Highlights, IPL 2018, KKR vs RR, Eliminator at Eden Gardens, Full Cricket Score: Kolkata win by 25 runs, advance to 2nd qualifier

Andre Russell, Man of the Match: So feel good to contribute It has been a hectic road. Every game is like a final. Yeah, I think it just clear head. If you get short, wide ball, slower ball. All about being balance. Have a still base, and make sure you get bat to ball. Once I connect, I know it’ll be either a four or a six. I swing very hard and believe in my abilities. Slower ball deceived me a bit, as I said it is all but the swing. It’s good to take responsibility with the ball as well. Especially, as a senior player. Just goes to show you’re improving.

Dinesh Karthik, Kolkata Knight Riders captain: Winning four matches is special. We were under the pump. To come back from there was special. Credit to Shubman Gill. He played some lovely shots and eased the pressure of me. To absorb the pressure and play fantastic shots was brilliant. In these kind of crunch games, it’s not about the par score. It’s about how much you believe. We fielded well today which was very good to see.

That will be it from the Eden Gardens then. It was a pleasant evening to watch cricket and bring the action live to you; a welcome relief from the humidity of Mumbai. We’ll be back again day after tomorrow. Till then, stay tuned to Firstpost. Good night!

That will be it from the Eden Gardens then. It was a pleasant evening to watch cricket and bring the action live to you; a welcome relief from the humidity of Mumbai. We’ll be back again day after tomorrow. Till then, stay tuned to Firstpost. Good night!

Q-1: CSK needed 43 runs from the last 3 overs with 3 wickets in hand. 

Result: CSK won by 2 wickets.

Eliminator: RR needed 43 runs from the last 3 overs with 7 wickets in hand.

Result:  RR lost by 25 runs.

Difference: (The lack of) Experience

Andre Russell is the Man of the Match

Ajinkya Rahane, Rajasthan Royals captain: Definately, really disappointed.  The way we started with the ball, especially after that.  Dropped catch of Russell hurt. But when you start your chase so well, you generally win the game, but KKR bowled really well. Definitely gettable. Me and Rahul than me and sanju got partnerships but we couldn’t get it in the end. Credit to the KKR bowlers. When Sanju and me were batting we were looking to play positively. Overall, we played really good cricket. The bowling unit was fantastic with how the fast bowlers bowled and even the spinners. Batting needs to improve.

Q-1: CSK needed 43 runs from the last 3 overs with 3 wickets in hand. 

Result: CSK won by 2 wickets.

Eliminator: RR needed 43 runs from the last 3 overs with 7 wickets in hand.

Result:  RR lost by 25 runs.

Difference: (The lack of) Experience

Special mention for the crowd here. I did call their presence underwhelming before the match began, but they did turn up in big numbers as the match progressed. An attendance of 56,000 in a 66,000-seater cauldron isn’t too bad I guess.

RR today:

1-10 overs: 87/1 (RR – 8.70)

11-15 overs: 24/1 (RR – 4.80)

16-20 overs: 33/2 (RR – 6.60)

Difficult to understand how the Royals can let the game slip after having KKR 4-51. But sometimes you just have to credit the opposition because Rahane tried every trick in the book. This team has done a remarkable job to qualify for the playoffs considering Stokes has hardly contributed and they lost Butler before the last match of the season. Perhaps Samson and Rahane could have gone harder, but they simply did not have the firepower in the lower order like the Knight Riders did.

So KKR are through to Qualifier 2, where they play SRH on the 25th. And what a win this has been for them. RR were in the driver’s seat till the 13th over of the chase, but KKR stayed patient. It was the case of who blinked first and it was the visitors who lost the plot. They took it too deep for their liking. KKR win by 25 runs and they’ll be favourites again when they play SRH a day later.

Another very good over to finish by Prasidh Krishna, but the match was all but done in the 17th over itself. Krishna has been highly impressive especially in the death overs.

Rajasthan Royals finish with 144/4 off their 20 overs. With six wickets left and still losing by 25 runs short just goes onto show their lack of batting muscle. Buttler and Stokes’ absence was felt today more than they did in their game against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Kolkata Knight Riders are through to the second Qualifier. They win the match by 25 runs and will meet Sunrisers Hyderabad two days later. Rajasthan Royals’ season comes to an end.

After 19 overs,Rajasthan Royals 136/4 ( Heinrich Klaasen (W) 17 , Krishnappa Gowtham 2)

Six runs off the penultimate over. No boundaries. Forget Faf, RR don’t even have a Shardul. Russell too mixes it up well too. KKR are all but into the second qualifier.

After 18 overs,Rajasthan Royals 130/4 ( Heinrich Klaasen (W) 13 , Krishnappa Gowtham 0)

Prasidh Krishna with a superb 18th over. Bowls the wide yorker, goes short to surprise the new batsman Stuart Binny. Finishes with a wicket off the final ball. Only 3 runs off the over. 40 runs needed off the last two overs. This seems beyond RR now. If they do, this will be a bigger heist than what Du Plessis and Thakur pulled off yesterday.

RR’s chase is falling apart. The boundaries are not coming and Karthik has placed his men on the right positions. He has done well to save Prasidh for the death. What an excellent over this from Prasidh. He built the pressure consistently before getting his man. He still has an over to go and I don’t see RR getting the better of him. KKR are on song.

OUT! Gone! Wonderful over from Krishna. Caps the over with slower ball outside off, Binny was beaten neck and crop, can only sweep it to square leg fielder. Lynn pouches it and celebrates, they think they have got it.

S Binny c Chris Lynn b Prasidh 0(3)

CSK also needed 43 runs from the last three overs yesterday. RR also need 43 runs from the last three overs today. Who will be RR’s Faf du Plessis today?

This, I believe, is the game for KKR. They just need to keep their cool to defend their citadel.

After 17 overs,Rajasthan Royals 127/3 ( Heinrich Klaasen (W) 10 , Stuart Binny 0)

Chawla gets the prized wicket of Samson off his final over. He finises with excellent figures off 2/24. KKR might not have the game in their grasp as yet but the they do have the upper hand in the contest. 43 off 18 required. CSK chased down the same equation yesterday with 3 wickets left in the end, can the batting side do it again?

OUT! And we see this so often with Samson, after getting to his half-century he has thrown it away. Was looking to slap it across the field attempting a cross-batted shot, gets the top edge and holes out to long on. Major blow for RR.

FIFTY! Samson has played really well here. A well-timed half-century. Gets it there in 37 balls. Played some delightful strokes in his innings.

FOUR! Chawla tried to slip in fast and full, but it was way too full. Samson takes it on the fulltoss and carves it through cover-point.

RR’s scores while chasing in the last five overs this IPL:

25/3 (21 balls)  v CSK

50/4 (28 balls) v MI

38/2 (30 balls) v SRH

55/2 (29 balls) v CSK

39/1 (18 balls) v MI

After 16 overs,Rajasthan Royals 119/2 ( Sanju Samson 45 , Heinrich Klaasen (W) 7)

Not the best of the days from Narine. Eight runs off his final over as he goes wicket-less in his spell giving away 39 runs adding to his 2-ball innings with the bat. 51 needed off 24.

Rajasthan now well and truly behind the eight ball. As mentioned at the start of the Royals innings they need one of the top four to make a 70. That man is now Samson. One thing in the Royals favour is that apart from one over from Chawla, other three overs will be pace. It has been easier to bat against the fast bowlers tonight.

FOUR! Brave! Klaasen brings out the reverse sweep against Narine and he gets it over short third man for a much-needed boundary

Well that was an excellent over from Kuldeep Yadav. KKR had Russell to push them to this total. Can Klassen do that for RR?

After 15 overs,Rajasthan Royals 111/2 ( Sanju Samson 43 , Heinrich Klaasen (W) 1)

Kuldeep – the master of deception – first gets Rahane and then beats new batsman Henrich Klaasen on the outside edge with the googly. Just the over KKR wanted, can they wage a late comeback here? 59 off 30. Game on!

OUT! First ball after the time out and Ajinkya Rahane is gone! Kuldeep’s googly, which Rahane has failed to pick all evening has fallen to it. Was tossed up and Rahane went for the sweep. Gets to toe-end off the bat with the ball popping back to the bowler for a simple catch.

A Rahane c and b Kuldeep Yadav 46 (41)

RR have done well to run their singles and doubles hard when the boundaries became hard to come by. 10 runs per over is not difficult. Expect a few big hits to bring it down to single digits soon. As for KKR, they simply need wickets.

Sanju Samson has now completed 3,000 runs in T20 cricket.

After 14 overs,Rajasthan Royals 109/1 ( Ajinkya Rahane (C) 46 , Sanju Samson 42)

Samson continues to struggle against Narine. Played and miss and he wasn’t able to breakfree until he got one that was pitched short and belts it over midwicket for six. Samson tentative pushes the last ball but falls just short of the cover fielder.

SIX! Too short from Narine and Samson is able to slap it over midwicket this time. Poor from the spinner. The pressure was building and RR get the boundary they wanted.

After 13 overs,Rajasthan Royals 103/1 ( Ajinkya Rahane (C) 46 , Sanju Samson 36)

The running between the wickets has been very good between these two. Couple of braces in the over, so the scoreboard keeps ticking despite the boundaries having dried up. 67 off 42 required. Required run rate creeping towards 10.

Russell has been brought on. DK’s last throw of the dice.

After 12 overs,Rajasthan Royals 96/1 ( Ajinkya Rahane (C) 41 , Sanju Samson 34)

The partnership is worth now 49 runs and it has taken 41 balls for it. Couple of good overs from KKR spinners, but dots won’t do it for them, they need to break this stand and getting into their middle order. 78 needed with 48 balls left in the innings. Five off Chawla’s third over.

This match is slipping away from KKR rather quickly. Karthik kicked the turf during the Searles over, and is changing the field almost every ball. Rahane and Samson, meanwhile, are showing no signs of panic.

This match is slipping away from KKR rather quickly. Karthik kicked the turf during the Searles over, and is changing the field almost every ball. Rahane and Samson, meanwhile, are showing no signs of panic.

After 11 overs,Rajasthan Royals 90/1 ( Ajinkya Rahane (C) 39 , Sanju Samson 30)

Samson goes for a fancy paddle down the fine leg seeing which Kuldeep hurries the flatter one, got an top edge but was just over Karthik. Risky shot. Rahane fails to pick the the one that goes the other way as he prods his bat cluelessly. Three singles come off the over.

After 10 overs,Rajasthan Royals 87/1 ( Ajinkya Rahane (C) 37 , Sanju Samson 29)

Searles first over costs KKR 13 runs. Samson is looking increasingly threatening. The partisan crowds in Eden Gardens will be eager for a wicket or else their team is on the way to be knocked out of the tournament.

FOUR! Easy pickings. Again wide and back of a length. Searles doesn’t have the pace of Russell or even Krishna. Samson waits on it and cuts it behind point.

SIX! Searles drops it short and Samson needs no second invitation. Swats it across to get it over midwicket fence. Just clears the fence for six.

Javon Searles is the new bowler. He will begin his first over.

After 9 overs,Rajasthan Royals 74/1 ( Ajinkya Rahane (C) 35 , Sanju Samson 18)

Kuldeep started off with a poor delivery that was dismissed to the fence, while the boundary off the last ball was well-deserved. Samson looks completely different when plays against other spinners, compared to Narine. 10 come off the 9th over. 96 needed off 66.

Kallis is on the ground to have a chat with Karthik. The last time he came out was during KKR innings and it resulted in more aggressive batting from the hosts almost immediately. Can his words work now? It’s RR’s match to lose at this stage.

Couple of timely boundaries in the last two or three overs.  Royals have to ensure they don’t let the asking rate blow out too far, they don’t have the depth or the power hitting down the order. For now, Samson and Rahane are pacing this innings really well. An odd boundary every 10-12 balls with strike rotation the key.

FOUR! Crafty work from Samson. Saw the flight on the ball, shimmes down the track and created enough room and to get it over covers.

FOUR! Nothing ball from Kuldeep. Digged it in halfway down the pitch and Samson was never going to miss out. Heaves it away to mid wicket boundary

Sanju Samson’s batting average in IPL – 11:

April – 46.50

May – 16.00

After 8 overs,Rajasthan Royals 64/1 ( Ajinkya Rahane (C) 34 , Sanju Samson 9)

Samson places the ball deftly in the empty spaces of the ground to pick couple of braces. Narine beats Samson with one that turns sharply. DK appeals from behind the stumps, while a muted Narine knew the ball was missing the wickets. Rahane finises the over with a boundary.

FOUR! Done nicely there by Rahane. Played it very late to run it down to third man.

Sunil Narine has dismissed Sanju Samson thrice in 27 balls in IPL.

After 7 overs,Rajasthan Royals 54/1 ( Ajinkya Rahane (C) 29 , Sanju Samson 4)

Kuldeep starts with one wide of off stump, Rahane plants his front leg out and shoulders arms, was inside the tramline. Follows it up with a wrong’un on off-middle stump, Rahane misses and KKR do appeal, but Choudhary has ruled it not out and probably he is right too. Samson sweeps it around the corner for a brace. Three runs off Kuldeep’s first over.

Sunil Narine has dismissed Ajinkya Rahane thrice in 49 balls in IPL.

Sunil Narine’s record in IPL playoffs/knockouts before today:

Matches – 7

Wickets – 3

Average – 71

Eco. rate – 7.60

So finally KKR have a wicket but powerplay belonged to the visitors. KKR were 46/3 at this stage. KKR need to get few quick wickets to upset this clinical response so far.

Time for some left arm wrist spin. Kuldeep Yadav comes on bowl.

After 6 overs,Rajasthan Royals 51/1 ( Ajinkya Rahane (C) 28 , Sanju Samson 2)

Successful over for Piyush Chawla and KKR. They required a breakthrough and got it just before the 50-run opening stand. Sanju Samson walks in at number 3 and knocks around couple of singles as RR go past the 50-run mark. End of the powerplay

Piyush Chawla has now taken 16 against RR in IPL – the second most by any bowler.

OUT! Piyush Chawla is the man for KKR. Draws first blood, was the wrong’un again, the ball hit Tripathi pushed at it with hard hands and the ball also hit high on the bat. Chawla had stretch to his right and extend his arm to grab it. 

R Tripathi c and b Chawla 20(13)

After 5 overs,Rajasthan Royals 47/0 ( Ajinkya Rahane (C) 26 , Rahul Tripathi 20)

Narine begins with wide down the leg side and after Rahane turns the strike over, Tripathi hits it for consecutive sixes. Shout for leg before as the ball rushed onto him, the impact was in line and DK went for the review and the replays show that he got a big inside edge onto his pads. KKR lose their review.

One of the top four have to score 70-80 for Rajasthan. Not enough depth in the batting, but this has been a decent start. Best part about Rahane and Tripathi is that they complement each other so well. Tripathi is a brilliant player of spin and Rahane is ruthless against pace. One also senses with each run the belief will grow in that Royals dugout.

SIX! And another one! This time it is hit wider off long on. Otherwise it was a similar looking stroke.

SIX! Tripathi goes down on his knee and slogs it over long on for a maximum. Fearless cricket. Takes the ball from outside off stump and pumps it over long on.

Sunil Narine is here. Time for him to pick wickets for KKR.

After 4 overs,Rajasthan Royals 32/0 ( Ajinkya Rahane (C) 25 , Rahul Tripathi 7)

Krishna comes back well after being hit for couple of boundaries off the first two balls. 11 runs off the over. Decent start for Rajasthan this.

FOUR! Short ball outside off and once again Rahane has gone for it. Didn’t time it perfectly but had got enough, bounces couple times before trickling over the ropes

FOUR! On the hips of Rahane and was meant to be hit to the boundary. Glances it to the mid wicket fence.

After 3 overs,Rajasthan Royals 21/0 ( Ajinkya Rahane (C) 15 , Rahul Tripathi 6)

Rahane consulted with his partner and reviewed on-field umpire Anil Choudhary’s call and it was a good decision as RR captain survives, the ball was missing the leg stump according to the ball-tracker. Rahane didn’t pick the googly, with the ball crashing into the pads. Rahul almost chopped it on to his pads not reading Chawla’s wrong’un and bringing the bat down just in time.

FOUR! Stunning timing there from Tripathi. Was on length, played it with the spin and through the packed offside field for a boundary

Piyush Chawla is brought into the attack

After 2 overs,Rajasthan Royals 15/0 ( Ajinkya Rahane (C) 14 , Rahul Tripathi 1)

Krishna hits 140 clicks straightaway. Rahane’s upper cut, though off the edge, goes to third man on a bounce for a single. Tripathi gets his first run in one of the most hilarious manners. Was backing away on the legside. The bowler followed him and he was trying get over covers, instead the ball hits him high on the and as a effect loses his bat in the process has to complete the run without the bat. Six runs off the over.

FOUR! Overpitched on the pads from Krishna and Rahane would hit that all day long. Flicks it through midwicket, with ball running across the practice wickets to beat Russell.

Ajinkya Rahane is now the leading run-getter for RR in IPL, eclipsing Shane Watson’s tally of 2372 runs.

Prasidh Krishna will bowl from the other end

After 1 overs,Rajasthan Royals 9/0 ( Ajinkya Rahane (C) 9 , Rahul Tripathi 0)

Streaky beginning for Rahane. Russell starts with one sliding down the leg side, Rahane closed the face of the bat early as he tried to run it down to fine leg, instead gets an leading edge, that fortunately for RR goes over the infield on the offside. Russell tumbles in his follow through, he has done it a few times this season, hasn’t he? Rahane’s six with give him immense confidence.

SIX! Up and over! Rahane stays put as Russell drops it short outside off and slaps it with a horizontal bat over covers.

RR have won only one match at Eden Gardens in IPL and it came in 2008. They have lost six consecutive matches since then.

KKR have conceded 123 sixes in this IPL so far – the least by a team.

RR have hit 256 boundaries in IPL – 11 so far – the least by any team.

Challenging total to say the least, but not beyond RR’s reach. Out come Ajinkya Rahane with Rahul Tripathi along side. After playing a useful hand, Dr Russ will start with the ball.

Meanwhile Rahane and Rahul Tripathi are wasting no time and are taking throwdowns. At the toss, Rahane had said he doesn’t know where he will bat tonight. By the looks of it, he will open the chase.

KKR today:

1-6 overs: 46/3 (RR – 7.67)
7-15 overs: 68/2 (RR – 7.56)
16-20 overs: 55/2 ( RR – 11.00)

KKR would be happy with 169/7 considering the way they started. The pitch has certainly eased out after first ten overs. Ball is coming lot nicely on the bat and the bounce has become increasingly truer. A lot will depend on the way KKR start. If they can put RR’s wobbly middle order under pressure early, we have a game on. Else, 170 on this pitch is perfectly gettable.

After 20 overs**,Kolkata** Knight Riders 169/7 ( Andre Russell 49 , Piyush Chawla 0)

KKR have recovered well to post 169/7. Russell remains unbeaten on 49. Laughlin started off nervously with a couple of wides to start off. Russell then hammered a couple of fours on either side of Searles’ wicket to propel KKR to a competitive total. 12 runs and a wicket off the last over from Laughlin.

FOUR! Sheer brute force. Russell just muscles a full delivery through covers off Laughlin.

OUT! Good catch from Archer. Searles looks to go downtown off a slower ball but ends up mistiming it high in the air, Archer runs to his right from long off and pouches it.

This is going to tough chase for the Royals. But you can never doubt them, they find a way to surprise all of us. Rahane and Samson are due for big scores and it is pivotal they bat with freedom. The Royals attitude is lets not be afraid of losing, if they can keep that up with the bat – this could be close chase. To be fair KKR are favourites from here.

No of players to hit 30-plus sixes in each IPL season:

2008 – 1, 2009 – 0
2010 – 0, 2011 – 1
2012 – 1, 2013 – 1
2014 – 2, 2015 – 1
2016 – 3, 2017 – 0
2018 – 6*

FOUR! Russell heaves it over mid-wicket off Laughlin. Sheer power.

Laughlin will bowl the final over

After 19 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 157/6 ( Andre Russell 39 , Javon Searles 2)

Despite that ridiculous six, it was a brilliant over from Archer. He varied his lengts and pace well. 8 runs off the over, RR will take it any day with Russell in the middle.

SIX! WHAT A SHOT! Forehand down the line show. Slower short ball outside off. Russell clobbers it over long off.

Archer will bowl the penultimate over**….**

After 18 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 149/6 ( Andre Russell 32 , Javon Searles 1)

Russell is playing crucial innings here. Karthik departed off the first ball of the over but then Russell made up for it with two sixes in the over. 14 runs off the over. KKR 149/6. 165 still possible if Russell stays till the end.

SIX! 2nd in the over! Short from Laughlin, Russell goes for a pull but gets a top edge over fine leg. It flies into the stands.

Wicket-keepers to score fifty-plus runs in playoff/knockout matches in IPL:

MS Dhoni (2)

Parthiv Patel (2)

Wriddhiman Saha

Manvinder Bisla

Adam Gilchrist 

DINESH KARTHIK*

SIX! Hammered! A slower short ball from Laughlin, Russell muscles it over deep mid-wicket.

OUT! Laughlin provides the breakthrough and it’s a big one. Karthik is back in the hut after hitting 50.

It’s a slower delivery outside off, Karthik goes for a swipe across the line, is done in by the change of pace and gets a top edge to extra cover where Rahane pouches a very good catch. A very good innings comes to an end.

After 17 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 135/5 ( Dinesh Karthik (C) (W) 52 , Andre Russell 19)

A brilliant over for KKR. Just what they wanted. Two sixes and a four. Russell is starting to look dangerous. Karthik reached his fifty and is playing a gem. Unadkat hasn’t got his lines and lengths right in this match and has gone for 33 runs off his 2 overs. KKR would be looking at 165-170 if this pair stays till the end.

Excellent half century this from the skipper. His 8-ball 29 in Sri Lanka seems to have done wonders to his self-belief. Meanwhile, Russell has gone on a boundary-hitting overdrive.

FOUR! Russell is warming up. Smashes this one over extra cover to hit 10 off 2.

SIX! Russell gets the second six of the over as he heaves one just over the fielder at deep mid-wicket.

SIX! FIFTY for Karthik! It’s a top edge but Karthik won’t mind. He looks to go for a scoop but gets a top edge over the keeper. He continues his good form with yet another innings of significance.

Game changing rapidly, but at the same time pitch starting to flatten out. Important breakthrough by Archer and good captaincy by Rahane again to revert back to the fast bowler to break the partnership. Death bowling is so important, Archer has already bowled three, so other four overs they need Unadkat to really stand up.

KKR’s scores in the last five overs this IPL while batting first:

79/1 v CSK

32/3 v SRH

55/5 v DD

45/4 v KXIP

76/3 v KXIP

They have to score atleast 50 to 60 runs from here on.

Right, so last few overs. Guess KKR should aim to get at least 8 per over to give their spinners a chance on this track. Karthik, by the way, has played really well. He has played spinners predominantly off the back foot and it has worked so far.

After 16 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 116/5 ( Dinesh Karthik (C) (W) 44 , Andre Russell 8)

RR bounced back in that over as Sodhi conceded just two singles. Russell got a real half-tracker off the penultimate ball but he completely missed it eliciting smiles and laughs on the field. The batsmen struggled to connect the ball off the middle.

After 15 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 114/5 ( Dinesh Karthik (C) (W) 43 , Andre Russell 7)

A mixed over for Rajasthan. Gill started off well with a thumping four over extra cover off Archer. But Archer bounced back to send Gill back in the hut. Archer the erred in length and bowled a second bouncer over the head and conceded a NO ball, Russell hammered the Free Hit delivery over wide long on for a six. A single off the last ball made it 12 runs and a wicket off the over. With 5 overs to go, this pair holds the key for KKR now.

SIX! Russell deposits the Free Hit delivery from Archer over wide long on to get off the mark.

What a time to lose your wicket! Just when KKR were looking to turn the momentum, they have lost Gill. Loud, loud cheer greets Andre Russel.

OUT! Archer breaks the stand. Gill is back in the hut.

It’s short of a length delivery, Gill gives himself a bit of room but Archer follows him. Gill is cramped for room and looks to slash it over the off side but ends up edging it to the keeper. He is livid with himself as he walks back. A timely wicket for RR.

Andre Russell is the new batsman.

After 14 overs**,Kolkata** Knight Riders 102/4 ( Dinesh Karthik (C) (W) 43 , Shubman Gill 24)

KKR finally decide to up the ante. Two sixes and a four in that over. Gopal didn’t get his lengths right and was punished. Gill hit a four and a six and then Karthik hammered a short one for another six to bring up the 50-run stand. KKR need more of these.

Dinesh Karthik has now completed 5,000 runs in T20 cricket.

SIX! 2nd in the over. Short from Gopal, Karthik rocks back and pulls it over deep mid-wicket.

SIX! Well, well. This is very good. Gill comes down the track and lofts it straight back over Gopal’s head.

FOUR! Gill finally breaks the shackles. A touch wide from Gopal, Gill cuts it through point.

The big overs aren’t coming for KKR. This 30-run partnership has taken 30 balls. Two good overs won’t do them much harm.

Gopal continues…..

Gopal continues…..

After 13 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 82/4 ( Dinesh Karthik (C) (W) 34 , Shubman Gill 13)

No boundary in this over as well. Gill could have got one when he whipped one wide of long on but Binny made a brilliant save to save two runs. KKR still dealing in singles and 2s. Four ones and a two in that over, 6 off it. Got to say, RR bowlers’ discipline has been immaculate.

After 12 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 76/4 ( Dinesh Karthik (C) (W) 32 , Shubman Gill 9)

Another very good over from Gopal. He is not giving anything away. Tight lines and lengths mean the batsmen have no chance but to tuck it around for singles. Just four runs off the over. The question is, when will KKR plan to up the ante?

Gopal continues…..

After 11 overs**,Kolkata** Knight Riders 72/4 ( Dinesh Karthik (C) (W) 30 , Shubman Gill 7)

A decent over for KKR given circumstances. The two batsmen concentrated on playing late and behind square on the off side. Karthik guided the first one very fine to third man but Sodhi made a good stop at the fence. Three singles, a two and boundary made it 9 runs off the over.

FOUR! Nicely placed! Shubman waits and guides it to third man off Laughlin, it just races away.

Rajasthan Royals in firm control at the moment. 

After 10 overs**,Kolkata** Knight Riders 63/4 ( Dinesh Karthik (C) (W) 26 , Shubman Gill 2)

KKR must have heaved a sigh of relief as Karthik hit a rare boundary in that over. However, that was the only delivery in which Gopal erred in his lines. There were just three singles in the over apart from the four in that over. It will be interesting to see what approach young Shubman Gill takes in this pressure situation.

Jacques Kallis had a lengthy chat with Karthik and Gill during the timeout. They really have to step up after conceding the first half to visitors. Expect them to pick their man to attack now.

Most runs for KKR in a season by overseas players in IPL:

443 – Chris Lynn, 2018*

424 – Jacques Kallis, 2011

409 – Jacques Kallis, 2012

Plenty of spin options for the Royals and they are making the most of the track that is on the slower side and offering spin. The ball seems to be sticking into the pitch, as evident in the couple of caught and bowled dismissals. This has been a great toss to win, but it is all about ensuring KKR don’t get away now.

FOUR! A much-needed boundary. On the pads from Gopal, Karthik trickles it wide of short fine leg.

After 9 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 56/4 ( Dinesh Karthik (C) (W) 20 , Shubman Gill 1)

The wicket looks a bit two paced. Some deliveries are holding onto the surface and some are getting extra bounce. Karthik tried to cut one but ended up inside edging it into the ground because of the extra bounce. Sodhi bowled with good discipline in that over and gave away just four runs. KKR are going nowhere right now. They need an injection of spark from somewhere.

After 8 overs**,Kolkata** Knight Riders 51/4 ( Dinesh Karthik (C) (W) 16 , Shubman Gill 0)

Gopal too starts off well. He gets the wicket of the dangerous Chris Lynn in that over. Lynn was getting a bit impatient and had missed a slog sweep off a delivery wide outside off. But the very next ball, Gopal surprises him with a googly and sends him back into the hut. Gopal too varied his pace nicely in that over. 3 runs and a wicket off it.

What’s happening here with KKR? Third batsman falls to spin. The ball is holding up a bit. Big opportunity for young Shubman Gill tonight.

OUT! Another caught and bowled. Lynn departs.

It’s that googly that does the trick. It’s a good length delivery outside off, spins back in. It comes slowly onto Lynn’s bat who looks to punch it straight back but ends up hitting it uppishly straight into the hands of Gowtham. It seemed as if the ball stopped on Lynn.

Shubman Gill is the new batsman.

Shreyas Gopal into the attack now**..**

46/3 is KKR’s lowest powerplay score in IPL – 11.

Their previous lowest was 47/2 against MI on both the matches that they played against them this season.

After 7 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 48/3 ( Chris Lynn 16 , Dinesh Karthik (C) (W) 15)

Ish Sodhi got good turn in that over and he hit decent lengths too. He wasn’t afraid of tossing up the ball. Four dots and just two singles off the over. The pitch has everything in it – Turn, bounce and zip.

Dinesh Karthik’s batting average in T20 cricket since 2017:

1st innings – 37.05

2nd innings – 53.00

Krishnappa Gowtham has now taken eight wickets in PP overs this IPL – the most by any spinner.

Ish Sodhi into the attack now**….**

After 6 overs**,Kolkata** Knight Riders 46/3 ( Chris Lynn 15 , Dinesh Karthik (C) (W) 14)

The over that released the pressure valve for KKR. Unadkat didn’t get his lines right, delivered it too wide and got hammered for three fours. He corrected his lines off the last two balls to concede just a single. 14 runs off the over. KKR needed this desperately. 46/3 in the Powerplay.

FOUR! Lynn looks to attack. Another poor delivery from Unadkat. It’s a slower delivery wide outside off, Lynn lofts it over cover-point.

FOUR! 2 in 2! Brilliant shot. Full delivery outside off, Karthik crunches it through covers. No fielder moves.

This is the best the bowling performance from the Royals in the powerplay since their match against the Kings XI Punjab. Coincidentally, that match was the turning point in the season. Tonight, Rahane is captaining like his goal is to take 10 wickets in 20 overs. Short leg, two slips and a very attacking mindset. Fantastic to watch.

FOUR! Not the best of starts from Unadkat. It’s full and wide outside off, Karthik slices it over point.

After 5 overs**,Kolkata** Knight Riders 32/3 ( Chris Lynn 10 , Dinesh Karthik (C) (W) 5)

Good stuff from Gowtham. He varied his pace nicely in that over. Just two singles and a two. Lynn looks a bit cautious now but the KKR batsmen need to make sure they don’t get into a shell. RR need to keep the stranglehold going.

This is the worst possible start KKR could have hoped for. Three wickets inside four overs in a must-win game is disaster. Guess the wicket has some spongy bounce tonight and last night’s rains may have to do something with that.

After 4 overs**,Kolkata** Knight Riders 28/3 ( Chris Lynn 7 , Dinesh Karthik (C) (W) 4)

Another over, another wicket. Jofra is slowly getting his lines right and his discipline got him the wicket of Rana. He, however, erred in line off the last ball and got flicked away for four. 6 runs and a wicket off the over. This is a good start for RR. KKR need a big partnership now.

FOUR! Off the mark in style. Karthik whips it through square leg and it just races away.

Dinesh Karthik is the new batsman.

Gowtham has been such an asset for RR. He has already taken care of two dangerous batsmen and his late-over hitting is excellent.

OUT! KKR’s top order has crumbled. Rana is back in the hut.

A really poor shot. It’s a good length delivery on off from Archer, angling away. Rana looks to go over the off side, ends up playing a nothing shot. The bat turns in his hand and he horribly mistimes it straight into the hands of the mid on fielder.

It might be 3rd vs 4th, but both teams have been in decent form heading into the finals. Kolkata have won three win a row while the Royals have won  four of the last five. The wicket of Narine is so key to controlling KKR.  Also a bit of spin in the pitch, there has been a bit of rainfall in Kolkata leading into the match. The pitch looks slightly – we might see plenty of spin in the early overs, especially if Lynn is at the crease.

Archer continues. 2 slips in place, well yes, you heard it right 2 slips in place.

After 3 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 22/2 ( Chris Lynn 7 , Nitish Rana 1)

RR trying to build as much pressure as they can. Another decent over from Gowtham. He sent back Uthappa off the first ball and concentrated on flighting the ball. Lynn was getting a bit impatient and hit a four off the penultimate ball. But Gowtham won’t mind it. He made Lynn manufacture that shot. Just 5 runs off the over.

FOUR! Thumped! Lynn gives himself a bit of room and smashes it through covers off Gowtham. He read the flight well.

Nitish Rana is the new batsman.

OUT! Gowtham gets his second wicket. Uthappa departs.

It’s a flighted delivery on off, it grips on the pitch. Uthappa comes forward and looks to tuck it to the leg side but is early into the shot and the ball doesn’t spin too much. He gets a leading edge and Gowtham accepts a simple return catch.

After 2 overs**,Kolkata** Knight Riders 17/1 ( Chris Lynn 3 , Robin Uthappa 3)

Good start from Jofra Archer. There is a little bit of movement and zip on the pitch. The conditions are dry and there is some bounce too. Archer bowled with good pace but didn’t get his lines right as he conceded three wides in the over. He hurried up Uthappa in the crease and gave away just 7 runs from the over.

It might be 3rd vs 4th, but both teams have been in decent form heading into the finals. Kolkata have won three win a row while the Royals have won  four of the last five. The wicket of Narine is so key to controlling KKR.  Also a bit of spin in the pitch, there has been a bit of rainfall in Kolkata leading into the match. The pitch looks slightly – we might see plenty of spin in the early overs, especially if Lynn is at the crease.

After 1 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 10/1 ( Chris Lynn 1 , Robin Uthappa 1)

A brilliant start from Gowtham. He got some zip from the surface. Narine made his intent clear right from the first ball as he backed away and crashed one for four. Gowtham hit back with the wicket of the West Indies. He then induced a leading edge off Lynn but it fell well short of the fielder. Gowtham was unlucky off the last ball as Uthappa’s missed reverse sweep ran away for four byes.

FOUR BYES! Uthappa goes for a reverse sweep but misses, the keeper misses it too and it runs away to the fence.

RR have conceded 71 sixes in this IPL so far – the least by a team.

Robin Uthappa’s scores in playoff/knockout matches in IPL:

17*, 26, 42, 5, 11, 1, 1

RR have taken 74 wickets in this IPL so far – the least by any team.

KKR have hit 340 boundaries in IPL – 11 so far – the most by any team.

Robin Uthappa is the new batsman**….**

OUT! What a start to the game! Four and out! Narine is back in the hut!

Narine looks to go big again, charges down the track and looks to loft it over the off side but it turns away and beats his outside edge. The keeper does the rest. Good stuff from Gowtham. Huge wicket for RR.

FOUR! Narine off the mark straightaway. Backs away and thumps the first ball through covers.

Right! Narine and Lynn are the openers striding out to the middle. Gowtham will start off.

Watch our correspondent Vaibhav Shah preview The Eliminator with Darren Sammy.

For all the excitement surrounding this match, must admit that the crowd is a bit underwhelming. Number of seats still unoccupied, though some may fill up gradually. Weekday scheduling a reason?

KKR in playoffs in IPL:

Matches played – 8

Won – 5

Lost – 3

RR in playoffs in IPL:

Matches played – 5

Won – 3

Lost – 2

Andre Russell runs across to greet Jaydev Unadkat as teams walk back to dressing room. Handshakes and a quick hug. Lovely gesture.

RR have a 2-1 record while chasing in playoff/knockout matches in IPL while KKR have a 2-2 record while batting first in playoff/knockout matches in IPL.

Rajasthan Royals: Rahul Tripathi, Ajinkya Rahane, Sanju Samson, Heinrich Klaasen, Krishnappa Gowtham, Stuart Binny, Jofra Archer, Ish Sodhi, Jaydev Unadkat, Shreyas Gopal, Ben Laughlin

Kolkata Knight Riders: Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik, Nitish Rana, Andre Russell, Shubman Gill, Javon Searles, Piyush Chawla, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav

KKR and RR are going with the same playing XI.

TOSS NEWS:

Ajinkya Rahane has won the toss and Rajasthan Royals have elected to bowl first.

Loud cheer across the stadium as Sourav Ganguly’s message for the retiring AB de Villiers appears on the giant screen. Meanwhile Shreyas Gopal is having an intense net session. Looks quite accurate in practice.

Previous meetings this season:

Kolkata Knight Riders had comprehensive wins in both the meetings between the two. They won by 7 wickets with 7 balls to spare in Jaipur and then by 6 wickets with 12 balls to spare at the Eden Gardens.

Hello and a very good evening from Eden Gardens. This beautiful ground is slowly filling up for the Eliminator between KKR and RR. The home team has begun their practice with Chris Lynn and Robin Uthappa taking throwdowns.

Kolkata Knight Riders’ road to Playoffs:

Imperfect, erratic yet effective — these three words perfectly sum up Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) journey so far. Click here to take a look at Kolkata Knight Riders’ journey to Playoffs.

Our correspondent Shantanu Srivastava reviews Eliminator of the IPL 11, which will be played between Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals, from outside the Eden Gardens. 

Rajasthan Royals’ road to Playoffs

While the tributes are pouring in for AB de Villiers, we turn out attention to the Eliminator. Rajasthan Royals rode their luck to reach playoffs but their ability to spring a surprise will keep opponents on toes.  Click here to take a look at Rajasthan Royals’ road to Playoffs.

Big news: AB De Villiers has announced retirement from all forms of international cricket with immediate effect. 

“I have decided to retire from all international cricket with immediate effect,” he said in a video posted by him on Twitter. 

He added, “After 114 Test matches, 228 ODIs and 78 T20 Internationals, it is time for others to take over. I have had my turn, and to be honest, I am tired.” 

“This is a tough decision. I’ve thought long and hard about it, and I’d like to retire while still playing decent cricket. And after the fantastic series wins against India and Australia, now feels the right time to step aside.”

Hello and welcome to Firstpost’s live coverage of the Eliminator of IPL 2018, which will be played between Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals.