And we are back. KOL carry much of the momentum right now. What an amazing recovery, but it beats me as to why Raina persisted with spin despite it not working. Anyway, moving on now. Smith and McCullum have been misfiring of late and if ever there was an apt occasion to set the record straight, it's NOW. Russell with the new ball, a ginger mohawk, a raucous crowd, and a slip in place..
With eye-catching half-centuries, Yusuf Pathan and Shakib Al Hasan lit up the arena to drive KOL's fightback. Both of them cut, drove and pulled GUJ's bowlers merrily. In fact, without the duo's sparkling strokeplay, KOL might have ended up with a modest total. Praveen Kumar and Dhawal Kulkarni made the new ball talk to prise out the top-order. Raina then plucked a one-handed blinder at slip to remove Suryakumar. However, just in the nick of time, Yusuf and Shakib's century stand lifted them to a competitive score. The track is assisting the seamers a touch and KOL might still fancy their chances of defending the target.
19.6 -
Dwayne Bravo to Shakib, 2 runs, full toss outside off, Shakib bludgeons the drive through extra cover. Jaddu does well to run around the circumference and fields one-handed. Puts paid to Shakib's thought of sneaking in an extra run courtesy a lazer-like throw. Must say: This has to be one of the best comebacks in this year's T20 League
19.6 -
Dwayne Bravo to Y Pathan, 2 wides, follows Pathan's swift movements and bowls one down leg, Pathan is cramped for room - He fails to play the leg-glace. DK dives but couldn't stop the batsmen from smuggling a bye. Did that glance the thigh pad? I'm not sure
19.5 -
Dwayne Bravo to Shakib, 1 run, fuller and wider, Shakib clobbers hard but could only find a single towards cover
19.4 -
Dwayne Bravo to Shakib, no run, slower one outside off, Shakib is early into the slog and misses, might have got something to do with those sweaty gloves - According to him - Calls for a new pair and gets one immediately
19.3 -
Dwayne Bravo to Shakib, SIX, that's GOLFED! Slower length ball begging to be hit. Shakib throws every ounce of his energy into the swat and sees the ball flying into the mid-wicket stands
19.2 -
Dwayne Bravo to Y Pathan, 1 run, right in the blockhole and Pathan squeezes it to long-on
19.1 -
Dwayne Bravo to Shakib, 1 run, off-pace delivery outside off, Shakib drives but didn't time it that well, straight to sweeper
18.6 -
P Kumar to Shakib, 1 run, and Shakib proves me wrong. Russell is still waiting in the dug out, but I'm sure he will be happy with the way things are going. Fullish outside off, Shakib slices the drive through cover
18.5 -
P Kumar to Shakib, FOUR, another slower short one sans any venom. Shakib waits, waits and dispatches it with a thunderous pull over short fine
18.4 -
P Kumar to Y Pathan, 1 run, splayed full on the pads, whipped wristily to deep backward square
Oh! What has happened there? Pathan is knocked over, but the umpire deems it as a dead ball. Pathan pulls out at the last instant. Something behind the sightscreen seems to have put him off and PK...well! He is furious
18.3 -
P Kumar to Shakib, 1 run, clipped one backwards of square and Pathan, over to you mate!
18.2 -
P Kumar to Shakib, FOUR, that's a reverse forehand slap! Nadal, Federer, Djokovic - Watching? The slow, slow, slow delivery which takes an age to reach Shakib. He shuffles and fetches the ball over his right shoulder to slap that in the face. DK had no chance. What a way to get to your fifty!
18.1 -
P Kumar to Y Pathan, 1 run, bowls it full and targets the base of middle, Pathan manages to bring his bat down in time, drilled to long-on
Praveen Kumar [3.0-1-7-2] is back into the attack
12 balls left and where is Andre Russell? I have a hunch that he might turn up in this over. PK from round the wicket
17.6 -
Dwayne Bravo to Shakib, no run, the off-cutter this time, bowled in that uncertain length - Goodish just outside off, Shakib shapes up for a big one but had to bring his bat down, is forced to push that back towards the bowler
17.5 -
Dwayne Bravo to Y Pathan, 1 run, thrashes this to cover and hustles
17.4 -
Dwayne Bravo to Y Pathan, no run, perhaps the leg cutter, duped Pathan neck and crop. The batsman walks down the pitch and is taken aback for the lack of pace - Manages to drop it with soft hands in the end. Bravo came steaming in...trying to catch that one but it was always going down
17.3 -
Dwayne Bravo to Shakib, 1 run, tosh, absolute tosh from DJ! Full toss outside off and he is lucky to get away with that - Shakib smears it straight towards sweeper cover
17.2 -
Dwayne Bravo to Shakib, SIX, and again! Half-volley just outside off, Shakib sees the ball dip and smokes it high and handsome over long-off. Whadday clean hit that!
17.1 -
Dwayne Bravo to Shakib, SIX, full in the slot, Shakib kept his eyes on the ball and mows it powerfully over a leaping deep mid-wicket for a 78-metre six. Brings up the 100-run stand as well
I feel anything around 140 will be a safe total on this surface. With the way things are going, KOL must get there sans any fuss
16.6 -
D Kulkarni to Y Pathan, 2 runs, slower short ball threatens to climb onto Pathan, he plants his back foot deep inside the crease and rolls his wrists on the pull, a double to cap off the over
16.5 -
D Kulkarni to Shakib, 1 run, stays put and capitalizes on the width to flay it through the covers
16.4 -
D Kulkarni to Y Pathan, 1 run, sprayed full at the toes, Pathan opens up slightly and whips - STRONG BOTTOM HAND COMUMNG INTO PLAY - towards deep square
16.3 -
D Kulkarni to Y Pathan, 2 runs, another slower ball and Tambe continues to hurt Gujarat with his fielding blips. Slower ball outside off, Pathan prefers to stay back and dabs with an open bat face towards backward point. Another Tambe fumble meant an easy two
16.3 -
D Kulkarni to Y Pathan, wide, slower off-cutter bowled well wide of off, Pathan swings with one hand - Bottom hand comes off while doing so. Missed by a long way
A perfect platform for Russell and Co. to come and smash everything out of the park. Pathan is getting taped as he grimaces in pain. He is seen having a few words to umpire Rod Tucker. On goes the helmet and we are ready to go again
16.2 -
D Kulkarni to Y Pathan, no run, shortish and Pathan is early into the pull again, the ball thuds his right arm and rolls to backward point. That must have hurt and the physio is out, we have a break
16.1 -
D Kulkarni to Y Pathan, FOUR, short and too straight, doesn't matter - Pathan is in some mood. Looking to dismiss everything off his sight. Pulls and a thick top-edge swirls over DK and into the fence
Dhawal Kulkarni [3.0-0-19-1] is back into the attack
15.6 -
Dwayne Bravo to Y Pathan, 1 run, fifty for Yusuf Pathan! Short and drifting down leg, he swivels and pulls down to fine leg to claim the milestone. Hugs his partner and raises the bat towards dug out
15.5 -
Dwayne Bravo to Shakib, 1 run, sits on one knee and paddles one to short fine
DK is standing upto the stumps
15.4 -
Dwayne Bravo to Y Pathan, 1 run, chopped to point
15.3 -
Dwayne Bravo to Y Pathan, no run, on a length outside off, Pathan is all arms and wrists as tries to clear extra cover, instead hits it straight to the fielder
15.2 -
Dwayne Bravo to Shakib, 1 run, shimmies down but Bravo follows him with a full delivery, driven hard towards extra cover
15.1 -
Dwayne Bravo to Shakib, SIX, you bowl slow, you bowl short, you bowl wide - It doesn't matter. Shakib has decided to bash this ball before the start of this over. Off-cutter with plenty of room on offer, Shakib jumps down the pitch and sends a smack-bang over extra cover
Dwayne Bravo [1.0-0-2-0] is back into the attack
Time-out! From 24/4 to 98/4 - Excellent comeback from the home side. Tells us how much they believe in their abilities and mind you! Russell is yet to arrive. DJ Bravo patrols the field as Russell swings his arms in the dug out
14.6 -
Jadeja to Y Pathan, 2 runs, full and wide, Pathan goes for the biggie and inside edge rolls through DK's legs. Shivil Kaushik follows and manages to flick it inside the ropes
14.5 -
Jadeja to Y Pathan, FOUR, short and quick outside off, Pathan is too strong in that area. Camps back comfortably and executes the late-cut to perfection, hit that brutally
14.4 -
Jadeja to Shakib, leg byes, 1 run, round the wicket and follows Shakib as he backs away too far across. Shakib fails to connect with the heave-ho and the leather skims wide of Dk off the pads
14.3 -
Jadeja to Y Pathan, 1 run, clattered to deep cover
14.2 -
Jadeja to Shakib, 1 run, follows the batsman and overcorrects, too leg-sidish and Shakib lifts him with a twirl of the wrists towards deep backward square
14.1 -
Jadeja to Y Pathan, 1 run, 103ks slipped short and wide, Pathan is going with hard hands. Crashes hard and chops it to the right of cover where a fumble allows him a single
13.6 -
Tambe to Y Pathan, 1 run, another full toss and Pathan wasn't expecting it. Goes too hard on the mow and could only toe-end it straight down the ground. Long-off wanders around to keep it down to one
13.5 -
Tambe to Shakib, 1 run, shortens his length and allows Shakib to get back and nurdle one through mid-wicket
13.4 -
Tambe to Shakib, no run, the legbreak around middle and leg, Shakib drags the swipe to backward square
13.3 -
Tambe to Y Pathan, 1 run, serves a friendly full toss at the stumps, Pathan looks to thump it straight down the ground. Mishits to the left of long-on where Smith dives and prevents a boundary
13.2 -
Tambe to Y Pathan, 2 runs, skids on with the arm, Pathan heaves and finds the gap wide of mid-wicket
13.1 -
Tambe to Y Pathan, no run, 92ks, flighted full on off, Pathan drills hard and Tambe does well to slide to his right and stop some runs
12.6 -
Jadeja to Y Pathan, 1 run, biffed down to long-on
12.5 -
Jadeja to Y Pathan, FOUR, the spinners are making life easy for KOL. This is a streaky boundary but the home side won't mind that one bit. Quick, flat outside off, Pathan throws the kitchen sink and the inside edge nutmegs DK to the third man fence
12.4 -
Jadeja to Shakib, 1 run, at the toes, nudged to mid-wicket
12.3 -
Jadeja to Y Pathan, 1 run, loopy outside off, Pathan is deceived in the flight, cleverly manages to bring his bat down on the cut, chopped to short third man
12.2 -
Jadeja to Shakib, 1 run, this one holds on the pitch for a fleeting moment before Shakib decides to punch ont down to long-on
12.1 -
Jadeja to Y Pathan, 1 run, floated outside off, Pathan uses the room on offer to cut one towards sweeper
11.6 -
Tambe to Shakib, FOUR, 50-run stand. Tambe dropped Shakib on 4 and the latter is making him pay. Shortish outside off, Shakib leans back and cuts late to find the gap backwards of point. Classy stuff!
11.5 -
Tambe to Y Pathan, 1 run, hangs back and rolls his wrists on the flick, a single to backward square
11.4 -
Tambe to Y Pathan, no run, sees Pathan's anticipated bat swing and fires a quicker one on the stumps, Pathan swings and gets an inside edge which sneaks past the leg-stump, towards short fine
11.3 -
Tambe to Y Pathan, FOUR, short ball to Yusuf Pathan is a cardinal sin. He rocks back, picks his spot and mauls the pull
11.2 -
Tambe to Shakib, 1 run, touch short and Shakib is quick onto his back foot, dragging the pull wide of long-on
11.1 -
Tambe to Shakib, no run, quicker and skids off the pitch around fourth stump, Shakib is hurried but mananges to clamp forward and keep it down
Pravin Tambe, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack
10.6 -
Jadeja to Shakib, 1 run, around the pads, flicked behind square
10.5 -
Jadeja to Y Pathan, 1 run, yet again sits deep inside the crease and brings his angled bat into play, glided down to third man
10.4 -
Jadeja to Y Pathan, FOUR, there's the class from Pathan! Opens the bat face ever so late and deflects this flatter one to the third man fence, short third man had to give up - The chase
10.3 -
Jadeja to Shakib, 1 run, lunges forward and uses the width to push one in front of backward point
10.2 -
Jadeja to Shakib, no run, leans forward and smothers the spin
10.1 -
Jadeja to Shakib, no run, fired in with the arm and angled down leg, Shakib fails to turn it round the corner and is hit on the pad. More of an ambitious appeal from DK which is politely turned down
Ravindra Jadeja, left-arm orthodox, comes into the attack
Finally some momentum in the KOL innings - With those couple of lusty strikes from Pathan. Here's Jaddu...
9.6 -
Shivil to Shakib, 1 run, floated up full around middle, driven to long-on
9.5 -
Shivil to Y Pathan, 1 run, Pathan cuts him some slack now as he pushes a full toss down to long-on
9.4 -
Shivil to Y Pathan, FOUR, err, he's half-volleying his way out of the attack. I would do that too, you know. Tosses it further up outside off, and is blasted to the fence at deep extra-cover
9.3 -
Shivil to Y Pathan, SIX, now he lands a wrong 'un in Pathan's half and finds himself pumped down the ground. Such a ferocious swing of the bat
9.2 -
Shivil to Shakib, 1 run, tossed up outside off, driven to sweeper cover
9.1 -
Shivil to Y Pathan, 1 run, tell you what, almost half his balls are pitched in his side of the pitch. Shortish googly outside off, Pathan flat-bats it down to long-off
Shivil Kaushik, left-arm chinaman, comes into the attack
The strategic time-out has been enforced. KOL find themselves in a very unfamiliar situation on an unusual pitch. Is there so much help for the bowlers as the scoreboard reflects? Whatever the case, they need at least 120 to be competitive one would imagine. Shivil Kaushik to get us underway after the break, has a slip in place..
8.6 -
Dwayne Bravo to Shakib, no run, there's that dipping full toss from Bravo. Bamboozles Shakib completely, but then he does well to watch it all the way through and steers it to backward point
8.5 -
Dwayne Bravo to Y Pathan, 1 run, pitched up outside off, driven through the covers
8.4 -
Dwayne Bravo to Y Pathan, no run, this is much better, waited on the back cut and made sure to roll his wrists over the ball. Couldn't get it past a diving backward point though
8.3 -
Dwayne Bravo to Y Pathan, no run, a lazy attempt at a late-cut from Pathan. Didn't move his back foot across to cover the line and just dangled his bat out there. There's extra bounce on offer, enough to beat the bat
8.2 -
Dwayne Bravo to Shakib, 1 run, this one is down leg and is easily glanced to fine leg
8.1 -
Dwayne Bravo to Shakib, no run, back of a length delivery around off, Shakib is slightly late to get his bat down and chops it at his feet
Dwayne Bravo, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack
7.6 -
Dwayne Smith to Shakib, 1 run, this pitch .. hmm. There is something in there. Don't let its appearance fool you. This one vaults away from a good length on middle to square Shakib up. Luckily for him, the outside edge pootles away through the covers
7.5 -
Dwayne Smith to Shakib, FOUR, flicked away off the pads to beat fine leg. A half-volley really and Shakib treats it with a subtle whip of the wrists
7.4 -
Dwayne Smith to Y Pathan, 1 run, Smith tries to bounce Pathan, not a bad effort. But Pathan controls the pull well down to fine leg
7.3 -
Dwayne Smith to Shakib, 1 run, nudges one off the hips behind square
7.2 -
Dwayne Smith to Shakib, no run, length ball around middle stump, Shakib is half-forward to defend
7.2 -
Dwayne Smith to Shakib, wide, down leg-side, Shakib misses with a glance, wided
7.1 -
Dwayne Smith to Shakib, no run, back of a length delivery around leg, Shakib tucks it softly beside the pitch
6.6 -
D Kulkarni to Shakib, 1 run, glided in the air and it's dropped by a 44-year old Tambe. Short ball outside off, Shakib greets it with a nothing shot unless he was looking to clear the ropes. Tambe runs to his right, tries to latch onto it on the move but his momentum is too much to allow him to control the ball. What a reprieve for KOL. The loss of Shakib, now, could have been disaster
6.5 -
D Kulkarni to Shakib, no run, a rising short ball which skids off the surface and hits Shakib high on the bat on his pull. Ends up flat-batting it softly down the pitch
6.4 -
D Kulkarni to Y Pathan, 1 run, remains flat-footed to a back of a length delivery outside off before planting an open face to skim it down to third man
6.3 -
D Kulkarni to Y Pathan, no run, length ball around off, Pathan is happy to block off the front foot
6.2 -
D Kulkarni to Shakib, 1 run, dabs a back of a length delivery down to third man
6.1 -
D Kulkarni to Shakib, 2 runs, driven through the covers, wide enough of sweeper cover for a couple
Dhawal Kulkarni [2.0-0-14-1] is back into the attack
5.6 -
Dwayne Smith to Y Pathan, FOUR, there's Pathan for you. Blasts a full ball over the covers. He doesn't care about the scenario
Yusuf Pathan, right handed bat, comes to the crease
5.5 -
Dwayne Smith to Suryakumar Yadav, out Caught by Raina!! Holy crap, you've got to be kidding me. This is surely one of the contenders for catch of the season. But firstly, where did that bounce come from? Pounded on a short of length and just sprung off the surface. Suryakumar didn't expect this much height on the ball as he arched his back to run it down to third man. Also, it kept following him with the angle so he had nowhere to go. The ball catches some glove, and what follows is sheer genius. Raina flies to his left as the ball is over his head, then catches it with the wrong arm (right arm stretched while diving to the left). Phew! Jaffa. Suryakumar Yadav c Raina b Dwayne Smith 4(12)
Dwayne Smith to Suryakumar Yadav, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!
5.4 -
Dwayne Smith to Suryakumar Yadav, 2 runs, punches this one in the air, not quite timed well enough but just about clears Finch running back from mid-off
5.3 -
Dwayne Smith to Suryakumar Yadav, no run, back of a length delivery outside off, chopped into the off-side
5.2 -
Dwayne Smith to Shakib, leg byes, 1 run, down leg side, Shakib is late on the flick and collects a leg-bye as the ball rolls away off his thigh
5.1 -
Dwayne Smith to Shakib, no run, edged and just short of Karthik. Shakib couldn't quite get on top of the bounce as he tried to run a short of length delivery down to third man. But it died off the outside edge
Dwayne Smith, right-arm medium, comes into the attack
4.6 -
P Kumar to Suryakumar Yadav, no run, oh he did well there, did Surya. It was a slower ball on the pads, Suryakumar shaped for the flick but realized that he had been deceived for lack of pace. So he never closed the bat face, or closed it only slightly to control a soft leading edge towards cover. A maiden. Wow
4.5 -
P Kumar to Suryakumar Yadav, no run, pushed with the angle towards mid-wicket
4.4 -
P Kumar to Suryakumar Yadav, no run, a bit too high to be screaming for leg-before. Might have nipped in slightly off the deck and hits Surya on the thigh as he misses a punch
4.3 -
P Kumar to Suryakumar Yadav, no run, a variation from Praveen and it's nearly done the trick. Slower short of length off-cutter outside off, doesn't bounce much as Surya tries to dab it down to third man, nearly chops it off the bottom edge towards off. Actually, not quite. It was far enough from off stump as it lumbered towards the keeper
4.2 -
P Kumar to Suryakumar Yadav, no run, stays back and stands tall to a short of length delivery and pats it down the pitch
4.1 -
P Kumar to Suryakumar Yadav, no run, the balance isn't quite there as he punches a full ball to mid-on. Hit it on the move and hence couldn't time it as well
3.6 -
D Kulkarni to Shakib, no run, gets cramped for room while attempted a cut shot and chops it towards point
3.5 -
D Kulkarni to Shakib, no run, length ball slanted across off, no shot offered
3.4 -
D Kulkarni to Shakib, no run, length ball around off, forward and defended. This is a real test now of the home side's character
Shakib Al Hasan, left handed bat, comes to the crease
3.3 -
D Kulkarni to Uthappa, out Caught by D Karthik!! Doesn't learn his lesson and pays the ultimate price. It's nowhere near full enough and with the ball swerving corners, definitely not advisable to drive on the up. He goes for it anyway and nicks it behind. Uthappa c D Karthik b D Kulkarni 14(10) [4s-3]
D Kulkarni to Uthappa, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!
3.2 -
D Kulkarni to Uthappa, no run, loose from Uthappa. Tries to punch a short of length delivery on the up and the shape on the ball takes it past the outside edge
3.1 -
D Kulkarni to Uthappa, FOUR, oh dear! Shivil Kaushik .. I don't even have words. Such a lame effort. Clipped down straight to fine leg and it should have been a regulation pick-up but he lets it through and can't recover. You should see the look on Kulkarni's face
2.6 -
P Kumar to Suryakumar Yadav, 2 runs, rests on the back foot to a slightly shortish delivery outside off and slices his punch past a diving backward point. Third man keeps them to a couple
2.5 -
P Kumar to Suryakumar Yadav, no run, length ball swinging away outside off, left alone
2.4 -
P Kumar to Suryakumar Yadav, no run, floats it up on a length and is defended softly. Not a great stride from Surya which will only encourage the bowler
Suryakumar Yadav, right handed bat, comes to the crease
Two slips in place now for Suryakumar Yadav. The last time he came up the order and had so much time, he revelled. Let's see how things pan out now..
2.3 -
P Kumar to M Pandey, out Caught by D Karthik!! Look at that shape from Praveen. Brilliant bowling. There's always a place for swing in cricket and Praveen is a fine example. Kisses the track on a back of a length just outside off and then it swirls further away to catch a faint edge as Pandey tries to glide it down to third man. KOL have been jolted early at home, which doesn't happen very often. M Pandey c D Karthik b P Kumar 0(2)
P Kumar to M Pandey, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!
2.2 -
P Kumar to M Pandey, no run, back of a length delivery which pitches on middle and curls away slightly, blocked from the crease
Manish Pandey, right handed bat, comes to the crease
2.1 -
P Kumar to Gambhir, out Bowled!! This is where I scratch my brains. With so many technological advancements, surely there must be a way to prevent this from happening. An innocuous delivery down leg which is not even on course towards the leg-stump, then just gets stuck in the thigh pad, changes its path and breaks the timber. Gambhir definitely feels short-changed as he swings his bat at the pitch. Gambhir b P Kumar 5(6)
P Kumar to Gambhir, THAT'S OUT!! Bowled!!
1.6 -
D Kulkarni to Uthappa, FOUR, another lovely drive through extra-cover. Pitched right up outside off, and Uthappa dazzles again with a gorgeous flow of the bat
1.5 -
D Kulkarni to Uthappa, FOUR, this one is too full though. Swings away at a generous pace outside off and is caressed through the covers. Good stride across from Uthappa to cover for the swing
1.4 -
D Kulkarni to Uthappa, no run, again, this is curious. Have they picked something about Uthappa? Shortish, swinging away wide and rises steeply to beat the edge
1.3 -
D Kulkarni to Uthappa, no run, ah, Kulkarni had him groping at a wide dangler. Back of a length, good bounce off the deck, and beats Uthappa's tame effort at a cover-drive
1.2 -
D Kulkarni to Gambhir, 1 run, short of length ball which is clipped off the chest down to fine leg
There's a very wide slip in place for Gauti, probably to stop that annoying dab down to third man
1.1 -
D Kulkarni to Uthappa, 1 run, softly pushes a length ball on the up in front of mid-off and takes off. Again, excellent understanding
Dhawal Kulkarni, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack
0.6 -
P Kumar to Gambhir, no run, cracks a cut straight to backward point. Did well to time it like he did in the first place as the width wasn't quite there but couldn't thread it through
0.5 -
P Kumar to Gambhir, no run, oh that's missed the off-stump by a hair's breadth. Gambhir aims a flamboyant off-drive to a ball which is sharply curling back in. The length's not full enough either and it sneaks past his inside edge. Lucky
0.4 -
P Kumar to Gambhir, 2 runs, another couple of runs as Gambhir tucks it fine. Good running by the duo who seem to have a telepathic connection
0.3 -
P Kumar to Gambhir, 2 runs, Praveen goes up in half an appeal for a ball which has pitched a good foot outside leg, and there's even a little inside edge involved as the ball dribbles down wide of fine leg
0.2 -
P Kumar to Uthappa, 1 run, just a little suggestion of inswing, nothing great by Praveen's standards, nudged wide of mid-on
0.1 -
P Kumar to Uthappa, no run, back of a length delivery outside off to which Uthappa strides forward and blocks towards cover
Uthappa and Gambhir are at the crease. Uthappa is on strike. P Kumar will open the attack
So it's an ORANGE DAY today. Both teams sporting orange (or kinda orange I must say) have emerged victorious. Let's not trip too much over the colors, but those wins certainly changed the order of the points table. Gujarat leading the chart with HYD sitting next to them. Hope you enjoyed our coverage. Thanks for choosing this platform to read and relish all the razzle-dazzle of T20 cricket. Time to bid farewell now. Buh-bye from Raju Peethala, Sagar Chawla and scorer Venkatesh. Cheerio!
PK - Man of the Match: "We had plans for the batsmen and glad we executed our plans. I was confident about my bowling. I'm happy the way I'm swinging the ball. It's going all well at the moment."
Raina: "It was a very crucial game. Games in Kolkata are always special. Credit goes to our bowlers, they took those crucial wickets (which was lacking earlier) and again Baz and Smith gave us a good partnership. When you have too many options, you get confused. You always back your best bowler to bowl in the final overs. When Yusuf was batting, I thought I will give one over to Shivil and then to Tambe. I got a bit confused. DK and PK, they really bowl well in the death overs. He (Bravo) is our best death bowler and he has done really well. But with the way Yusuf and Shakib were going, it's always going to be tough. I think KOL is a very difficult team to beat and the way things have gone today, I'm very happy with the team tonight. When Finch is there in the middle, you always have license in that 7-8 overs and that's what I said to the coach. Sending him down the order really paid off. I'm flying to Holland to meet my wife tomorrow and I'm all excited."
"The way Shakib and Yusuf batted was brilliant. Lot of credit must go to PK with the way he swung the ball. They restricted us to an average score. We have been batting really well but as I said, losing 3-4 wickets inside 6 overs won't help. We have been looking forward for the contribution from the middle order and that's what they did today. Shakib is a quality bowler and they were swinging at everything that was thrown at them. DK played a very good knock and that's what changed the game," grunts out Gambhir.
McCullum and Smith (and their bat's edges) pumped Gujarat to a sane start that read 36/0 after 5 overs. Gambhir, having introduced spin early in the powerplay, persisted with Shakib's second over and reaped Smith out. What followed was a mini-assault from McCullum but one shot too many saw him perish for 29. Gambhir must have sniffed a chance then, but Karthik walked in, reverse swept, swept and upper-cut to waterjug all of KOL's hopes. Even Raina's (yet another) failed pull shot couldn't decelerate the charge, which was now doubly-dangerous, thanks to Finch. What transpired was a win where Gujarat didn't have to break a sweat, interestingly in Kolkata. A rare home failure for KOL and a rare mute day for the Eden Gardens crowd.
17.6 -
Chawla to Jadeja, SIX, finally! Jaddu decides to finish the game. Was waiting for this with eagle eyes. So, KOL have been humbled at their home ground. Beating them in Kolkata is like beating Rafael Nadal in the first round of a French Open. Quite impossible, but GUJ have managed to do so. Jaddu takes his side to the top of the points table with a mighty mow over mid-wicket. GUJ's owner is seen fist-pumping and the orange flags are flying high. Go, celebrate Jaddu and console Finchy!
17.5 -
Chawla to Jadeja, no run, and what is Jaddu doing? He opens the bat face and dabs a quicker one towards backward point
Dwayne Bravo, right handed bat, comes to the crease
17.4 -
Chawla to Jadeja, out Finch Run Out!! What has Jaddu done? Finch is livid. Please don't get in his way. He might kill you with the way he's swinging the bat. Is hitting the turf, pads in utter frustration. Jaddu nudged this towards mid-wicket and called for a single. Stopped half-way and is ball-watching. Finch responded and is just a few steps away from the striker's end. Pandey keeps his cool and runs with the ball to effect a simple run-out. Finch run out (M Pandey) 29(10) [4s-3 6s-2]
Chawla to Jadeja, THAT'S OUT!! Run Out!!
17.3 -
Chawla to Jadeja, no run, gently played back. Jaddu is taking his own, sweet time
17.2 -
Chawla to Jadeja, 2 runs, jumps back and turns the ball through mid-wicket and calls for two
17.1 -
Chawla to Jadeja, no run, forward and defended
3 runs needed
16.6 -
B Hogg to Jadeja, 1 run, wants to finish it off and goes for a biggie. It was full at the legs, dragged off the toe-end towards square leg
16.5 -
B Hogg to Jadeja, no run, prods forward and exhibits another defensive stroke
16.4 -
B Hogg to Jadeja, no run, clamps forward and bunts this floater into the pitch
Ravindra Jadeja, left handed bat, comes to the crease
16.3 -
B Hogg to D Karthik, out Stumped!! Not again! The wrong 'un which deceives DK again - Beats his bat swing this time Robbie had it covered. DK isn't looking back this time. D Karthik st Uthappa b B Hogg 51(29) [4s-8 6s-1]
B Hogg to D Karthik, THAT'S OUT!! Stumped!!
16.2 -
B Hogg to D Karthik, no run, Catch dropped! Karthik steps out and goes foe the loft, was fired outside off and Robbie fails to latch onto the outside edge
16.1 -
B Hogg to D Karthik, FOUR, Russell can't cut it off and DK gets to his 12th T20 League fifty. A googly from Hoggy and Karthik was up for it. Went too far across, knelt down and belted the sweep behind square leg. Russell came rushing in but he lets it through. Just one strike away now
Brad Hogg [1.0-0-14-0] is back into the attack
With 8 needed from 24 balls, they take a strategic time-out. Ah! These customary rules you know...Credit must go to DK with the way he composed himself and changed the momentum
15.6 -
Chawla to Finch, no run, quicker legbreak outside off, Finchy went hard on the drive and chopped it towards cover
15.5 -
Chawla to Finch, SIX, Finch is in some hurry! Why isn't he opening? Nevertheless, he makes up for it. Full and sliding in towards leg-stump, Finch spanks it and sends it soaring into the cow corner stands
15.4 -
Chawla to Finch, FOUR, Finch is turning it on here! Sees plenty of width outside off and pounces on it with a blistering drive through cover. Stop that!
15.3 -
Chawla to Finch, FOUR, drifting down leg, Finch drops to one knee and laps it fine, raced away to the fine leg fence!
15.2 -
Chawla to D Karthik, 1 run, driven to sweeper cover
15.1 -
Chawla to Finch, 1 run, angled into the pads, Finch looks to sweep, drags it off the splice behind square leg
Piyush Chawla [2.0-0-6-1] is back into the attack
14.6 -
Shakib to Finch, 1 run, driven to wide long-off
14.5 -
Shakib to D Karthik, 1 run, late-cut behind backward point
14.4 -
Shakib to Finch, 1 run, tossed up outside off, driven to long-off
14.3 -
Shakib to Finch, SIX, that's dismissed! Looped up in the outside off zone and Finch extends his arms on a thumping lofted drive, all the way into the extra cover orbit
14.2 -
Shakib to Finch, 2 runs, drives powerfully again, extra cover half-stops and manages to save a couple of runs for his side
14.1 -
Shakib to Finch, FOUR, and the runs keep coming! Wider of off from a short length, Finch kills the drive with a wild swing of the arms and off she goes through the covers
Shakib Al Hasan [2.0-0-23-1] is back into the attack
13.6 -
A Russell to D Karthik, FOUR, this is an example of DK's panache! He plays the ball according to its merit. Doesn't get intimidated by the situation. Short and sprayed wide, Karthik stays still and opens his bat face to ramp it wide of third man
Aaron Finch, right handed bat, comes to the crease
13.5 -
A Russell to Raina, out Caught by B Hogg!! How many times have we seen Raina getting out to a short ball? Only he should know the count. This bouncer gets big on Raina as he looks to pull. Goes through with the shot and top-edge lands in the safe hands of Hogg at fine leg. He hadn't even moved an inch. Raina c B Hogg b A Russell 14(18) [4s-1]
A Russell to Raina, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!
13.4 -
A Russell to D Karthik, 1 run, dropped by Robbie! Short, down leg, Karthik drags the swipe and despite a well-timed dive from Uthappa (to his left), he couldn't cling on
13.3 -
A Russell to D Karthik, no run, lands it on a back of a length and hits the splice of DK as he hop-defends
13.2 -
A Russell to D Karthik, FOUR, short and asking to be slapped - Karthik swivels and pulls ferociously to the fine leg fence
13.1 -
A Russell to D Karthik, no run, good length around the stumps, Karthik pushes it towards cover
Andre Russell [2.0-0-12-0] is back into the attack
12.6 -
M Morkel to Raina, no run, short of length delivery on the stumps, Raina jumps and fends
12.5 -
M Morkel to D Karthik, 1 run, Sanjay Manjrekar on air puts that shot as an "Unglamorous one." DK shuffled and was shaping for a scoop over short fine, the short ball zooms in quickly and pings his handle to dribble away to third man
12.4 -
M Morkel to D Karthik, FOUR, deft! How good is DK with these strokes? Waits inside the crease like a wily fox and opens the bat face at the last moment to run it fine down to third man. Oh, Morne! Can't do much about it?
12.3 -
M Morkel to Raina, 1 run, the ribcage-tickler, Raina rises on his toes and twirls his wrists on the whippy pull - A single to deep square
12.2 -
M Morkel to D Karthik, 1 run, ample width outside off and DK is no mood to attempt a rash shot. Must have settled nicely into the innings glided down to third man
12.1 -
M Morkel to Raina, 1 run, races down the track and wanted to flay one through the off-side. It was short and wide but Raina played the shot a little too early, drags it off the bottom half towards the leg-side
56 off 48. Gujarat should do this easily
11.6 -
U Yadav to D Karthik, 2 runs, shows the full face of the bat and drives one on the up through extra cover, caps the over with a couple of runs
11.5 -
U Yadav to Raina, 1 run, easy peasy down leg and Raina glances to fine leg
11.4 -
U Yadav to Raina, no run, that flew! But Gambhir dives full length to his right and denies Raina a boundary. Fuller, wider, Raina leans and times the pants off it (an elegant drive)
11.3 -
U Yadav to D Karthik, 1 run, taps this to point and runs to the other end
11.2 -
U Yadav to D Karthik, SIX, top-edge and six! GG ain't happy. DK dances down the pitch, Yadav pulls his length back and fires it fast into the batsman. Karthik is through his shot (pull) - Top-edge sails over the fine leg fence
11.1 -
U Yadav to D Karthik, no run, length on the stumps, Karthik copes with the bounce and pushes down the track with soft hands
66 from 54 needed. Umesh Yadav is steaming in...
10.6 -
M Morkel to Raina, no run, the giraffe continues to extract that extra bounce, shortish just outside off - Raina jumps (had to) and drops it into the off-side
10.5 -
M Morkel to D Karthik, 1 run, angled into the pads again and DK picks him and slots one backwards of square leg
10.4 -
M Morkel to Raina, 1 run, short at the hips, Raina rises with the bounce and turns it round the corner for a single
10.3 -
M Morkel to D Karthik, 1 run, tucks one to square leg and is content with a single
10.2 -
M Morkel to D Karthik, no run, nah! That's an ill-advised stroke at this juncture. After playing a slew of classy strokes, DK decides to shuffle across the stumps and scoop one over the keeper. But Morkel didn't offer him the pace he wanted, beaten comfortably
10.1 -
M Morkel to Raina, 1 run, bangs it on a length and bowls it outside off, Raina was expecting it to bounce further, but it didn't. Hops and bunts it into the off-side to sneak in a quick single
Morne Morkel [2.0-0-26-0] is back into the attack
Gujarat are in firm control here. KOL need wickets. Especially Karthik, who's looked in superb touch
9.6 -
U Yadav to Raina, 1 run, hops well across off to clip a ball through square leg
9.5 -
U Yadav to D Karthik, 1 run, softly drops it at his feet, might have deflected off the boot and rolled away in front of mid-wicket
9.4 -
U Yadav to Raina, 1 run, tucked off the hips through square leg
9.3 -
U Yadav to D Karthik, 1 run, now pats one away in front of backward point and rushes to the other end
9.2 -
U Yadav to D Karthik, FOUR, Karthik is playing a little blinder here. Such a cheeky little lad. His strokes are in full alignment with his appearance. So street-smart! Back of a length just outside off, Karthik opens his bat-face, uses all the pace and runs it fine of third man
9.1 -
U Yadav to D Karthik, no run, walks out at Yadav, converts it into a full ball and drives it smoothly. Short cover does well to dive across and stop
Umesh Yadav, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack
Strategic time-out!
8.6 -
B Hogg to D Karthik, 1 run, 14 off the Hogg over. After being punished for those full balls, Hogg is compelled to pull his length back and now Karthik slides deep in his crease and whacks the pull through square leg
8.5 -
B Hogg to D Karthik, FOUR, Karthik is racing at a strike rate of 300. Looped up full on the stumps, he powers it forcefully with a closed bat wide of long-on once more
8.4 -
B Hogg to D Karthik, FOUR, and now Karthik has Hogg thinking. Tossed up around off, he stoops low and wallops the sweep wide of long-on
8.3 -
B Hogg to D Karthik, FOUR, oh you have to love these kind of players. Second ball he faces, and he brings out the reverse sweep. It was the googly as well so it worked in his favour and simply paddled it behind backward point
A slip in place for Karthik. Hogg stays over the wicket..
8.2 -
B Hogg to Raina, 1 run, lots of turn on the googly. It's shortish and rips back in sharply and Raina does well to steer it from middle stump towards short third man
8.1 -
B Hogg to Raina, no run, flatter outside off, punched towards point
Brad Hogg, left-arm chinaman, comes into the attack
7.6 -
Chawla to D Karthik, no run, quicker leg-break outside off, patted towards point
Dinesh Karthik, right handed bat, comes to the crease
7.5 -
Chawla to Brendon McCullum, out Caught by M Pandey!! Just when B-Mac was building some momentum, he holes out at long-on. Skipped out of the crease and seemed to have dragged the loft of the inside half as the bat twisted in his hands. Pandey positions himself a yard or so inside the ropes, cups it overhead and his foot slightly slides backward. But then he does well to stall his momentum and not encroach those cushions. Brendon McCullum c M Pandey b Chawla 29(24) [4s-3 6s-2]
Chawla to Brendon McCullum, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!
7.4 -
Chawla to Raina, 1 run, Raina lazily punches a leg-break and doesn't bother to keep it down. It's so close to Chawla who might have got fingertips diving to his left. Or maybe not. A single to long-on
7.3 -
Chawla to Brendon McCullum, 1 run, flatter googly which darts back in, McCullum shuffles to leg and tucks it behind square
7.2 -
Chawla to Raina, 1 run, loopy leg-break around off, worked down to long-on
7.1 -
Chawla to Brendon McCullum, 1 run, oh, he has premeditated the sweep and the very full length almost does him in. But he is defiant, gets it away to short fine leg
Piyush Chawla [1.0-0-2-0] is back into the attack
6.6 -
M Morkel to Brendon McCullum, 1 run, comes down the track, not quite to the pitch and humbly pats it towards mid-off
6.5 -
M Morkel to Brendon McCullum, no run, isn't this evident? When you bowl it full, Baz is struggling. Attempts a tame drive, ends up having to reach out and is beaten. Not far from the leg-bail
6.4 -
M Morkel to Brendon McCullum, SIX, holy hell, where's that gone! Someone needs to launch a search party after it. Morkel again commits the crime of bowling short and he's been bombed over deep mid-wicket with a rocket launcher
6.3 -
M Morkel to Brendon McCullum, no run, that's much better, although it's smeared with the same amount of risk. Pitched right up and blazed to mid-off along the turf
6.2 -
M Morkel to Brendon McCullum, SIX, no, no, no. All this strategy from Morkel will do is that it will bring McCullum back into form. Short with a lot of width, and it's been desecrated over backward point
6.1 -
M Morkel to Brendon McCullum, FOUR, it's a flat-batted spank through the covers. Short and wide outside off, McCullum seemed to be slightly late on the stroke but he has so much muscle, this bloke. Powered it to the fence
Morne Morkel [1.0-0-9-0] is back into the attack
5.6 -
Shakib to Raina, FOUR, classic Raina. So strong through the off-side. He's got a fair idea that the ball won't be turning and he drives it with the round the wicket angle through extra-cover. Just punched it on the up
5.5 -
Shakib to Raina, no run, nudged to the left of Shakib who has hurt himself while jostling across to prevent the run. He looks to be in pain here. Wonder what happened. Ah, here it is. His ankle got slightly twisted. But he's a tough cookie. Gets back up to complete the over. Good lad!
5.4 -
Shakib to Raina, no run, ah, a soft outside edge. Raina is playing for turn when there isn't any. No worries though. Trickles towards point
Suresh Raina, left handed bat, comes to the crease
5.3 -
Shakib to Dwayne Smith, out Bowled!! There's the breakthrough, and it's the in-form batsman too. Shakib must have seen him run down the track, held it back in length while still looping it up. Smith doesn't want to budge despite not reaching the pitch. Swings across the line and it sneaks under him to take leg-stump. Dwayne Smith b Shakib 27(18) [4s-4 6s-1]
Shakib to Dwayne Smith, THAT'S OUT!! Bowled!!
5.2 -
Shakib to Dwayne Smith, SIX, the previous one didn't yield the desired result .. so Smith just decides to lift it over the man. Sliding in with the arm towards leg, Smith sinks on one knee and sweeps it deep into the backward square stands
5.1 -
Shakib to Dwayne Smith, no run, goes down on one knee and hits the sweep straight to backward square leg
Shakib Al Hasan [1.0-0-13-0] is back into the attack
4.6 -
Chawla to Brendon McCullum, no run, can't place the square cut away past point. He's struggling here
4.5 -
Chawla to Brendon McCullum, no run, oh smart. Chawla anticipated Baz coming down and fires it on his pads
4.4 -
Chawla to Brendon McCullum, no run, flatter and skidding on from a shortish length, defended off the back foot
4.3 -
Chawla to Dwayne Smith, 1 run, excellent effort from Manish Pandey diving away at long-on. It almost looked like he's splashing across in a swimming pool. Punched firmly and handsomely by Smith only to be deprived of a boundary. They took only a single because I think they assumed a four
4.2 -
Chawla to Brendon McCullum, 1 run, another quicker wrong 'un, this one's fuller in length and it's been swatted off the inside half down to deep mid-wicket. Baz is swinging at everything but not quite connecting them
4.1 -
Chawla to Brendon McCullum, no run, McCullum gets cramped for room despite stepping to leg as a shortish googly snakes back at him. He adjusts and blocks it down the track
Piyush Chawla, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack
3.6 -
A Russell to Dwayne Smith, no run, back of a length delivery outside off, Smith chops it to backward point
3.5 -
A Russell to Dwayne Smith, no run, length ball in the corridor, driven on the up only to find Gauti at short cover
3.4 -
A Russell to Dwayne Smith, FOUR, oh filth. Mind numbing filth. Low full toss down leg-side and Smith just tickles it away fine
3.4 -
A Russell to Dwayne Smith, 5 wides, that's took off from the pitch. It's taken flight and Uthappa is left helpless. All that he can do is give his bowler a big stare. Five bonus runs
3.3 -
A Russell to Brendon McCullum, 1 run, McCullum is living by the sword here. Hmm, sounds familiar. Backs away once more looking to murder a full ball but gets a thick inside edge which rolls away behind square
3.2 -
A Russell to Dwayne Smith, 1 run, back of a length delivery angling in on leg, clipped through mid-wicket
3.1 -
A Russell to Dwayne Smith, no run, very full ball outside off, jammed towards cover
Andre Russell [1.0-0-1-0] is back into the attack
2.6 -
Shakib to Brendon McCullum, FOUR, I still can't figure how that's beat the field. Baz is down the track in a flash, and slogs furiously despite not getting close to the pitch of the ball. He swats it off the inside half and it has enough legs to split the field
2.5 -
Shakib to Dwayne Smith, 1 run, that's flew off the leading edge. Jeez, Smith whiplashed his wrists so hard that it zoomed past Shakib even before he had the chance to stretch his hand
2.4 -
Shakib to Dwayne Smith, FOUR, oh sloppy. It's Suryakumar Yadav at mid-off and he's let this one through. Driven powerfully along the turf, and it bursts through his hands
2.3 -
Shakib to Dwayne Smith, no run, slides on with the underground left arm action, sneaks past the inside edge and pings the pad. Again, going down
2.2 -
Shakib to Dwayne Smith, FOUR, Smith plants his back knee on the pitch, and then uses the angle to nail the sweep behind square. There is not much turn for now, that's not to say that Shakib is even trying
2.1 -
Shakib to Dwayne Smith, no run, slightly appeal as Shakib angles one in from round the wicket and hits the front pad, but it's going well down leg
Shakib Al Hasan, left-arm orthodox, comes into the attack
1.6 -
M Morkel to Brendon McCullum, no run, goes too hard on the drive and botches it to cover
1.5 -
M Morkel to Brendon McCullum, no run, again a big swipe, trying to thunder Morkel over mid-wicket, swats it off the inside half to a straightish mid-wicket
1.4 -
M Morkel to Brendon McCullum, no run, steps to leg and is followed by Morkel with a full ball, swings hard but misses
1.3 -
M Morkel to Brendon McCullum, FOUR, oh yeah! Short ball and McCullum slashes it over backward point. The speed of his hands is almost unfair to us ordinary beings. Belts it away so hard
1.2 -
M Morkel to Dwayne Smith, 1 run, tucked off the hips through mid-wicket
1.1 -
M Morkel to Dwayne Smith, FOUR, that's authoritative from Smith. Morkel wouldn't like it one bit. Tall, lanky bowler. Runs in and bangs it in short only to be pulled well in front of square. He'll almost take it as an insult
Morne Morkel, right-arm fast, comes into the attack
Oh yes, Ultraedge shows a certain spike. McCullum is lucky to be out there.
0.6 -
A Russell to Brendon McCullum, no run, slashes at a short ball outside off, but it's more a case of ball hitting bat than the other way round. Mistimes it to backward point
0.5 -
A Russell to Brendon McCullum, no run, the whole of Eden Gardens goes up in appeal along with Russell. There's a definite woody sound as McCullum misses with his appalling heave after charging down, but the umpire is unmoved
0.4 -
A Russell to Brendon McCullum, no run, half-volley around middle, punched to mid-on
0.3 -
A Russell to Brendon McCullum, no run, oooh, his defence looked fragile there. Some more movement could have landed him in trouble. Full ball on middle and off, Baz pushes it on the move into the off-side
0.2 -
A Russell to Dwayne Smith, 1 run, slightly shorter in length than the previous one, straighter in line too, and it's been picked off through the mid-wicket region
0.1 -
A Russell to Dwayne Smith, no run, beats the edge straightaway. Smith is caught on the crease to a back of a length delivery which rips away off the deck and whirs past the willow
Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum are at the crease. Dwayne Smith is on strike. A Russell will open the attack