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RCB beat KXIP by 17 runs | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kings XI Punjab, Highlights And Cricket Score 42th T20 Match - Commentary
Indian Premier League, 2019
Date: Apr 24, 2019 Start Time: 20:00 IST | 14:30 GMT | 20:00 LocalVenue: M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
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Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kings XI Punjab Highlights And Cricket Score 42th Match - T20 Commentary
The South African superstar says that it was hard work. Hence, he tried to knuckle down and at that stage, when Bangalore were collapsing post the Powerplay, AB felt that 160 was competitive. But then, he says that at the Chinnaswamy, anything is possible in the final few overs if you spend some time at the crease. Says that the ball is skidding onto the bat a bit but holding up as well. On the chat during his partnership with Stoinis, de Villiers says that there was nothing much to be said and all they focused on was to keep the partnership going. Hopes that this is a winning score but is also aware that Punjab has big hitters in Gayle and Miller who can take the game away.
Now then, 203 is the target! A big task awaits the Punjab batters. They have the batting to chase this down but they need a special effort from either of Gayle or Rahul. Will they do so and break into the top 4 or will Bangalore will make it 3 in 3? Stay tuned to find out, till then AB de Villiers is caught downstairs for an interview.
The Punjab pacers had a night to forget. Every pace bowler had an economy of above 10. Had it not been for the Ashwins, Punjab could have well been chasing something over 230. The two spinners combined finished with figures of 8-0-46-2.
After the hosts were inserted, their openers got them off to a flying start. Kohli did depart but Parthiv continued. However, the game changed after the Powerplay. The visitors managed to pick three quick wickets and put Bangalore on the back foot. AB de Villiers and Stoinis though, played themselves in, got a hang of the pace of the wicket and then when it mattered, took the bowlers to the cleaners. ABD finished 18 short of a ton and Marcus Stoinis 4 short of a half ton but the 121-run stand in 66 balls between the two has taken Bangalore to a total which not many would have thought they would reach.
WHAT A FINISH TO THE INNINGS! 64 in the last 3 overs and Bangalore have powered themselves to a mammoth score here. Take a bow, AB de Villiers, take a bow, Marcus Stoinis. They have ensured, it is Bangalore who are the happier side at the break.
Hardus Viljoen to Marcus Stoinis. SIX! Ends the innings in style! 27 from the last over. Another slot delivery, full and on off, Stoinis slams it over the long on fence. BANGALORE END WITH 202 ON THE BOARD!
Hardus Viljoen to Marcus Stoinis. FOUR! A full toss. This is pressure, just pressure. Hardus is just not able to execute the yorkers. He ends up bowling another full toss, it is down the leg side. Stoinis helps it on its way to the fine leg fence.
Hardus Viljoen to Marcus Stoinis. SIX! BOOM! 190 up with two balls to go! In the slot again by Hardus. Full and outside off, Stoinis powers it over the long on fence.
Hardus Viljoen to Marcus Stoinis. FOUR! Stoinis now gets into the act! Yes, it is a gift but it still has to be put away. Full toss on the pads, Stoinis flicks it through backward square leg and the ball races away.
Hardus Viljoen to AB de Villiers. A single now! Punjab will be relieved, ABD is off strike. Changes his length does Hardus and bowls it short. De Villiers looks to pull but it goes off the inner half towards square leg. They take one, the fielder does has a shy but misses.
Hardus Viljoen to AB de Villiers. SIX! BANG! Dealing in biggies is de Villiers. Once again right in the zone for him. Full and on off, he hoicks it with ease over the wide long on fence.
Mohammed Shami to AB de Villiers. No he can't! Just a single from the last ball. 21 from the penultimate over. Now 200 looks a possibility. This is bowled on the pads. ABD swings but misses. The ball hits the pads and rolls towards short third man. A leg bye taken.
Mohammed Shami to AB de Villiers. SIX! That is a no look pull shot onto the roof of the stadium. WOW! Only AB de Villiers can pull this off. A high full toss on the body, de Villiers is surprised by it. He takes his eyes off the ball and then goes for the pull. He does connect and it clears the backward square leg fence with ease. Three in three. How costly is that bye. Can he now make it 4 in 4?
Mohammed Shami to AB de Villiers. SIX! Consecutive biggies! AB de Villiers is on a roll. Shami goes even wider outside off and it is the slower one. De Villiers once again picks it and sends it sailing over the long off fence.
Mohammed Shami to AB de Villiers. SIX! This is why the bye should not have been given. It brings ABD on strike and smashes it out of the park. Slower ball and outside off, de Villiers waits for it and lofts it over the long off fence for a biggie.
Mohammed Shami to Marcus Stoinis. A short delivery on middle and leg, Stoinis fails to connect his cut. Another fumble from the keeper results in a bye.
Mohammed Shami to AB de Villiers. A good start from Shami, bowls this outside off. ABD looks for a cut but misses it and so does the keeper to gather it, the ball hits his pads and diverts towards the fine leg region. A bye taken.
Mohammed Shami to bowl his last over.
Hardus Viljoen to Marcus Stoinis. A couple to end! A long over comes to an end and 16 comes from it. Viljoen bowls it full and wide outside off, Stoinis reaches out for it, it goes off the toe end and through backward point for a couple.
Hardus Viljoen to Marcus Stoinis. Bends his back on this one and bowls it short and outside off, Stoinis looks to pull but is done in by the pace there.
Hardus Viljoen to AB de Villiers. A low full toss, not a lot you can do with that. De Villiers works it through mid-wicket for a single.
Hardus Viljoen to AB de Villiers. Another wide! Viljoen tries to stay away from de Villiers' hitting zone. He ends up bowling it outside the tramline.
Hardus Viljoen to AB de Villiers. WIDE! Pressure, pressure getting to the bowler. He bowls it full and wide outside off, de Villiers does go after it but misses. Wided.
Hardus Viljoen to AB de Villiers. SIX! That is HUGE! Viljoen once again misses the yorker by a just and is hit in the stands. Full and on middle, it is right in the zone. De Villiers hits it over the long on fence. 11 from the first three balls. Can this over be a 20-run over?
Hardus Viljoen to AB de Villiers. FOUR! Got it wrong there did Viljoen. He goes for the yorker but ends up bowling a full toss on the pads. De Villiers works it fine on the leg side and a boundary. Also, the 50 is up for ABD. His 33rd in this league and 4th in the last 6 innings. He needs to be there till the end though if Bangalore are to get to a big total.
Hardus Viljoen to Marcus Stoinis. Length and it is slightly slower in pace. Stoinis hits it down to long on for a single. Singles are something Punjab won't mind.
Hardus Viljoen is back!
Ravichandran Ashwin to AB de Villiers. A flighted delivery outside off, ABD looks for a reverse sweep but misses it. A great stuff from the Punjab skipper. He ends with 4-0-15-1.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Marcus Stoinis. Ashwin bowls this short and Marcus plays it towards the mid on region for a single.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Marcus Stoinis. A good flighted delivery on off, Stoinis blocks it.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Marcus Stoinis. Ashwin bowls this one way outside off, Stoinis hits it through cover-point. Two taken.
Ravichandran Ashwin to AB de Villiers. Shorter and on off, AB de Villiers looks to go over covers but ends up hitting it a little too square. Just a single.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Marcus Stoinis. Fires it on middle, Stoinis pushes it down to long on for a run.
Ravichandran Ashwin to bowl out now!
Murugan Ashwin to Marcus Stoinis. A flatter delivery by Murugan, Stoinis plays it to covers and taken a run. Skipper Ashwin in the position gives a shy at the stumps on the non-striker's end but misses, almost hits the umpire.
Murugan Ashwin to AB de Villiers. A nice tossed up delivery on off, ABD slaps it to covers and rotates the strike.
Murugan Ashwin to AB de Villiers. SIX! Half-tracker and ABD takes full toll of it. It is short and outside off, de Villiers goes back and pulls it with ease over the mid-wicket fence. The 50-run stand is also up, an important one as Bangalore were in a spot of bother when the two joined association. They need to finish well here though.
Murugan Ashwin to AB de Villiers. A flighted delivery on leg, de Villiers flicks it towards the square leg region and runs for a double.
Murugan Ashwin to Marcus Stoinis. Gives it a little more air on the pads, MS strokes it down to long on for a single.
Murugan Ashwin to Marcus Stoinis. Flatter and on middle, it straightens a touch. Stoinis goes back and keeps it out.
Ankit Rajpoot to AB de Villiers. A great delivery to end the spell. But a night Rajpoot would like to forget. He bowls this yorker straight on the middle stump, ABD manages to keep it away. Rajpoot went for a thrashing today, ending his day at office with figures of 4-0-46-0.
Ankit Rajpoot to Marcus Stoinis. Rajpoot bowls this at 110 kmph, Marcus flicks it towards the square leg region for a single.
Ankit Rajpoot to AB de Villiers. A length delivery outside off, ABD cuts it to deep cover and runs for a single.
Ankit Rajpoot to AB de Villiers. SIX! 10 from two! De Villiers has decided to step on the gas here. But poor bowling this by Rajpoot. It is a nothing delivery, it is short and on middle, once again it comes at a good height for de Villiers. He goes back and deposits it over the mid-wicket fence. This could turn out to be a very expensive over. 11 from the first three balls.
Ankit Rajpoot to AB de Villiers. FOUR! Too easy for de Villiers. It is short and sits up to be hit. De Villiers goes back and pulls it with ease, over mid-wicket. No fielder in the deep so it is a certain boundary.
Ankit Rajpoot to Marcus Stoinis. Rajpoot bowls this short on off, Stoinis taps it on the off side and runs for a single.
Now then, not seen this happening a lot. The batsman's ready, the fielders are ready, even the bowler is ready but where is the ball? Nobody knows where it is and there is a halt in play. Ok. Umpire Shamshuddin has it in his pocket! He smiles. He did not realize...
SECOND STRATEGIC BREAK. 70/1 in the Powerplay. 39/3 in the next 8. Bangalore have been brought down crashing to the earth by the Punjab spinners. The pitch has aided turn but the bowling has been smart as well. AB de Villiers and Marcus Stoinis have no choice but to play cautiously but one suspects the big hitting might start in an over or two. The hosts can still get to 170, even 180, if ABD stays for long. Plus, the visitors have only 2 overs of spin left. Ankit Rajpoot returns. 3-0-33-0 so far.
Murugan Ashwin to Marcus Stoinis. Murugan bowls this on leg, Stoinis flicks it towards the fine leg region for a run. And will keep the strike.
Murugan Ashwin to Marcus Stoinis. SIX! A welcome biggie for the hosts. First boundary after 43 balls. This is right in Stoinis' zone. Full and on off, he lofts it with ease over the long off fence. Bangalore would hope, this would break the shackles!
Murugan Ashwin to AB de Villiers. A flighted delivery on off, AB drives it towards the cover region for a single.
Murugan Ashwin to Marcus Stoinis. A flatter delivery on off, Marcus guides it towards the point region for a single.
Murugan Ashwin to Marcus Stoinis. A short delivery on off, Stoinis plays it towards the point region. Mayank Agarwal dives to his right to save runs.
Murugan Ashwin to AB de Villiers. A rippa there! Murugan tosses this up on off, it is just behind a driving length. De Villiers looks to drive it straight but the ball rips away, takes the outside edge, hits the trailing leg of Pooran and goes towards short third man. A single taken.
Murugan Ashwin is back into the attack.
Hardus Viljoen to Marcus Stoinis. Good running! The weight on the shot was perfect! Back of a length on middle, Stoinis, with soft hands, works it through mid-wicket. They run the first one hard and then go for the second. They complete it with ease.
Hardus Viljoen to Marcus Stoinis. A back of a length delivery on off, Stoinis defends it.
Hardus Viljoen to AB de Villiers. A short delivery on leg, AB pulls it towards the fine leg region for a single.
Hardus Viljoen to Marcus Stoinis. Full on leg, Stoinis looks for a flick but fails to get a bat on it and the ball hits his pads. The ball is gathered by the keeper. A leg bye taken.
Hardus Viljoen to AB de Villiers. This is full again and on the pads, de Villiers works it towards Chris at mid-wicket. A single.
Hardus Viljoen to AB de Villiers. On the fuller side, ABD pushes it back to the bowler.
Hardus Viljoen is back!
Ravichandran Ashwin to AB de Villiers. A short delivery this time by Ashwin. De Villiers wrists it towards the mid-wicket region and runs for a single.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Marcus Stoinis. Ashwin bowls this short on middle and leg, Stoinis flicks it to the leg side. Single taken.
Ravichandran Ashwin to AB de Villiers. A short delivery outside off, de Villers guides it towards the third man region for a single.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Marcus Stoinis. Shorter delivery by Ashwin, Stionis punches it for a single.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Marcus Stoinis. Ashwin bowls this flat, Stoinis gets on his back foot and plays it away.
Ravichandran Ashwin to AB de Villiers. A nice tossed up delivery on off, de Villiers flicks it towards the mid-wicket region for a single.
Murugan Ashwin to AB de Villiers. A flighted delivery on off, de Villiers pushes it to deep cover for an easy single.
Murugan Ashwin to Marcus Stoinis. A short delivery by Murugun, Stoinis plays it towards the cover region for a single.
Murugan Ashwin to Marcus Stoinis. Looks to play the paddle, he though gets into position way too early. Murugan bowls it outside off, Stoinis misses and gets hit on the pads. A muted appeal but the impact is way outside off.
Murugan Ashwin to AB de Villiers. The leg spinner this time, ABD plays it against the turn through mid-wicket for a single.
Murugan Ashwin to Marcus Stoinis. Very full again, the turn is out of contention so Stoinis easily strokes it down to long off and takes one.
Murugan Ashwin to AB de Villiers. Gives it nice amount of flight and bowls it on off, de Villiers strokes it down to long off for a single.
Murugan Ashwin is back!
Ravichandran Ashwin to AB de Villiers. A short of a good length delivery on off, ABD rocks back and cuts it towards the point region for a single. Singles is what the two batsmen will be looking for, for the new few overs as the quick wickets has forced them to re-build now. Another top over from Ashwin. Just the three from it.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Marcus Stoinis. Shorter delivery by Ashwin, Marcus punches it to the off side for a single.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Marcus Stoinis. A back of a length delivery on off, Stoinis defends it from his back foot.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Marcus Stoinis. Ashwin bowls this short of a length on off, Marcus plays it towards the point region.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Marcus Stoinis. A floated delivery on off, Stoinis plays it back to the bowler.
Ravichandran Ashwin to AB de Villiers. A back of a length delivery on off, ABD cuts it to point for a single.
Marcus Stoinis is the new man in.
Hardus Viljoen to Akshdeep Nath. OUT! Another one bites the dust! Bangalore seem to have lost their way completely. Another bowling change and another wicket. It looks to be the slower one which does the trick for him but the speed gun reads 134.7 KPH. It is just behind a length. Nath is way too early in his drive but the ball holds on the pitch. He ends up chipping it to covers where Mandeep Singh takes another catch. Bangalore have slipped from 71 for 1 to 81 for 4. Just the 11 runs and three wickets in the last three overs.
Hardus Viljoen to Akshdeep Nath. Hardus bowls this short outside off, Nath looks for a pull but fails to get any connection with the ball.
Hardus Viljoen to AB de Villiers. A length delivery on off, ABD drives it to mid off for a single.
Hardus Viljoen to Akshdeep Nath. Hardus bowls this off, Nath plays it towards the cover region. Single taken.
Hardus Viljoen to AB de Villiers. A back of length delivery on off, AB guides it towards the third man region for a run.
Hardus Viljoen to Akshdeep Nath. A fuller length delivery on off, Nath drives it towards the mid on region for a single.
Hardus Viljoen is on now!
Ravichandran Ashwin to Akshdeep Nath. A floated delivery on off, Akshdeep drives it towards the mid on region for a run. Another successful over for the visitors. Just the two runs and a wicket from it.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Akshdeep Nath. Ashwin bowls this outside off, Nath gets on his back foot to play it but fails to make any connection with the ball.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Akshdeep Nath. On the stumps, Nath keeps it out.
Akshdeep Nath is the new man in.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Moeen Ali. OUT! BOWLED 'EM! Ravichandran Ashwin strikes now. The Ashwins are turning the game on its head. All of a sudden, Bangalore are in a spot of bother. Top nut this. It is the straighter one which drifts nicely into the batsman from outside off. Moeen looks to push it away but leaves a big gap between bat and pad. The ball sneaks through and hits the stumps behind. Ashwin is pumped up as he has got the in-form Moeen Ali. Does not make an impact in his last game of this edition.
Ravichandran Ashwin to AB de Villiers. On the shorter side and outside off, de Villiers hits it through covers and takes one.
Ravichandran Ashwin to AB de Villiers. Tossed up on off, de Villiers pushes it back to the bowler.
Ravichandran Ashwin is on now!
Murugan Ashwin to Moeen Ali. A back of a length delivery on off, batsman keeps it away.
Murugan Ashwin to Moeen Ali. A tossed up delivery on leg, Ali plays it towards the cover region.
Murugan Ashwin to Moeen Ali. A quicker one outside off, Ali tries to guide it towards the third man but decides not to and lets it go.
Murugan Ashwin to Moeen Ali. EDGY FOUR! Poor captaincy to be honest, a new batsman, you should surely have a slip in place. There isn't and Ali benefits. This is tossed up outside off. Ali looks to drive it through the off side but the ball flies through the vacant first slip region and for a boundary.
STRATEGIC BREAK. 38 balls, 71 runs. 38 balls, 2 wickets. How do you view it? Punjab will be worried with the run rate but they also know that they are one wicket away from stifling the home side. AB de Villiers is new to the crease and might struggle against spin. Moeen Ali is the new man in.
Murugan Ashwin to Parthiv Patel. OUT! Leading edge and taken! The bowling change has worked wonders. Parthiv can't believe it as he stands there in disbelief. He does not want to go but has to. An important wicket as Patel was looking very dangerous. The googly does the trick for Murugan. He bowls it on the leg stump, Parthiv looks to play against the turn. The ball grips and spins away. A leading edge is induced which balloons to Ashwin at covers. He makes no mistake. Again. Again. Parthiv rockets off. Then gets busted.
Murugan Ashwin to AB de Villiers. Murugan Ashwin starts with a short delivery on off, ABD on his back foot cuts it towards the cover region for a single.
Murugan Ashwin is on now!
Mohammed Shami to Parthiv Patel. A dot to end but 18 from the last over of the Powerplay. Bangalore are 70 for 1 after it. They are off to a rocketing start. The last ball is a length ball around off, PP opens the face and guides it to short third man.
Mohammed Shami to Parthiv Patel. SIX! 4,4,0,4,6! Parthiv is in some touch here. Another excellent shot. Shami rolls his arm over and bowls it on the stumps. Parthiv plays the pick up shot and sends it sailing over the mid-wicket fence.
Mohammed Shami to Parthiv Patel. FOUR! Not learning, are the Punjab pacers here. They are offering width to Parthiv and he is loving it. Once again, he eases it over covers and with no fielder in the deep, it is a certain boundary.
Mohammed Shami to Parthiv Patel. Changes the pace and bowls the slower one. Patel looks to go over the leg side but mistimes it towards mid-wicket.
Mohammed Shami to Parthiv Patel. FOUR! A freebie, a full toss and Parthiv ensures he puts it away. It is outside off, Patel opens the face of the bat and hits it over point for a boundary. Consecutive ones. Patel wants a no ball but the umpire says it is fine.
Mohammed Shami to Parthiv Patel. FOUR! Up and over! Ideal start to the 6th over. Length and around off, Patel stands still and powers it over the fielder at mid off.
Ankit Rajpoot to Parthiv Patel. A great delivery to end the over. Rajpoot shoots a yorker on the off stump. Parthiv digs it to the off side for a run. 14 runs from the over.
Ankit Rajpoot to Parthiv Patel. A good comeback by Rajpoot. A length delivery outside off, Parthiv hungry for more boundaries tries to cut it but fails to connect.
Ankit Rajpoot to Parthiv Patel. SIX! All the way! What a shot! Slower one and on a fuller length, Patel picks it and sends it sailing over the long off fence. First of the game.
Ankit Rajpoot to AB de Villiers. Three now! Should not have been three runs though. Rajpoot bowls it full and on off, de Villiers drives it towards cover. There are two fielders after the ball. One from the left and the other from the right. The man in the former position dives but fails to stop it cleanly. He deflects it past the fielder coming in from the right. He though does well to hare after it and save a run for his side.
Ankit Rajpoot to AB de Villiers. FOUR! Not middled but a boundary! Short and it skids through. De Villiers looks to pull but does not get it off the middle and it races to the mid-wicket fence.
Ankit Rajpoot to AB de Villiers. On the fuller side on off, de Villiers drives it nicely but finds the man at mid off.
Mohammed Shami to AB de Villiers. Shami bowls this on length on off, de Villiers looks for a drive but gets an inside edge onto the pads and runs for a single.
Mohammed Shami to Parthiv Patel. A length delivery on off, Parthiv swing his bat for a drive but gets an outside edge. The ball goes to the third man region. Single taken.
Mohammed Shami to AB de Villiers. Shami bowls this short. De Villiers pulls it towards the mid-wicket region for a single.
Mohammed Shami to AB de Villiers. A good length delivery in Shami this time outside off. AB lets it go.
Mohammed Shami to AB de Villiers. Almost chops it on! It so easily could have been two-in-two for Punjab. This is slightly short and outside off, not a lot of width on offer. De Villiers goes for the cut but the shot was not on. He gets an underedge which goes close past the off pole and on the bounce to the keeper.
AB de Villiers walks out to bat.
Mohammed Shami to Virat Kohli. OUT! In the air... taken! Stunned silence here in the stadium as Kohli is walking back. Hardus Viljoen will be a relieved man as the dropped catch has not cost a lot. Shami gets his man. He bowls it on a length and around off. Kohli looks to go over covers but the bat shakes in his hand. He mistimes it towards cover where Mandeep Singh takes a dolly. A much-needed wicket for the visitors. The high-flying opening partnership has been cut short. Now Punjab will look to pull things back a little.
Ankit Rajpoot to Parthiv Patel. Well, two dots in a row and Rajpoot manages to end it well. Despite bowling two no balls, the over went for only 8. An off-pace delivery outside off, Patel throws the kitchen sink at it but misses.
Ankit Rajpoot to Parthiv Patel. A rare dot! A good delivery this. It is a yorker on off, Patel jams it out towards point.
Ankit Rajpoot to Virat Kohli. Another single as Kohli works this towards mid on.
Ankit Rajpoot to Parthiv Patel. TIMBER! But it is a Free Hit. Patel fails to take toll of that. A low full toss outside off, Patel throws his bat at it but gets an inside edge onto the stumps. The ball rolls on the leg side and a run is taken.
Ankit Rajpoot to Parthiv Patel. NO BALL AGAIN! This is just poor from Rajpoot. No balls at this level are just criminal! The slower one outside off, Parthiv looks to go over covers but misses. Free Hit continues.
Free Hit coming up!
Ankit Rajpoot to Parthiv Patel. NO BALL! Rajpoot has overstepped! He bowls it wide outside off, Parthiv throws his bat at it but misses. Time for a Free Hit.
Ankit Rajpoot to Parthiv Patel. FOUR! In the gap and a one-bounce boundary. Parthiv has scored all his runs in boundaries so far. This is slightly short and on the body, he swivels and pulls it uppishly but away from fine leg.
Ankit Rajpoot to Parthiv Patel. Rajpoot bowls this at 120.6 kmph. Parthiv looks for a heave above mid on but mistimes it. It goes on a bounce to the mid on fielder.
Mohammed Shami to Parthiv Patel. A length delivery on leg, Parthiv Patel attempts a flick again. The ball hits him on his thigh pad and he runs for a single. Leg bye given by the umpire. 15 runs from the over.
Mohammed Shami to Parthiv Patel. Wide! Shami bowls this outside the leg stump line. Parthiv looks for a flick but misses. The umpire signals wide.
Mohammed Shami to Parthiv Patel. FOUR! Bangalore are dealing in boundaries here! Easy pickings this for Parthiv. It is bowled on the pads, he uses his wrists and flicks it fine on the leg side. Third boundary in the over.
Mohammed Shami to Virat Kohli. Shami finally holds Virat back. A back of a length delivery on off, Kohli pushes it to deep cover for a run.
Mohammed Shami to Virat Kohli. FOUR! Consecutive boundaries for Kohli now. This is just elegant. Not a very bad delivery. It is just behind a length around off, Kohli shuffles across and then just pushes it through extra cover. Once you beat the in-field the ball races away here.
Mohammed Shami to Virat Kohli. FOUR! Rubbing salt to the wound! Dropped on the last ball and now a cracking boundary. Full and on off, Kohli stands tall and guides it through point. No stopping those.
Mohammed Shami to Virat Kohli. DROPPED! Hardus Viljoen has dropped Virat Kohli and that is a sitter, an absolute sitter. You should be catching those. Not the best of deliveries though from Shami. He bowls it on the pads. Kohli flicks it right off the middle but uppishly and straight to mid-wicket. Viljoen there spills it. Shami is not happy and rightly so. This could prove very, very costly.
Mohammed Shami to bowl from the other end.
Ankit Rajpoot to Virat Kohli. A single to end and Bangalore are off to a flier! 12 from the first over. Kohli keeps strike as he works it towards square leg.
Ankit Rajpoot to Virat Kohli. Kohli too is underway now! Rajpoot bowls it in the channel where Kohli is a little shaky at the start of his innings. Full and outside off, Kohli this time manages to drive it through point for a couple.
Ankit Rajpoot to Parthiv Patel. A leg bye! That could have easily been the third boundary. It was on the pads, Patel looks to flick but misses. The ball hits his pads and rolls towards square leg. Rajpoot is appealing but he is the only one doing so. The batter takes a leg bye.
Ankit Rajpoot to Parthiv Patel. FOUR! Take that, says Parthiv Patel. Consecutive boundaries and this is even better than the first one. Rajpoot bowls this just behind a driving length on off. Patel smashes over the non-striker's head, through mid off and the ball races away to the fence.
Ankit Rajpoot to Parthiv Patel. FOUR! Slashes and that has flown away! Bangalore are underway in style. Length and width on offer outside off, Patel pounces on it. He hits it through point and the ball races away.
Ankit Rajpoot to Parthiv Patel. Some swing first up! Rajpoot bowls it very full and it tails back in from outside off. Patel drives it crisply but finds cover.
We are all set for the action to begin! The Punjab players are in a huddle and in a meantime, the Bangalore openers, Parthiv Patel and Virat Kohli walk out to the middle. The visitors now follow them. The left-hander will be on strike and he will face Ankit Rajpoot who has the new ball in hand. Here we go...
Pitch report - Irfan Pathan says it is a good pitch and there is good grass covering on it. Mentions there might be some swing first up but the pitch should be a good one to bat.
Bangalore (Playing XI) - Parthiv Patel(WK), Virat Kohli(C), AB de Villiers, Marcus Stoinis, Akshdeep Nath, Moeen Ali, Washington Sundar (IN FOR PAWAN NEGI), Tim Southee (IN FOR DALE STEYN), Navdeep Saini, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Punjab (Playing XI) - Lokesh Rahul(WK), Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, David Miller, Mandeep Singh, Nicholas Pooran (IN FOR SAM CURRAN), Ravichandran Ashwin(C), Hardus Viljoen, Murugan Ashwin, Ankit Rajpoot (IN FOR HARPREET BRAR), Mohammed Shami.
Bangalore skipper, Virat Kohli, says they lost the toss in the last game, they almost lost the game as well but still won in the end. Mentions they are looking for another solid performance and are hoping to put up a good score on the board and win tonight. States they are not thinking about the playoffs, they are only thinking about enjoying themselves which is evident in the last 4 games. Further adds they do believe in themselves and they are now able to execute the plans they make. Informs they have a couple of changes, Dale Steyn is out due to a niggle and Tim Southee replaces him while Washington Sundar comes in for Pawan Negi.
Punjab skipper, Ravichandran Ashwin starts by informing they have two changes as Sam Curran sits out for Nicholas Pooran and Ankit Rajpoot comes back in for Harpreet Brar. States they back their spinners in home games as the ground is big but here they will need to use the Indian seamers. Further adds they have strengthened their batting for this match. Ends by saying they want to enjoy and admits it is not easy to win against Bangalore here.
TOSS - Up goes the coin and it lands in the favor of the visitors. Punjab elect to field first.
The resurgence has begun for Bangalore, they have now won two on the trot but they need to keep that going, a slip-up is not what they can afford now. They are up against a scratchy Punjab side who will be willing to get back to winning ways. Also, a win here will see them break into the top 4. The hosts have a upper hand heading into the contest and they would want to give Moeen Ali, who is playing his last game this season, a fitting farewell. Will they do so or will Punjab take revenge for the last fixture? Welcome to the coverage. Stay tuned for the toss and teams in a while.
Right then! The pandora box continues to dish out more entertaining stuff. A loss for Bangalore would have meant, they are out of the tournament. But they are not. It still remains a tough battle for the final 4 spots. Thursday, April 25, 2019, sees Kolkata host Rajasthan at 8 pm local (1430 GMT) at the Eden Gardens, in Match 43. How will that one unfold? Join us to find out at game time! ADIOS! TAKE CARE!
AB DE VILLIERS HAS BEEN NAMED THE MAN OF THE MATCH for his blistering unbeaten knock of 82 in 44 balls. Says that in pressure situations, he just tries to stay calm but adds it is not easy as the game happens at pace. Tells that they know the home ground well even though their record here has not been good, but they always felt comfortable. Says he felt 160 was good while batting but says that dew plays an important factor and is showed in the second innings when it got a bit easy to bat.
Victorious Bangalore captain, Virat Kohli, says that it is good to win 4 games out of 5 but could have been 5 out of 5. Tells they are just enjoying the game and feels the partnership between AB de Villiers and Marcus Stoinis was a game changer. Tells the focus was only to play well as a team and losing 6 in a row was very disappointing as no one in this squad had faced it in the past. Reckons the break before the match in Mohali helped and the focus was then just to have fun and enjoy themselves. Adds that having 6-7 bowling options in this format is a luxury and the singles in the middle where Sundar and Moeen bowled were crucial and credits the bowlers for giving just 18 off the last 19 balls.
PARTHIV Patel is up next to chat. He says they have nothing to lose and tells that they were playing well but were unlucky to not get the wins. Tells he has been practicing hard and feels if he plays fast then Kohli can play his game. Smiles and says he ensures that there are 4 fielders inside the circle and the fielders are placed well and then he advises the bowlers where to bowl.
Punjab skipper, Ravichandran Ashwin, says that they were not able to win the crunch moments which are so crucial in this format. Reckons they have not been able to win those moments in this tournament and if they would have then they would have got 4 more points. Feels that they just need to get a win and back the players, telling that they have backed the players and kept the same batting line up. Adds that they have not been outplayed by any side and have always been in the game till the very end.
Earlier in the evening, an AB de Villiers special powered Bangalore to 202/4, with support from Parthiv Patel and Marcus Stoinis. They will be happy that the knock helped the team win. With this win, Bangalore move up to 7th but are on par with Kolkata with 8 points. Punjab stay where they were, on 5th at 10 points.
Tough luck for Punjab who will believe that they should have won that. But they needed one set batsman to bat till the end. But the top 5 just got starts and could not quite convert those. Not a great outing for the Bangalore bowlers but they stepped it up when it mattered, with Umesh Yadav taking 3 wickets while Saini got 2.
The man from Trinidad put on show, smashing 46 from just 28 balls with 5 sixes in a 68-run stand with David Miller. 36 were needed in the last 3 overs and at that stage, it looked like Punjab had the game in their hands. But some superb death bowling by Umesh and Saini choked them again and the last 3 overs went for just 18 runs.
Punjab were coasting, at 105/3 in 10.1 overs when Rahul had got out. The next 3 overs went for just 11. That is where the game started to slip because suddenly, the required rate was above 11 an over. But then came a man called Nicholas Pooran.
Chasing a big total, one needs a good start. The 42-run opening stand in 20 balls laid the platform and then the 59-run stand for the second wicket between Rahul and Agarwal put Punjab on course. With 100-odd runs needed in 11 overs with 9 wickets in hand, they should have crossed the line, but then the dismissals of both Agarwal and Rahul choked the visitors slightly.
Bangalore are alive. Only just. Punjab fail to pull off a win which they needed desperately. They were on track for a majority of the game but somehow, let it slip.
Umesh Yadav to Mandeep Singh. Safe. But the focus is on Kohli and his men. 4 wins on the trot against Punjab! Outside off, Mandeep punches this through the covers where the fielder misfields. AB de Villiers backs it up from long off and returns a good throw to the bowler who takes the bails off and appeals as the batsmen return for the second. It is taken upstairs and replays show that Murugan Ashwin is well in. BANGALORE WIN BY 17 RUNS!
Do we have a run out on the final ball? Does not matter. Bangalore have won but the umpires are checking this...
Umesh Yadav to Murugan Ashwin. DROPPED! Does not matter in terms of the game result but Umesh has been denied a 4-fer. A short ball, around middle, Ashwin backs away and swings hard. The ball goes only as far as long on where Virat Kohli should have taken it but he grasses it. A single taken.
Umesh Yadav to Murugan Ashwin. No hat-trick. Outside off, Murugan backs away and slashes hard but misses.
Murugan Ashwin is the new man in. He will face the hat-trick ball.
Umesh Yadav to Hardus Viljoen. OUT! Caught down the leg side and Umesh has 3! A short ball, around middle and leg, Viljoen looks to pull but is done in by the pace. Only manages to get a top edge which is taken nicely by Parthiv Patel diving to his left. Is a hat-trick on the cards?
The new man in is Hardus Viljoen.
Umesh Yadav to Ravichandran Ashwin. OUT! No MSD magic for Ravi Ash. A length ball again, once more Ashwin backs away to the leg side and looks to go big. But this time, he does not time it. Holes out to Virat Kohli at long on who takes it but then fumes at Umesh regarding the length. Not the best ball to be bowled at this stage...
Umesh Yadav to Ravichandran Ashwin. SIX! Is Ashwin going to do an MSD? A length ball, around middle, Ashwin backs away and sends this sailing over long on! 21 needed from 5 balls...
Punjab skipper, Ravichandran Ashwin is the new man in. Umesh Yadav to bowl the last over and this time he has 26 to defend.
Navdeep Saini to Nicholas Pooran. OUT! Caught! Is that the final nail in the coffin? Pooran holes out and with that, perhaps, the last hopes for Punjab go out. A length ball, outside off, Nicholas backs away and looks to go big but skies this way too high in the air. He has the height but not the distance. AB de Villiers keeps his eyes on the ball but loses it in the night sky. However, he adjusts well in the end to take it slightly away from his body. Fine knock from the West Indian though.
Navdeep Saini to Mandeep Singh. Full and outside off, sliced through cover for a single.
Navdeep Saini to Nicholas Pooran. Where did that go? Pooran's followthrough reminded me of my geometry class when I used to try and draw a circle or an arc with a compass. A short ball, around middle and leg, Nicholas backs away and looks to pull but is months early into the shot. The ball goes off the top edge and goes towards sweeper cover. A single taken.
Navdeep Saini to Mandeep Singh. A short ball, pulled down to long on for a single. 29 needed from 9 balls now.
Navdeep Saini to Mandeep Singh. Full and outside off, Mandeep gets down and across, tries to paddle but misses. He wants the bye but is denied. Pooran starved for 2 balls...
Mandeep Singh to bat next.
Navdeep Saini to David Miller. OUT! AB takes a stunner and the crowd finds its voice back! Miller departs. A length ball, around middle and leg, David clears his front leg and looks to swing this through the line. The shot does not too much elevation but it does have enough power. The ball goes flat towards long on but AB de Villiers races to his right and dives full stretch to take a wonderful catch!
Navdeep Saini to bowl the penultimate over. 30 runs needed off 12 balls.
Umesh Yadav to Nicholas Pooran. A slower ball, outside off, 120.4 kph, Nicholas gets a long way across and slashes, only to miss. Does not get a wide either, as he was moving across. Sensational over from Umesh. 6 runs from it. Imagine what might have happened had he got the wicket of Pooran...
Umesh Yadav to David Miller. The batsman has punched that ball through the off side. One run added to the total.
Umesh Yadav to David Miller. WIDE. Pressure and frustration. Full and outside off, David lets it pass.
Umesh Yadav to Nicholas Pooran. DROPPED! Has Stoinis put the match down? A short ball, outside off, slower in pace, Pooran swings hard, looking to pull but is done in by the lack of pace. The ball goes high in the air and Marcus Stoinis at long on steadies himself under it. However, he plonks it at the last moment.
Umesh Yadav to David Miller. Full and around off, Miller swings hard but the ball scoots off the inner half towards mid-wicket. A run taken.
Umesh Yadav to Nicholas Pooran. Backs away to the leg side and swings hard, does Pooran but mistimes it over the bowler. Just a single to long off.
Umesh Yadav to David Miller. Around middle, pushed to the off side for a quick single.
Umesh Yadav back into the attack.
Tim Southee to David Miller. On middle, pushed through mid on for one more. 11 from this over, 24 off the last 2.
Tim Southee to David Miller. Outside off, on a length, Miller slashes hard but misses.
Tim Southee to Nicholas Pooran. ON THE HELMET! Something flies off as well. But Pooran seems to be fine as Southee checks on him. A short ball, around leg, Nicholas looks to pull but misses. The ball is too quick for him and hits him on the grille and goes to short fine leg. A run taken. Must have been a top edge since no leg bye was signalled.
Tim Southee to David Miller. Outside off, pushed through the covers for a single.
Tim Southee to David Miller. FOUR! THRASH! Banged in short, Miller pulls it with disdain over mid-wicket for a boundary! 39 more needed from 22 balls and Virat Kohli is beginning to look pensive...
Tim Southee to David Miller. FOUR! Off the edge! Outside off, on a length, Miller looks to punch but the ball angles away, takes the outside edge and goes through the vacant slip cordon to the third man fence!
Tim Southee returns. 2-0-22-0 so far.
Moeen Ali to Nicholas Pooran. Outside off, Pooran looks to cut but misses. 13 from the over.
Moeen Ali to Nicholas Pooran. SIX! Another one into the stands! A short ball, around middle, Pooran backs away and sends this flying over long on! That also brings up the 50 run stand between the two. They have looked good out in the middle, especially Pooran.
Moeen Ali to Nicholas Pooran. Full and outside off, NP lets it go, expecting it to be wided but it isn't as the ball is well inside the guidelines.
Moeen Ali to Nicholas Pooran. SIX! TALE THAT! Pooran is broadcasting a show of his own tonight. His 4th six already! Fired in outside off, Nicholas backs away and sends this sailing over long off!
Moeen Ali to David Miller. Outside off, punched down to long off for a single.
Moeen Ali to David Miller. Fired down the leg side, Miller looks to sweep but misses and is hit on the pads.
STRATEGIC TIME-OUT. 60 needed from the last 5 overs. Whose side are you on? The fielding side would have to take a back seat at this stage. Unless we can get a miracle. There is still Mandeep to come. Here comes Moeen Ali once again. 2-0-9-1 so far.
Navdeep Saini to David Miller. Flicks it away for a run.
Navdeep Saini to David Miller. Down the leg side, DM looks to flick but misses and is hit on the pads.
Navdeep Saini to David Miller. Excellent stop from Yuzvendra Chahal! Outside off, Miller punches it through the covers. The ball races away but so does Chahal who races to his left and dives to stop the ball. Two runs taken.
Navdeep Saini to Nicholas Pooran. A short ball, NP looks to pull but gets a top edge which barely carries to even mid on, which is anyways vacant. A single taken.
Navdeep Saini to Nicholas Pooran. FOUR! SPANKED! This is an unbelievable shot from the Trinidadian. A length ball outside off, Pooran backs away and slaps it over cover. The ball travels at the rate of knotts and almost hits the ropes on the full. The umpires take it upstairs and replays show that the ball just bounced in front.
A four or a six? Pooran has smoked one through the off side and the umpires are checking whether the ball bounced before the ropes...
Navdeep Saini to Nicholas Pooran. Full and outside off, driven straight to cover.
Navdeep Saini is back on. 2-0-22-0 so far.
Washington Sundar to Nicholas Pooran. Outside off, punched through the covers for a single. 19 from the over - has it tilted the balance back in Punjab's favour?
Washington Sundar to Nicholas Pooran. Nicely tossed up outside off, but with pace. Nicholas looks to swing hard but is beaten.
Washington Sundar to Nicholas Pooran. SIX! Third one in the over! Full and outside off, Pooran shimmies down the track a touch and sends this flying over long off once more! 69 more needed from 38 deliveries.
Washington Sundar to Nicholas Pooran. Outside off, punched away straight to cover.
Washington Sundar to Nicholas Pooran. SIX! And again! Fractionally short outside off, Pooran backs away once more and punches this over long off! 74 more needed from 40 balls now.
Washington Sundar to Nicholas Pooran. SIX! SMOKED! A boundary after 25 balls. Full and outside off, Pooran backs away to the leg side and sends this sailing over long off for half a dozen!
Moeen Ali to Nicholas Pooran. Full and outside off, hammered over the bowler for a single down the ground.
Moeen Ali to David Miller. Full on middle, pushed through mid on for a run.
Moeen Ali to Nicholas Pooran. Comes down the track and has a wild heave. The ball goes off the inside edge through mid-wicket. Another single.
Moeen Ali to David Miller. Outside off, punched off the back foot for one.
Moeen Ali to Nicholas Pooran. Backs away and drives it to widish long off for a run.
Moeen Ali to David Miller. Comes down the track and drives it down the ground for a single.
Washington Sundar to Nicholas Pooran. ALMOST A RETURN CATCH! Full and around off, Pooran goes back to punch it but cannot quite get hold of it. That is good for him. Because the ball lobs up back. Sundar tries to dive forward and catch but cannot get there.
Washington Sundar to David Miller. Down the leg side, worked through mid-wicket for a run.
Washington Sundar to David Miller. Down the leg side again, Miller looks to flick but misses and is hit on the pads.
Washington Sundar to Nicholas Pooran. Around middle and leg, worked through mid-wicket for a single.
Washington Sundar to Nicholas Pooran. Short ball, down the leg side, Nicholas looks to pull but misses again and wears it on his pads.
Washington Sundar to Nicholas Pooran. Outside off, Pooran looks to punch but mistimes it.
7th bowler inserted. Washington Sundar to bowl now.
Moeen Ali to Nicholas Pooran. Outside off, punched off the back foot for one more.
Moeen Ali to David Miller. Full and outside off, driven through mid off for a run.
Moeen Ali to David Miller. Pushed to the cover region by the batsman.
Moeen Ali to David Miller. Outside off, pushed to the off side.
Moeen Ali to Nicholas Pooran. Outside off, pushed through mid off for a single.
Nicholas Pooran walks in at number 5, replacing Rahul.
Moeen Ali to Lokesh Rahul. OUT! Caught! Moeen strikes first ball! Full and outside off, Rahul looks to go after the offie straightaway but cannot get to the pitch of the ball. Mistimes his shot and it is a simple catch to Tim Southee at long off. Another start wasted by Rahul.
Moeen Ali to bowl now.
Marcus Stoinis to Lokesh Rahul. Single to end the over. Good length ball around off, Rahul hits it towards point and keeps the strike.
Marcus Stoinis to David Miller. Length ball on off, Miller strokes it to point and rotates the strike.
Marcus Stoinis to Lokesh Rahul. Almost a run out. Good length ball on the pads, Rahul tucks it towards mid-wicket and gets on his bike for a quick single. Chahal there gets to the ball and has a shy at the bowler's end but he misses his shy.
Marcus Stoinis to David Miller. Around middle and leg, again David walks down the track and works it towards deep mid-wicket for a single. Gets off the mark.
Marcus Stoinis to David Miller. On a length around off, Miller walks into the shot and pushes it towards point.
Killer Miller walks in at number 4, replacing Agarwal.
Marcus Stoinis to Mayank Agarwal. OUT! Stoinis does the trick and another start from Mayank ends abruptly. It is against the run of play but might just inject some much-needed energy in the Bangalore players. Good length delivery on off, Mayank goes for the pull but does not time it. It was not short enough to pull and he hits it towards mid-wicket. Yuzvendra Chahal falls in front and takes a good catch.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Mayank Agarwal. Flighted on middle and leg, Mayank strokes it to long on and keeps the strike.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Mayank Agarwal. FOUR! 100 comes up for Punjab and they are cruising along in this run chase. Short from Chahal, Mayank rocks onto his back foot and pulls it wide of deep mid-wicket for a boundary.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Mayank Agarwal. On the pads, Mayank flicks it to the on side and gets a couple.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Mayank Agarwal. SIX! Just over. A good way to get the 50-run stand between the two. Floated outside off, Mayank flat-bats it just over long off. Navdeep Saini jumps and stretches his hand but cannot get to it.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Lokesh Rahul. Another flick, another run.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Mayank Agarwal. Tossed up on middle, worked through mid-wicket for a single.
Yuzvendra Chahal is back!
Marcus Stoinis to Lokesh Rahul. Good length ball on the pads, Rahul flicks it towards square leg, Umesh Yadav comes running in from mid-wicket and stops the ball from going to the fence with a dive. The batsmen come back for the second. A good effort from Umesh Yadav saving two runs for his side.
Marcus Stoinis to Mayank Agarwal. Now smartly follows the boundary with a single. On the pads, Mayank flicks it to the on side and rotates the strike.
Marcus Stoinis to Mayank Agarwal. FOUR! Its the local boy who has hit the boundary but there is stunned silence here in the stadium as the local lad is playing for Punjab. An attempted bouncer from Stoinis, Mayank gets on top of it and pulls it through square leg for a boundary.
Marcus Stoinis to Mayank Agarwal. Full on the pads, Mayank flicks it but finds the man at mid-wicket.
Marcus Stoinis to Lokesh Rahul. Good length ball on the leg stump, Rahul comes down the track and milks it to long on and rotates the strike.
Marcus Stoinis to Mayank Agarwal. On middle and leg, Mayank plays it across the line towards mid-wicket and gets a single.
Marcus Stoinis comes on to bowl now.
Navdeep Saini to Lokesh Rahul. Fuller on the stumps, Rahul blocks it confidently.
Navdeep Saini to Lokesh Rahul. Good length ball on off, Rahul taps it towards point and looks for a single but Mayank sends him back. Marcus Stoinis there hits the stumps at the striker's end but Rahul was comfortably in. He in fact looks for the overthrow but square leg backs up quickly.
Navdeep Saini to Lokesh Rahul. FOUR! The form Rahul is in it is very difficult to bowl to him. Fuller delivery outside off, Rahul just opens the face of the bat in the last moment and helps it down to the vacant third man region for a boundary.
Navdeep Saini to Mayank Agarwal. Back of a length ball outside off, Mayank has a slash at it the ball goes off the outside edge towards third man for a single.
Navdeep Saini to Mayank Agarwal. FOUR! Peach of a ball followed by an excellent shot. Nothing wrong with the delivery but Mayank was just too good on this occasion. Good length ball on off, Mayank gets on top of the bounce and drives it through covers for a boundary.
Navdeep Saini to Mayank Agarwal. Peach, absolutely peach of a delivery. Good length ball outside off. The ball hits the deck and comes in, Mayank looks to defend but misses it and the ball just about misses his outside edge.
STRATEGIC BREAK. Not a bad response from Punjab. 68/1 in the Powerplay chasing 203. Bangalore were 70/1 at this stage and it was from this time that they began to lose their way. The visitors might be mindful of that. Dew could be a key factor. Navdeep Saini returns. 1-0-13-0 so far.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Mayank Agarwal. Flatter outside off, Mayank taps it down to third man and keeps the strike. 12 off Chahal's first to end the Powerplay for Punjab on 68/1.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Lokesh Rahul. Shorter on off, Rahul nudges it to long off and takes a run.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Lokesh Rahul. Good comeback from Chahal. He floats this on off, Rahul goes for the sweep but misses and gets hit on the pads. Chahal appeals but the umpire indicates an inside edge.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Lokesh Rahul. FOUR! Follows it up with a wonderful cut. Pressure on Chahal. Shorter outside off, Rahul picks the length early and cuts it through covers for a boundary.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Lokesh Rahul. SIX! No calm on this one and Rahul goes after the leggie in his very second ball. Flighted on middle and leg, Rahul comes dow the track and heaves it over long on fence for a maximum.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Lokesh Rahul. Chahal starts with a tossed up delivery on middle and leg, Rahul calmly blocks it off his front foot.
Yuzvendra Chahal to roll his arm over now.
Tim Southee to Mayank Agarwal. The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot. Apart from the two boundaries, a decent over from Southee.
Tim Southee to Mayank Agarwal. A length ball, around off and middle, Mayank backs away and looks to slash but misses.
Tim Southee to Mayank Agarwal. Around off, solidly defended this time.
Tim Southee to Mayank Agarwal. FOUR! Nope. This is not the Tim Southee we know. Looks like Indian pitches have made him a different Timothy. This is full and down the leg side, Agarwal just tickles it to the fine leg fence.
Tim Southee to Mayank Agarwal. FOUR! Lovely shot. A length ball, around middle, Agarwal gets forward and works it uppishly through mid-wicket. The ball races away.
Tim Southee to Mayank Agarwal. Outside off, punched straight to cover.
Tim Southee is back. 1-0-14-0 so far.
Umesh Yadav to Lokesh Rahul. Good length ball around off, Rahul punches it but straight to the man at cover.
Umesh Yadav to Lokesh Rahul. FOUR! Rahul shows his class with this wonderful flick. Full on the pads, Rahul nonchalantly flicks it over mid-wicket for a boundary.
Umesh Yadav to Lokesh Rahul. Good length ball on off, Rahul defends it with soft hands and looks for a single but Mayank sends him back. The fielder fails to gather the ball cleanly allowing Rahul to get back in comfortably.
Umesh Yadav to Lokesh Rahul. Wide! Umesh Yadav misses his line and bowls it down the leg side. Rahul looks to flick but misses. Parthiv does well diving to his left and collecting the ball.
Umesh Yadav to Mayank Agarwal. Around middle, worked wide of mid-wicket for a quick single. Agarwal is off the mark immediately.
Mayank Agarwal is the new man in.
Umesh Yadav to Chris Gayle. OUT! Umesh Yadav has the last laugh and the big Jamaican holes out. Back of a length ball on off, Gayle looks to pull it over the fence but he does not time it well. The ball goes high in the air and straight to long on. AB de Villiers there who has had a great game so far takes a good catch in front of the ropes. Huge wicket for Bangalore, Gayle was looking very dangerous out in the middle and Kohli is ecstatic and why won't he be? He knows how crucial this wicket is for his side.
Umesh Yadav to Chris Gayle. SIX! If you serve a full toss at a comfortable height, then expect to be punished severely from Gayle. Full toss on off, Gayle smokes it over the long on fence for a maximum.
Navdeep Saini to Lokesh Rahul. Back of a length ball on the stumps, Rahul after hitting two consecutive boundaries shows his calmness and blocks it to see off the over.
Navdeep Saini to Lokesh Rahul. FOUR! This time Rahul shows his aggressive approach. Fuller on off, Rahul smokes it over extra cover and the ball goes to the fence on a bounce.
Navdeep Saini to Lokesh Rahul. FOUR! Class written all over that shot! Length ball on off, Rahul gets on top of the ball and drives it gloriously through covers for a boundary.
Navdeep Saini to Chris Gayle. Good length ball on the pads, Gayle flicks it towards square leg and calls for the run. Rahul looks for two as the fielder from fine leg comes to gather it but Gayle was not too keen and sends him back.
Change of bat for Gayle!
Navdeep Saini to Chris Gayle. Back of a length ball outside off, Gayle looks to pull it but misses.
Navdeep Saini to Chris Gayle. FOUR! Not the start Saini would have wanted. He starts with a back of a length ball on off and middle. Gayle flat-bats it over mid on for a boundary.
Navdeep Saini is on now!
Umesh Yadav to Lokesh Rahul. Good fielding! Good length ball outside off, Rahul hits it towards cover. AB de Villiers dives to his left and saves runs for his side. 9 off Umesh's first. 23 off the first two for Punjab.
Umesh Yadav to Lokesh Rahul. Away swinger now. Length ball outside off, Rahul goes for the cover drive but gets beaten by the swing.
Umesh Yadav to Lokesh Rahul. Good length ball on the body of Rahul, he just tucks it to the fielder at mid-wicket.
Umesh Yadav to Lokesh Rahul. Better this. Good length ball on middle. It is close to Rahul's body. He cannot do much but just block it.
Umesh Yadav to Lokesh Rahul. FOUR! Too full and punished again! Umesh goes full which is okay - but the line is down the leg side. Flicked with ease through mid-wicket again.
Umesh Yadav to Lokesh Rahul. FOUR! Helped on its way! A short ball, on middle, Rahul gets across and plays a Nataraja pull over mid-wicket!
Umesh Yadav to Lokesh Rahul. WIDE. Down the leg side, Rahul misses his flick.
Who will bowl from the other end? A spinner? A pacer? The latter. Umesh Yadav to share the new-ball attack.
Tim Southee to Chris Gayle. FOUR! Finishes the over with another boundary. An expensive start for Bangalore. 14 runs off the first over. Fuller ball around off, Gayle stays on his back foot and hits it over point for a boundary.
Tim Southee to Chris Gayle. FOUR! Deft touch from Gayle. The previous boundary was power this is just placement. Good length ball outside off, Gayle just runs it down towards the vacant third man region for a boundary. Expensive start for Southee so far.
Tim Southee to Chris Gayle. Back of a length ball outside off, Gayle goes for the pull but misses.
Tim Southee to Chris Gayle. FOUR! Gayle is off the mark and in some style. Full outside off, Gayle takes full toll of it and smacks it over covers for the first boundary of the innings.
Tim Southee to Chris Gayle. Wide! Southee misses his line and bowls it wide outside off. It is on the wrong side of the tramline and wide signalled.
Tim Southee to Chris Gayle. Southee goes for the yorker on off, it comes as a very low full toss, Gayle cannot do much but play it to the fielder at mid-wicket.
Tim Southee to Lokesh Rahul. Starts with a inswinging ball on the pads, Rahul flicks it towards mid-wicket and gets the run chase off the mark with a single.
The players are back in the middle. Virat Kohli is giving a pep talk to his players. Now, two destructive openers stride out to the middle - Chris Gayle and KL Rahul. Tim Southee to start off proceedings with the new ball, to Rahul. Here we go...