that there are no changes to his side from the previous game.
TOSS - Chennai win the toss and elect to bowl!
PITCH REPORT - Laxman Sivaramakrishnan is doing the pitch report and states that this pitch would be bowler friendly. Adds that it will turn and assist the spinners like it has been for most of this season. Further states that the surface looks dry with no moisture and the track isn't really that hard. Reckons that the ball will come slow off the wicket. Ends by saying that it would be better to chase as dew will be a big factor later in the night.
5 games, 4 wins and 1 loss is the scenario so far, for both the sides facing off tonight. It is Chennai who will be hosting Kolkata, in a clash of the table-toppers. Both head into this game with winning momentum on their side and it is difficult to choose a favorite here. Yes, the hosts can be termed as slight favorites as they are playing in familiar conditions but they will have to be at their best to beat the visitors. A win for the home team will see them go top of the table, whereas, a win for the tourists will see them extend their lead at the no. 1 spot. Still early days but the view from the top is always a good one. Welcome to the coverage.
Chennai go to the summit of the table, two points clear of their opponents tonight with this win. They're continuing on from where they left off in the last campaign. Kolkata stumbled in this contest, but will forget about this soon and move on to the next challenge. Anyway, the Indian T20 League action continues on Wednesday as Mumbai host Punjab at 2000 local (1430 GMT). Do join in for that one. Cheers!
Man of the Match, Deepak Chahar, says he knew they would play a lot of matches in Chennai, so he prepared well for the conditions and the long season. States that MS Dhoni spends a lot of time with him in the dressing room and generally as well, which has helped him. Ends by saying that since Dwayne Bravo isn't fit, he gets more of an opportunity in the death overs, so is relishing the challenge.
Chennai skipper, MS Dhoni, says he has been here for a very long time, a lot of good things have happened for him and he has a special connection with the fans. Mentions that losing Dwayne Bravo makes it difficult for them to pick the right combination. Admits that he does not enjoy playing on such wickets as it is very slow and not easy to bat first. States that Harbhajan Singh and Imran Tahir are like wine, they are getting better with age. Further adds that the wicket suit them but on different surfaces, they need to think about their combination. Says that Tahir is a complete package and he can rely on him as he always executes the plans given to him. Ends by saying that they do not plan a lot about the bowling, they assess the conditions and then the bowlers themselves plan what to do.
Kolkata skipper, Dinesh Karthik, says they did not have enough runs on the board. Mentions that it is difficult to set a score, especially with dew and a few other reasons playing on the back of your mind. States that it is not easy after losing 4 wickets in the Powerplay. Credits the way Andre Russell bowled. Mentions that he liked the character shown by the boys. Ends by saying that he is happy with how they have performed and he is delighted as a captain but he is hoping they can forget this game and move ahead.
Kolkata needed wickets early and they needed plenty of it. Had they got a few more in and around the Powerplay, it would have been more interesting. That never happened, and the Chennai batsmen did their job well. Especially du Plessis, who made sure to hold one end, settle in and see that there was no sign of real danger at any time. Earlier in the evening, Kolkata were rolled over again as the hosts bowled well with Chahar leading the line with a 3-fer. Had it not been for Russell's fifty, things would have been over a lot sooner.
Another comfortable win for Chennai in the season and they go top of the table with this win. The target wasn't a big one to chase down, even on this slow and turning wicket. The dew did help, and the hosts' batsmen got across the line without much trouble. Watson and du Plessis got off to a good start, before the former departed. Faf stayed right through till the end, making a decent stand with Raina first, and then adding two solid stands with Rayudu and Jadhav to allow his team to earn maximum points.
Sunil Narine to Faf du Plessis. FIVE WIDES! And that's game over. CHENNAI WIN BY 7 WICKETS! Easy enough for the home side, it has done it in a cool fashion. The off break spinning down leg, goes too far and beats both du Plessis and Karthik behind the stumps. Races away to the fine leg fence for a boundary.
Sunil Narine to Faf du Plessis. Stifled appeal for a leg before, turned down. Spinning in from outside off, du Plessis goes back to play at it but is caught high on the thigh pad.
Sunil Narine to Kedar Jadhav. Quicker, shorter and around off, Kedar pushes it towards the covers and jogs across to the other end.
Sunil Narine to bowl now.
This could be the last over of the game.
Harry Gurney to Kedar Jadhav. Back to around the wicket. A full ball on middle and leg, Jadhav wrists it aerially through the gap in the square leg area and keeps strike with a single. Just 4 needed off the final 3 overs.
Harry Gurney to Faf du Plessis. Switches to over the wicket. It's fuller and on the stumps, Faf slogs it off the inner half through to deep mid-wicket and crosses over.
Harry Gurney to Faf du Plessis. FOUR! Two in two. Chennai just one hit away from victory now. It's a short ball angling down, Faf just uses the pace and helps the pull down to fine leg. Finds the fence without any trouble.
Harry Gurney to Faf du Plessis. FOUR! Excellent. Chennai almost home now. This boundary should make the home camp will feel much easier. Full toss on off stump, du Plessis lofts it over covers and places it well in the gap. Nobody out there, so it's a boundary.
Harry Gurney to Kedar Jadhav. No ball! For overstepping. Quick single taken here. He taps it in front of him and both batsmen cross over. Free Hit coming up...
Harry Gurney to Kedar Jadhav. Back of a length, angling in again on off, Jadhav looks to put bat on ball but is caught around the body.
Harry Gurney to Kedar Jadhav. Length delivery angling in on off, from around the wicket, Jadhav stays right behind the line and defends it out.
Harry Gurney returns to the attack.
Prasidh Krishna to Faf du Plessis. Good length ball outside off, Faf strokes it through point. They show good aggression and run quickly which allows them to get another couple. 8 runs off the over. Only 16 runs required off the final 4 overs.
Prasidh Krishna to Faf du Plessis. On the stumps, Faf taps it back to the bowler.
Prasidh Krishna to Faf du Plessis. Fuller on off, Faf strokes it wide of deep cover again and gets another brace.
Prasidh Krishna to Faf du Plessis. Good shot! Back of a length ball outside off, Faf slaps it wide of deep cover and gets a brace.
Prasidh Krishna to Kedar Jadhav. Back of a length on off and middle, Kedar pulls it just wide of deep mid-wicket. Kedar looks for two but Faf is happy with just one.
Prasidh Krishna to Faf du Plessis. Good length ball on the stumps, Faf defends it with soft hands towards point and gets to the other end.
Prasidh Krishna is back on.
Piyush Chawla to Kedar Jadhav. Floats it up on off, it is kept out.
Piyush Chawla to Kedar Jadhav. FOUR! What a shot! The googly outside off, Jadhav goes against the spin, lofts it over covers and into the fence.
Kedar Jadhav is the new man in.
Piyush Chawla to Ambati Rayudu. OUT! Caught! This time Chawla gets his man. Rayudu patient innings comes to an end. This is tossed up and around middle, it is the leg spinner. Rayudu looks to slog sweep it but only manages a top edge towards covers where Rana takes it with ease.
Piyush Chawla to Faf du Plessis. Faf now pushes it through covers and takes one.
Piyush Chawla to Ambati Rayudu. This is on the pads, Rayudu works it through mid-wicket.
Piyush Chawla to Ambati Rayudu. DROPPED! A good effort by Krishna but that should have been taken! Kolkata need wickets, the created an opportunity here but don't hang on. This is floated outside off, Rayudu looks to go over covers but ends up slicing it towards sweeper cover. The fielder there runs in and looks to take it with a slide but can't hang on.
The strategic break has been signaled!
Kuldeep Yadav to Faf du Plessis. Flicks away this last ball to mid-wicket. It was tossed up on middle but du Plessis was in no mood to take a run.
Kuldeep Yadav to Ambati Rayudu. Floated on off, Rayudu goes on the back foot and cuts it to covers. One run taken.
Kuldeep Yadav to Ambati Rayudu. Flatter delivery on middle, pushed back to the bowler.
Kuldeep Yadav to Faf du Plessis. Floated outside off, du Plessis pushes it to covers and takes a run.
Kuldeep Yadav to Faf du Plessis. Excellent running there. Faf pushes this full ball through the covers and completes an easy brace.
Kuldeep Yadav to Faf du Plessis. Floated ball going away, Faf punches it back to the bowler.
Kuldeep Yadav is back on.
Piyush Chawla to Faf du Plessis. This is worked through square leg for a single. 5 singles from this over.
Piyush Chawla to Faf du Plessis. The leggie on the off stump, it is kept out.
Piyush Chawla to Ambati Rayudu. Played that very late! The googly and it comes back in from outside off, Rayudu waits for it and then guides it square on the off side for a single.
Piyush Chawla to Faf du Plessis. Flatter and outside off, Faf looks to cut but due to the slowness of the surface, he mistimes it to covers. A single.
Piyush Chawla to Ambati Rayudu. This is eased down to long off for a single.
Piyush Chawla to Faf du Plessis. The slider on the pads, it is worked through square leg for a single.
Piyush Chawla is back.
Sunil Narine to Ambati Rayudu. Ends up with a full ball going down but Rayudu moves away and plays it on the leg side.
Sunil Narine to Faf du Plessis. Flighted ball outside off, du Plessis punches it to the off side and takes a single.
Sunil Narine to Ambati Rayudu. Tossed up on the pads, Rayudu flicks it behind square leg and takes a run.
Sunil Narine to Faf du Plessis. Floated on middle, Faf drives it through the covers for a run.
Sunil Narine to Ambati Rayudu. Mix up in the middle but luckily no trouble there. Narine bowls it slower through the air, on the pads, Rayudu flicks it behind square leg and takes off. Faf was halfway down the track and stopped in the middle as both the batsmen were caught up in between the pitch but they finally complete the run.
Sunil Narine to Faf du Plessis. Tossed up delivery on off, Faf drives it to long on and takes a run.
Sunil Narine is called back on to bowl.
Kuldeep Yadav to Faf du Plessis. Floated on off, Faf pushes it to covers and takes a run.
Kuldeep Yadav to Faf du Plessis. FOUR! Struck it firmly. Important boundary for Faf and Chennai, he breaks the shackles with this shot. Full and darted around off, du Plessis kneels down and hammers the slog sweep through mid-wicket, beating Russell in the deep who tries to run to his right and stop it.
Kuldeep Yadav to Ambati Rayudu. Flatter on the pads, Ambati drives it towards the mid off region. They pick up a single.
Kuldeep Yadav to Ambati Rayudu. He has found that fielder for the third time in this over. Kuldeep bowls it full and on off, Rayudu pushes it to the cover fielder.
Kuldeep Yadav to Ambati Rayudu. Fuller this time and Rayudu again drives it to cover.
Kuldeep Yadav to Ambati Rayudu. Flatter through the air, Rayudu punches it to cover.
Harry Gurney to Ambati Rayudu. The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. The batsmen have run through for a single. 8 runs from Gurney's first.
Harry Gurney to Ambati Rayudu. FOUR! Too much width on offer and that's always going to be punished. Short and wide outside off, Rayudu cuts it hard, past the diving point fielder and finds the fence.
Harry Gurney to Faf du Plessis. Slower one this time, pitching on off, du Plessis punches it to off side and takes a run.
Harry Gurney to Ambati Rayudu. Short and on middle, Ambati pulls it to mid-wicket and rotates strike.
Harry Gurney to Ambati Rayudu. Fuller in length this time, Rayudu guides it to point.
Harry Gurney to Faf du Plessis. Gurneys starts off with a length ball outside off, Faf goes on the back foot and plays it to mid-wicket for a run.
Strategic break. Kolkata have a couple of wickets, but Chennai clearly ahead at the moment. They need 60 in 66 balls. Tough task still lies ahead, and if a wicket or two falls in quick succession, you never know. Anything can happen. Also, Harry Gurney is brought into the bowling attack.
Kuldeep Yadav to Ambati Rayudu. Ends the over bowling short and outside off, Rayudu guides it to point. Just the 3 runs from this over.
Kuldeep Yadav to Faf du Plessis. Flighted on off, Faf drives it to mid off and takes a run.
Kuldeep Yadav to Faf du Plessis. Slower through the air, Faf drives it to mid on.
Kuldeep Yadav to Faf du Plessis. Flatter on leg stump line, du Plessis moves away and plays it to mid off.
Kuldeep Yadav to Ambati Rayudu. Fuller on middle, Rayudu drives it to long off and changes strike.
Kuldeep Yadav to Faf du Plessis. Tossed up ball way outside off, du Plessis slaps it through covers for a run.
Piyush Chawla to Ambati Rayudu. Flighted delivery, spinning away from around off, Rayudu comes ahead and meets it with a straight blade.
Piyush Chawla to Faf du Plessis. Brings out the slog sweep and places it through mid-wicket. There's a fielder out in the deep, so just the one for the batsmen.
Piyush Chawla to Faf du Plessis. Shifts his weight on the back foot and forces the punch to mid off.
Piyush Chawla to Faf du Plessis. The flipper, fuller outside off, the Protea gets low to sweep but misses.
Piyush Chawla to Faf du Plessis. Fine delivery! Completely foxed Faf on that occasion. Chawla lands it a bit short on off, bowls it really slow through the air. It sticks off the surface and turns away, making the batsman be in two minds. He gets beaten in the end.
Piyush Chawla to Faf du Plessis. Really slow, loopy and full on middle and leg, Faf paddle scoops it fine down the leg side. No real pace on the ball, so it won't go away either. The batsmen take a couple.
Piyush Chawla is called back on to bowl.
Kuldeep Yadav to Ambati Rayudu. Loud appeal for lbw by Dinesh Karthik but it is clearly outside off. Kuldeep bowls it outside off and turning in, Rayudu goes for a forward defense but plays down the wrong line as he is hit on the pads. But lucky for him as the impact is outside off.
Kuldeep Yadav to Ambati Rayudu. Flighted on middle, Rayudu works it down the leg side.
Kuldeep Yadav to Faf du Plessis. Tossed up on off, du Plessis drives it through covers and changes strike.
Kuldeep Yadav to Ambati Rayudu. Slower through the air this time and pitching on off, Rayudu flicks it to square leg and takes a single.
Kuldeep Yadav to Faf du Plessis. Bowls it flatter on off, du Plessis pushes it to mid off and takes a run.
Kuldeep Yadav to Faf du Plessis. Tossed up on off stump, Faf is well forward in defense.
Kuldeep Yadav to roll his arm over.
Prasidh Krishna to Ambati Rayudu. Hangs on the back foot to this shorter length ball and dabs it down in front of point.
Prasidh Krishna to Ambati Rayudu. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.
Prasidh Krishna to Ambati Rayudu. FOUR! Makes very good use of the Free Hit. This is a length ball on off and it's right in Rayudu's zone. He stands inside the crease and heaves it over mid-wicket for a boundary.
Prasidh Krishna to Ambati Rayudu. No ball! Free Hit coming up. Krishna oversteps as he bowls it on a back of a length outside off, Rayudu defends.
Prasidh Krishna to Ambati Rayudu. In the channel outside off, left alone by the batsman.
Prasidh Krishna to Ambati Rayudu. Some extra bounce for Krishna. Serves it outside off on a length, it takes off and zips through. Rayudu is almost undone as he gets beaten past the outside edge.
Prasidh Krishna to Ambati Rayudu. Good length delivery just outside off, a hint of shape away, Rayudu taps it down with soft hands on the off side.
Ambati Rayudu is the new man in.
Sunil Narine to Suresh Raina. OUT! Take a bow, Piyush Chawla. Pretty sure most people wouldn't have thought he'd get this, but he has. Amazing catch. It's nicely floated up on off, a lot of flight on it, Raina looks to go big downtown. Gets plenty of height, but not enough distance. Chawla from mid on runs behind and takes it wonderfully as it comes over his shoulders.
Sunil Narine to Suresh Raina. The ball is way wide on the leg side but the batsman still goes after it. The Umpire signals a wide.
Sunil Narine to Suresh Raina. That's smart work both by the batsman as well as the bowler. Narine sees Raina dancing down the track so bowls it down the leg side. Raina reads the line early so gets his back leg in the way so that he does not get stumped.
Sunil Narine to Suresh Raina. Short ball on middle, Raina pulls it straight to mid on.
Sunil Narine to Suresh Raina. Gives it a little flight and pitches it on middle, Raina goes for the pull but mistimes it towards mid on. The fielder there misfields as the ball goes past him but no run taken.
Sunil Narine to Suresh Raina. Bowls it fuller on off, Raina keeps it out.
Sunil Narine to Faf du Plessis. Tossed up outside off and turning in a little, Faf flicks it to square leg and takes a run.
Prasidh Krishna to Faf du Plessis. Angling in on leg stump, slightly short in length, du Plessis tries to work it on the leg side. It goes off the inner half and off the thigh pad. The batsmen cross over.
Prasidh Krishna to Suresh Raina. Sensibly done. The Chennai no.3 just opens the face and runs it down to third man to rotate strike.
Prasidh Krishna to Suresh Raina. FOUR! Had boundary written all over it from the moment it left the bat. Raina backed away early seeing the ball landed fuller, made some room for himself and lofted it over covers to send it across the boundary line.
Prasidh Krishna to Suresh Raina. Behind a good length, in line of the stumps, the left-hander tries to help it away on the leg side by moving inside the line again, but cops a blow around the hips on this occasion.
Prasidh Krishna to Suresh Raina. Shaping away from a good length, on middle and off, Raina stays inside the crease and defends it with the full face of the bat.
Prasidh Krishna to Suresh Raina. Good length delivery on middle stump, Raina moves inside the line and clips it through backward square leg for a couple of runs.
Sunil Narine to Faf du Plessis. Ends with a flighted ball outside off, Faf defends it out. 11 runs from the over but an important wicket of Watson from it.
Sunil Narine to Suresh Raina. Short and on middle, Raina pulls it to mid-wicket for a single.
Sunil Narine to Suresh Raina. SIX! All the way. Raina into the act now. Chennai want to finish it as soon as possible. Narine bowls it full and on the pads, Raina lofts it straight and over the bowler to the long on fence. Gets off the mark with a six.
Sunil Narine to Suresh Raina. Off spinner on off and turning away, Raina cuts it to point.
Suresh Raina in next at no.3.
Sunil Narine to Shane Watson. OUT! That's a soft dismissal. Really soft. Kolkata have been handed a big boost in the form of Watson's wicket. Should have been put away, but instead it goes straight into the fielder's hands. Short and on the stumps, Shane sticks back and pulls it aerially straight to Chawla at square leg. Can Kolkata capitalize from here with a wicket or two more?
Sunil Narine to Shane Watson. FOUR! Watson seems in a hurry here. Narine starts off with a length ball outside off, Watson pushes it towards cover but the timing was so perfect that ball goes through the gap between the fielders there and races to the fence.
Sunil Narine into the attack now.
Prasidh Krishna to Faf du Plessis. Ends with a full ball angling in on the pads, Watson goes for the flick but fails to connect and gets hit on the pads.
Prasidh Krishna to Shane Watson. Another length ball outside off, Watson guides it through point to third man and changes strike.
Prasidh Krishna to Faf du Plessis. Length ball outside off, du Plessis cuts it to point and takes a run.
Prasidh Krishna to Faf du Plessis. Excellent delivery! Hint of extra bounce on it as well as Krishna bowls it short outside off. Faf goes to punch it but the extra bounce does him in as the ball goes to the keeper.
Prasidh Krishna to Faf du Plessis. Play and a miss! Back of a length ball outside off, du Plessis tries to play at it but fails to connect.
Prasidh Krishna to Faf du Plessis. Starts off with a length ball outside off, du Plessis pushes it towards cover.
Prasidh Krishna to bowl from the other end.
Piyush Chawla to Shane Watson. Dot ball to finish, but this has been an expensive opening over from Piyush Chawla. 12 runs off it. Flat and short outside off, Shane Watson looks to cut again but gets it off the inside edge onto his pads.
Piyush Chawla to Shane Watson. SIX! Powerful batting from Shane Watson here. Just muscles this away. A half-tracker in line of the stumps, Watson goes back and pulls it deep into the mid-wicket stands.
Piyush Chawla to Shane Watson. Off the leading edge but just short of the bowler. Tossed up on middle and off, quite slow through the air, Watson closes the face early to flick and the ball pops up off the leading edge in the bowler's direction.
Piyush Chawla to Shane Watson. Quicker, flatter and straighter outside off, The Australian tries to cut it away but fails to make connection.
Piyush Chawla to Shane Watson. Loopy leg break outside off, Watson gets low and drags the slog through mid-wicket. There are two men out in the deep, who cut it off and keep the batsmen down to two.
Piyush Chawla to Shane Watson. FOUR! A boundary to begin things for Shane Watson and Chennai. Too full and outside off, no room for the ball to turn. Watson drills this through the left of mid off and finds the fence.
We are back for the chase. The players and umpires are out in the middle. Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis will open the batting for Chennai. Piyush Chawla is handed the ball first up. Will spin get them that early breakthrough? Let's find out...