Playing XI:
Kolkata Knight Riders: Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Nitish Rana, Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik(w/c), Andre Russell, Shubman Gill, Piyush Chawla, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna and Harry Gurney
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Parthiv Patel(w), Virat Kohli(c), Moeen Ali, Marcus Stoinis, Heinrich Klaasen, Akshdeep Nath, Pawan Negi, Dale Steyn, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini and Yuzvendra Chahal
Toss: KKR win Toss opt to bowl
Team News: Andre Russell is fit to play. AB de Villiers misses out and Dale Steyn returns to RCB
That brings us to the end of our live coverage from this game. What a rollercoaster ride it was. Join us again tomorrow for RR vs MI at 4PM followed by DC vs KXIP at 8PM. Till then it's goodbye!
Virat Kohli
(Winning Captain/Man of the Match):Felt really good, after what happened last year. Was important to have a win under our belt. There's no point in panicking in these types of situations, you got to leave it to the bowlers. Few good decisions by Stoinis and then Moeen in the end. They both showed composure and that's what you expect from our teams mates. Our communication was to get 170-175, we didn't think we could get 200-plus. Moeen changed the game completely and that allowed to play my game. Moeen said I am going to go now and I asked him to go for it. He targeted the small boundaries and changed the game in those few overs. It was important to bat along when AB is not here. In the end death overs are going to be difficult with this kind of ground. Credit to Russell for setting up those kind of games. Steyn getting those crucial overs was important for us. I think picking wickets in the Powerplay is crucial as it sets the tone for the rest of the innings.
Marcus Stoinis:
It hasn't been great for us, but you enjoy the learnings and hopefully take that momentum. I just kept it simple and been working on bowling straight lines, I enjoy having a crack in the death overs and I really enjoyed it. You can't get too predictable and you just gotta accept that one will go for six or probably two will go for six, but you gotta keep trying.
Dinesh Karthik
(Losing Captain):I think the way Moeen batted, he took the game away from us. He played a few good shots and credit to him. I thought they were 20-25 runs too many and that's what happens when a player like Virat plays. It was a brilliant knock from him. The ball was seaming a little, and the new ball had a bit in it and it wasn't easy for stroke-making. If I had to look back, it was 20 runs too many. This is a hard wicket for the spinners and we were aware that we could take on their spinners and that brought the game close. I think RCB did the small things right today. If we play a couple of good games things will start to roll and I believe in my boys. If we do the right things we will be back on track.
KKR 203/5 after 20 overs.
Moeen Ali comes into the attack to bowl the final over. Rana moves across to sweep the 1st ball but misses. He then gets an inside edge to backward square leg for a single. Russell isn’t going to take the second. Moeen floats up the 3rd ball and Russell launches it over long-on for a SIX. He has a big swipe at the 4th ball and misses. RUN OUT! A brilliant innings come to an end as Russell clubs the ball to midwicket and falls short at the non-striker’s end. Dinesh Karthik walks out to bat. Rana launches the last ball straight down the ground for a SIX. That brings an end to a rollercoaster innings. KKR fall short of 10 runs in the end.
SIX!
Rana ends the match with a maximum as KKR fall short of 10 runs.
WICKET! Russell run out (Kohli/Moeen) 65 (25)
Russell swings the 5th ball towards midwicket and sets off for a single but is short at the non-striker's end.
SIX!
Russell tonks the 3rd ball straight over the bowler's head for a maximum.
FIFTY up for Russell! 53 (21)
SIX!
Russell backs away and launches the last ball straight down the ground for a third consecutive six.
SIX!
The 5th ball is right in the slot and this time Russell sends it flying over the bowler's head for a six.
SIX!
The 4th ball is short and Russell slaps it for a flat six over midwicket.
KKR 171/4 after 18 overs.
Dale Steyn comes back for his final over. He starts well with a dot ball as Rana finds the man at extra cover. Rana then launches the 2nd ball over long-off for a SIX. The 3rd ball is sliced over extra cover for 2 runs. Steyn goes for the slower ball but Rana launches it straight over the bowler for a SIX. Rana shuffles across and swings at the 5th ball but misses. Rana works the last ball beautifully over extra cover for a FOUR. 18 off the over. KKR need 43 from 12 balls to win. Can Russell and Rana pull off another great escape?
FOUR!
The last ball is full outside off and Rana thumps it over extra cover for a boundary.
SIX!
The 4th ball is a slower delivery but Rana sends it flying over the bowler for a maximum.
SIX!
Steyn pitches the 2nd ball full outside off and Rana powers it over long-off for a maximum.
wide
Mohammed Siraj comes back into the attack. Rana chips the 1st ball towards mid-off and they take a risky single. The next ball is outside off. Russell cuts the 2nd ball past point for a FOUR. He then launches the 3rd ball high into the stands over long-on for a massive SIX. The next ball is again. Russell has a wild swing at the 4th ball but misses. He then mistimes the shot on the 5th ball for a single. Rana swings hard at the last ball but only gets it to mid-off and they sneak in a quick single. 15 off the over. KKR need 61 off 18 balls to win.
KKR 153/4 after 17 overs.
SIX!
The next ball is pitched outside off and Russell reaches out to send it flying high into the stands over long-off.
FOUR!
Siraj offers some width and Russell slaps it past point for a boundary.
KKR 138/4 after 16 overs.
Saini into his final over. Rana welcomes him by launching the 1st ball over long-on for a FOUR. He swings at the next ball but misses. Rana then pulls the 3rd ball powerfully over long-on for a SIX. That brings up the FIFTY for the KKR man. Saini sends down a full toss which Rana pulls over long-on for back-to-back SIXES. He then slogs the 5th ball to deep midwicket for a single. Saini ends with a short ball which Russell lets go through to the keeper. 17 off the over. KKR need 76 from 24 balls to win.
SIX!
Saini sends down a full toss just below the waist and Rana pulls it over long-on for back-to-back sixes.
FIFTY up for Rana! 51 (33)
SIX!
Rana brings up his FIFTY in style as he smokes the 3rd ball over long-on for a maximum.
FOUR!
Rana goes deep in his crease and launches the 1st ball over long-on.
wide
Chahal continues. Rana blocks out the 1st ball. He looks to slog at the next ball but only gets an edge into the pads. Rana drives the 3rd ball to long-off for a single. Chahal sends the next ball . The next ball is sent flying over midwicket for a SIX. Russell then launches the 5th delivery straight over Chahal for back-to-back SIXES. He isn’t done yet sending the last ball flying over long-on for another SIX. 20 off the over.
KKR 121/4 after 15 overs.
SIX!
Russell connects beautifully with the last ball sending it flying into the stands over long-on.
SIX!
Chahal tosses up the 5th delivery and this time Russell sends it straight down the ground.
SIX!
Russell connects with the toe-end but has enough power to send the ball flying over midwicket.
KKR 101/4 after 14 overs.
Navdeep Saini comes back into the attack. Rana slaps the 1st ball to sweeper cover for a single. Russell cuts the 2nd ball powerfully past point for a FOUR. Saini drags back his length as Russell swings and misses the next ball. Russell then gets a top-edge to the next ball sending it high towards short fine leg but it lands just beyond Klaasen as they take a single. Rana slaps the next ball to point for a single. Saini ends with a good slow yorker as Russell swings and misses. Just 7 runs off the over.
FOUR!
The 2nd ball is short outside off and Russell cuts it past point for a boundary.
wide
Chahar starts with a tossed up delivery which Russell crunches to sweeper cover for a single. Rana does well as he sweeps the 2nd ball for a FOUR down to fine leg. He then clips the 3rd ball to midwicket for a single. Chahal sends the next ball outside off. Russell gets going as he reaches out and slaps the 4th ball over long-off for a flat SIX. Chahar sticks to the wide line outside off and ends with two dot balls. 13 off the over. KKR need 120 from 72 balls to win.
KKR 94/4 after 13 overs.
SIX!
Russell reaches out and slaps the 4th ball over long-off for a flat six.
FOUR!
Rana gets low and sweeps the 2nd ball down to fine leg for a four.
KKR 81/4 after 12 overs.
Marcus Stoinis comes back into the attack. Rana slashes at the 1st ball sending it high towards third man for 2 runs. The next ball is short again and Rana cuts it over point for a FOUR. Rana has a swing at the 3rd ball but misses. He then jams the next ball to mid-off for a single. CAUGHT! Uthappa was really struggling to get runs and his innings finally comes to an end. Andre Russell walks out to bat. Rana ramps the last ball to third man and Klaasen does brilliantly to cut off the boundary and keep them down to 2 runs. 9 runs and a wicket off the over.
WICKET! Uthappa c Negi b Stoinis 9 (20)
Stoinis sends down a short ball outside off and Uthappa pulls it straight to the man at deep square leg.
FOUR!
The 2nd ball is short and Rana cuts it beautifully over deep point.
wide
Yuzvendra Chahal comes into the attack. Uthappa works the 1st ball to cover for a single. Rana pulls the 2nd ball to long-leg for a one-bounce FOUR. Rana then goes for the reverse sweep but gets a top-edge down to third man for a FOUR. He works the 4th ball to backward point for a single. Uthappa cuts the 5th ball straight to the man at point. Chahal sends down two back-to-back deliveries. Uthappa looks to flick the last ball but misses. Rana wanted a single but is sent back when he is half-way down the track. That was a run-out opportunity. 12 off the over.
KKR 72/3 after 11 overs.
FOUR!
Rana goes for the reverse sweep but only gets a top-edge above short third man.
FOUR!
The 2nd ball is a bit too short and Rana pulls it for a one-bounce four.
wides.
Siraj continues. Uthappa moves to the leg-side and smacks the 1st ball through extra cover for a FOUR. He then looks to pull at the 2nd delivery but misses. Siraj bangs the next ball short but it’s too high and escapes for FIVE Uthappa fails to takes any runs off the next 2 balls. He slashes at the 5th ball sending it down to third man for a single. Rana pulls the last ball powerfully for a FOUR. 14 off the over.
KKR 60/3 after 10 overs.
FOUR!
The last ball is short and Rana pulls it powerfully through midwicket for a boundary.
FOUR!
Uthappa makes room and slams the 1st ball through the gap at extra cover.
KKR 46/3 after 9 overs.
Stoinis continues. Rana dabs the 1st ball to backward point and sets off for a single. Uthappa sends him back but a direct hit and he would've been out. KKR are really struggling to time their shots as Rana just doesn’t manage to take runs off the next 3 balls. He steers the 5th ball to third man for a single. Uthappa tucks the last ball to deep square leg for a run. Just 2 off the over. KKR need 168 from 66 balls to win.
KKR 44/3 after 8 overs.
Mohammed Siraj comes into the attack. Rana welcomes him with a brilliant drive through cover for a FOUR. He then mistimes the pull to long-on for a single. Uthappa struggles to take runs off the next four balls as Siraj ends with 4 dot balls. KKR really need to get going if they hope to chase down this target. Good bowling from Siraj. Just 5 off the over. KKR need 170 from 72 balls to win.
FOUR!
Rana shows great timing as he works the 1st ball from Siraj through cover for a four.
KKR 39/3 after 7 overs.
Marcus Stoinis comes into the attack. Uthappa taps the 1st ball to midwicket. He then works the next ball past midwicket for a single. Rana steers the next ball to third man for a run. Uthappa once again find the man at midwicket on the 4th delivery. The 5th ball is defended back to the bowler. Uthappa punches the last ball straight to cover as Stoinis ends with 3 dot balls. Just 2 from the over.
KKR 37/3 after 6 overs.
Nitish Rana is the new batsman at the crease. He dabs the 1st ball straight to backward point. Rana then lets the next two balls travel back to the keeper. Saini gets the 4th ball to move away as Rana plays inside the line but misses. Rana lets the 5th ball travel back again. The last ball is in the slot and Rana slices it over cover for a FOUR. Just the 4 runs from the over.
FOUR!
The last ball is in the slot and Rana slices it above cover for a four.
KKR 33/3 after 5 overs.
Steyn into his 3rd over. Gill punches the 1st ball to the man at mid-off. He then flicks the 2nd ball beautifully through midwicket but Chahar does well as he chases it down restricting them to 3 runs. Uthappa works the 3rd ball to backward square leg for a single. Gill slaps the 4th ball to long-off for a FOUR. HE then dabs the next ball back to the bowler. CAUGHT! Gill just meekly chips the last ball towards mid-off where Kohli does brilliantly to take a smart catch. Once again the slower delivery paying off for Steyn. Just 8 runs and a wicket from the over.
WICKET! Gill c Kohli b Gill 9 (11)
Steyn slips in a slower delivery and Gill chips it just behind mid-off where Kohli does well as he runs backwards and takes the catch after a little fumble.
