Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Thursday. Catch the latest updates and the score on Moneycontrol. That’s all from our side, for now. Thanks for joining us.
18:47 With both teams coming into the game on the back of victories in their previous outings, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) will be looking keep the momentum going as they take on each other at Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
The Royals will once again look to their explosive opener Sanju Samson who blew apart the RCB bowling attack in their last outing, scoring 92 off just 45 balls.
KKR will be hoping Andre Russell can replicate his performance from their previous outing against DD where he scored a quick fire 41 off just 12 deliveries.
All eyes will also be on Sunil Narine who will look to reclaim the purple cap from Mayank Markande, who leads the Caribbean spin king by just one wicket.
RR will be hoping their heavy investment on pacer Jaydev Unadkat begins paying dividends soon, especially against the KKR opening duo of Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine. Unadkat has picked up just 2 wickets in this edition of the IPL so far.
Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Thursday. Catch the latest updates and the score on Moneycontrol. That’s all from our side, for now. Thanks for joining us.
"It feels good to get two wins on the trot. Slowly things are falling in a good direction. It feels that the wrist spinners are a little harder to pick, and that the fast bowlers would come onto the bat. Which is why we bowled them at the start. The way Robin batted was fantastic, he set the tone for us, and it was good to see Nitish bat through for us. The only thing I would tell a player like that is be consistent through a long tournament like this, which I'm sure he's looking forward to doing."
"I thought we were 15-20 short. Game 1 there was pretty good bounce. This wicket was on the slower side, it was keeping a bit low. But no complaints. I was batting well, and it was my responsibility to carry on from there. As I said, 15-20 runs short. I felt our intensity was a little bit down today."
Kolkata paced their chase superbly and cruised to a seven-wicket win at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Wednesday night.
Captain Dinesh Karthik brought up the win in the 19th over with a massive six off Ben Laughlin. He was unbeaten on 42 off 23 balls and his partner at the other end Nitish Rana returned unconquered on 35 off 27 balls.
Karthik and Rana made their move in the 17th over smashing a six each off Jaydev Unadkat and thereafter it was a walk in the park.
Kolkata finished on 163 for 3 in 18.5 overs, replying to Rajasthan’s 160-8 in 20 overs, notched their third win and helped them to the top of the eight-team standings.
Laughlin starts his 4th over with a Yorker, but Rana still manages to grab a single of it. Rana and Karthik seem contend to pick up quick singles now.
Dinesh Karthik ends the night's proceedings with winning six just outside off.
Ben Stokes comes in to try and pick up some much needed wickets. Stokes starts well but gifts Karthik with a full toss in his 3rd delivery which the KKR skipper duly dispatches down the off side for a boundary. Quick single onthe next ball brings up the 150 for KKR.
KKR require just 10 of the next 12 balls.
Unadkat is given the ball for his 3rd over. Good start by him conceding just 2 of his first 2 deliveries. However, Karthik is looking to end proceedings quickly as he pulls the short ball over the ropes for a Six!
Now Rana is looking to get into the act as he plays a beautiful lofted shot over long off for another Six. Big over for KKR as they score 16 of it.
A leap of brilliance from Ben Stokes at the long on fence cut short Robin Uthappa’s stay as Rajasthan Royals were fighting hard to deny Kolkata Knight Riders the runs in defence of their total of 160 runs.
Uthappa’s swipe offKrishnappa Gowtham was snapped by Stokes but the English all-rounder lost his balance and as he crossed over the line he threw the ball inside and caught it again. It was a big wicket for the hosts as Uthappa was having a go at their bowlers having stroked his way to a fluent 48 off 36 balls including six fours and two sixes.
However, the target of 161 was well within the reach of Kolkata, who were 121 for 3 after 15 overs, needing another 40 runs from the last five overs.
Laughlin comes back for his third over. KKR look comfortably placed with Rana and Karthik keeping the scoreboard ticking.
Good over by Laughlin giving away just the 5 runs.
