KKR vs KXIP Highlights, IPL 2019 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, Full cricket score: Knight Riders win by 28 runs

Russell: Keep getting cars and these awards. I think I will need a bigger garage. Hope the momentum stays with us. He (Gayle) is like a brother to me, a bigger legend. The plan was to bowl tight to him, restrict him as much as possible. Today, I did hit some big ones, but he is the bigger hitter. He is a new guy, forgot his name. Thanks to that guy who was outside the ring. Thank you. When I got bowled, I thoguht I’d missed out but I saw the guys in the dug out signalling no-ball and I was like, please God, let it be a front foot no-ball, but it was actually the guy outside the circle. You have to clear your head. When I run out to bat, that little run I do to get the adernaline flowing and get loose. I get into the mood and with the ball I have a go at it.

Dinesh Karthik, KKR captain: It’s a good start in the tournament. The way Nitish played was beautiful. Credit to Robin for playing it through and we got a good start from Narine and Lynn at the top. Narine was injured in the last game and could not open. Lots of good players. Important to remain calm. Playing away always is a challenge and we will try and do as well as we can.

Andre Russell is the Player of the Match

This makes Karthik a happy captain!

Andre Russell’s all-round skills stood out again as Kolkata Knight Riders completed a comprehensive victory over Kings XI Punjab. Half centuries by Mayank Agarwal and David Miller could not take the visiting side near the finish line.

But that was always a tough task after Kings XI Punjab goofed up on the field at a most opportune moment – it had just three fielders inside the circle when Mohammed Shami yorked Russell when the West Indies powerhouse had made only 3 runs and finished with 48.

The Kolkata Knight Riders bowlers found the better lengths than the visiting bowlers for whom the two spinners R Ashwin and Varun Chakravarthy were a disappointment tonight. Piyush Chawla played a quiet but effective role for Kolkata Knight Riders that had other stars on Wednesday with Nitish Rana and Robin Uthappa scoring half-centuries.

RUSSELL- the BIG difference in tonight’s game!

R Ashwin, KXIP captain: We weren’t really focussed on the small things and they do cost you big in this format. I think it was my fault, I’ll take the blame. I should have looked at it. At that stage, with the slog on, you hope the fielders are switched on but obviously he was a debutant (Chakravarthy and Vijljoen made their debuts today). Mayank batted well. I thought 200 was par and that’s where the small mistakes cost us. We learnt somethings from KKR handling the small boundary at one side. We played four games last year and won all of them, it suits our batsmen. I think our batting performance was pretty good.

KKR have now won 16 matches against KXIP in IPL – the second most by any team against an opposition in IPL. The record is with MI who has won 18 matches against KKR in IPL.

All over! Piyush Chawla complete the formalities for KKR, who keep it two out of two at the Eden Gardens. They beat KXIP by 28 runs.

FOUR! Mandeep plays an extravagant scoop off a quicker googly to fine leg fence.

FOUR! Shortish from Chawla and that has been pulled away to deep mid-wicket for another boundary.

After 19 overs,Kings XI Punjab 177/4 ( David Miller 57 , Mandeep Singh 22)

Another expensive over for Ferguson but still not enough for KXIP. The game is KKRs all they have to do is bowl six legitimate deliveries, KXIP need 42 runs with just six balls remaining. Play for the NRR.

SIX! That is a spectacular shot from David Miller, however it has come perhaps too late. Carves the full ball outside off over cover fence

FIFTY! Was the slower ball on leg stump and all Miller can do is work it for a couple on the leg side. Expectedly there isn’t real celebrations

FOUR! Short delivery outside off stump and Mandeep cuts past backward point.

After 18 overs,Kings XI Punjab 162/4 ( David Miller 48 , Mandeep Singh 17)
 

Miller has not been unable to activate his beast mode here as KKR bowlers continue to bowl tight line. Two dots at this stage is two huge opportunities missed. Couple of boundaries come from the over with Miller top edging a short ball that Kuldeep at square leg jogs towards to bring it back in play. Russell, who is fielding at long on isn’t happy with the wrist-spinner’s effort. Even from Miller’s standard 57 off 12 seems unlikely.

FOUR! Mandeep Singh gets under the short ball and rampflicks it over DK.

FOUR! Too full from Krishna and Miller shuffles across to pound it down the ground. Beats long off for a boundary

After 17 overs,Kings XI Punjab 152/4 ( David Miller 43 , Mandeep Singh 12)

Despite taking 15 runs off Ferguson’s over the required rate continues to climb. It is now over 22! KXIP need more than just a couple of boundaries.  Require 67 off 18 balls.

FOUR! Well done by Miller. Just opens the face of the bat and uses Ferguson’s pace to beat the man at short third man.

SIX! Wow! That is such a clean strike from Mandeep Singh. Launches it over long on with some easy!

After 16 overs,Kings XI Punjab 137/4 ( David Miller 38 , Mandeep Singh 2)

What an excellent over from Piyush Chawal under the circumstances. Great captaincy from DK as well. Just four singles of the over. Mandeep Singh joins Miller after Agarwal departs. Karthik was confident of a nick from Miller after the the left-hander missed to smash a delivery that was bowled halfway down the pitch. Umpire raises his finger and Miller is able to successfully reverse the decision. KXIP now require 82 off 24 balls, more than 20 runs an over. Tough.

All is over bar the shouting! Piyush Chawla’s googly beat Mayank Agarwal’s swishing blade to disturb the woodwork.  With the Kings XI Punjab top order kept in check, the 74-run stand between Mayank Agarwal and David Miller was more by way of defiance than an attempt to chase the target down. Russell’s two wickets off Chris Gayle and Sarfaraz Khan, both with deliveries that made strokeplay difficult, will make him the favourite to take the man of the match prize again.

Piyush Chawla, Andre Russell and Kuldeep Yadav restored normal service for Kolkata Knight Riders, denying too many scoring options for Mayank Agarwal and David Miller. The fourth-wicket pair has scored at 10 runs an over, Agarwal getting to his half-century, but that pace was never going to stop the asking rate from mounting to 17 runs an over with five overs left. The rest of the game may well be down to reducing the margin of defeat.

OUT! After a series of flat and quick deliveries, Chawla gives this one a bit of air and it is the googly. Mayank was looking for the big slog sweep, plays across the line but the ball bowled slower through the air takes ages to come to the batsman. Misses and the ball crashes into the leg stump. Beautifully done by the wily leg-spinner.

Agarwal b Chawla 58(34)

After 15 overs,Kings XI Punjab 133/3 ( Mayank Agarwal 58 , David Miller 36)

Kuldeep Yadav comes on for the final over of his spell. Rinku Singh puts down a tough chance to give Mayank a chance to prolong his innings. KXIP need 86 off 30 balls.

FOUR! Miller comes down the pitch and hits it hard and wide of cover, Russell puts in a valiant effort at long off boundary but comes in contact while releasing the ball.

DROPPED! Agarwal miscues a slap down the ground off a tossed up delivery that has been bowled wide of the off stump, almost at the tram line, but substitute fielder puts in the dive but is not able to grasp it. Tough chance. Agarwal was batting on 55

After 14 overs,Kings XI Punjab 124/3 ( Mayank Agarwal 55 , David Miller 30)

No boundaries off Russell’s over but Agarwal and Miller are able to collect a lot of twos at the big Eden Gardens, eight runs of the over, all from braces. KXIP need 95 off 36 balls.

FIFTY! Agarwal compeltes his fourth fifty in IPL. He has looked very good today, works the ball on the onside and straightaway calls two.

David Miller and Mayank Agarwal infused some urgency into the Kings XI Punjab chase with 29 runs off two overs just past the halfway stage. Miller launched this phase with a pulled six off Kuldeep Yadav deep into the stands one ball after he nearly played on. He was dropped at square-leg off the next delivery and made Sunil Narine pay with a six and a four in the next over. Mayank Agarwal joined the frenzied run-scoring with two contrasting fours off a 19-run Narine over.

After 13 overs,Kings XI Punjab 116/3 ( Mayank Agarwal 47 , David Miller 30)

Piyush Chawla is brought into the attack for the first time in the 13th over. A lot of quick deliveries, one of which is smeared over the fence by Agarwal for a six.

SIX! Was a quick delivery from Chawla and Agarwal gets low to pull it to deep mid wicket fence

After 12 overs,Kings XI Punjab 106/3 ( Mayank Agarwal 41 , David Miller 27)

KXIP get the big over that they wanted! Miller and Mayank take 19 runs off Narine’s over. Still 108 required from 48 balls

FOUR! Nicely done. Not all power. Deftness on display, as Mayank runs this one down to third man.

What about you?

FOUR! Agarwal in action now. Flat-bats the length ball outside down the ground.

FOUR! Short of a good length and that has been pulled away past deep mid wicket by Miller

SIX! Little too full from Narine and Miller belts it down the ground goes for a huge six

After 11 overs,Kings XI Punjab 87/3 ( Mayank Agarwal 33 , David Miller 16)

Kuldeep goes round the stumps to curb the angle, bowling full on the legs of Miller. The South African opens up for the penultimate delivery to smack a six and got another one if not for Feguson’s long reach.

DROPPED! Ferguson isn’t able to cling on to a catch in the deep at long leg boundary after Miller swept it hard. Ferguson timed the jump right, got two hands to it but the ball doesn’t stick, perhaps he was worried about the ropes. However, the ball was just about to go over the ropes after bouncing but Ferguson is aware to push it back into play. Does well to avoid contact with the skirtings. Tough chance for Ferguson but life for Miller on 15

Kolkata Knight Riders bowlers kept things tight to such an extent that Kings XI Punjab found the asking rate mounting to beyond 14 runs an over. They dried up the boundaries and made the batsmen remain content with singles. With Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav and Sunil Narine exercising great control over the length they bowled, Kings XI Punjab’s Mayank Agarwal and especially left-handed David Miller had to work with patience as their ally. But that was not enough to bridge the gap between the scoring rate and the asking rate.

SIX! Miller brings out the big slog sweep against Kuldeep and sends it deep in the stands. It has gone for 98 meters

After 10 overs,Kings XI Punjab 77/3 ( Mayank Agarwal 32 , David Miller 8)

Narine beats Miller a couple of times at the start of the over and despite conceding a boundary off the final ball, KKR will be happy that the only seven were taken from the over. The asking rate has climbed over 14 as 142 are needed off the final 10 overs.

FOUR! Narine slides it down the leg side and Agarwal works it around the corner, beats the diving Nitish Rana at backward square leg.

Sunil Narine has taken 26 wickets against KXIP in IPL – the joint most by any bowler alongside Umesh Yadav.

After 9 overs,Kings XI Punjab 70/3 ( Mayank Agarwal 27 , David Miller 6)

Coming back on a series win against Sri Lanka, where he won the Man of the Match award in the first T20I, Miller will be high on confidence, but he was have to get past the spin test of Kuldeep and expect Narine to come into the attack soon. He gets his first boundary off Kuldeep. Nine runs come from the over. KXIP need 149 off 66 balls.

FOUR! Miller shuffles across his stumps early and drags a sweep to backward square leg fenceoff a leg break that was bowled way outside off stump

Kolkata Knight Riders inched closer to its second successive win at home when Andre Russell induced the fall of Sarfaraz Khan with a slower one down the leg side. The Kings XI Punjab batsman tried to pull the ball but only managed a loopy top-edge for Dinesh Karthik to run to his left and take the catch. David Miller, for long Kings XI Punjab’s stroke-player in the middle-order, will have to play a dual role of holding an end up and scoring at a fast clip too.

Mitchell Johnson wants to say something!

After 8 overs,Kings XI Punjab 61/3 ( Mayank Agarwal 25 , David Miller 0)

David Miller comes to the crease with the required rate surging over 13 runs an over. Russell’s merry times continue at the Eden as he strikes again, picking the wicket of Sarfaraz Khan.

David Miller’s batting average of 17.50 against KKR in IPL is the lowest for him against any opposition in IPL.

OUT! Slower ball and a wicket! This is undeniably Dre Russ’ night. Was bowled on the leg stump and Sarfaraz was early in the shot looking to glance it fine, got a thick leading edge and Karthik completes a simple catch. KXIP 60/3

Sarfaraz Khan c Karthik b A Russell 13(13)

Kolkata Knight Riders kept its nose ahead of Kings XI Punjab with a good rally in the power play despite the visiting side being gifted an over-thrown four. Yet, with the asking rate mounting to 12 an over, Kings XI Punjab’s third wicket pair has its task cut out. It remains to be seen if Sarfaraz Khan can up the ante and score at a faster clip when the spinners, Kuldeep Yadav and Sunil Narine come on to bowl. On their part, the Kolkata Knight Riders bowlers had done well to restrict the batsmen.

FOUR! Outstanding timing there from Sarfaraz Khan. Steers it past boundary and beats the man at third man as well.

After 7 overs,Kings XI Punjab 55/2 ( Mayank Agarwal 23 , Sarfaraz Khan 9)

Kuldeep Yadav comes into the attack and starts off with a very good over, mixing it with some well-disguised wrong’uns. Just four singles from the over.

After 6 overs,Kings XI Punjab 51/2 ( Mayank Agarwal 21 , Sarfaraz Khan 7)

After a lot of confusion, replays confirmed all that drama after the first ball was regarding an overthrow, which KKR argued was more of a pass as the ball was not in play and was dead in fact. However, the umpires have signalled five runs to the scorer. Karthik and KKR are clearly not happy with it. They have good reason too. It was a pass from the extra cover fielder after the single was taken by the batsmen, but Russell at mid on fails to gather it as he loses it in the floodlights and the ball runs into the boundary. Three more singles in the final over of the powerplay as Kings XI go past the 50-run mark

Hang on! There is a brief stoppage in play for reasons we do not know as of now. Players converge, along with the umpires. Karthik is very animated in the middle. Other KKR players join in with the bowler, Russell is in there too. Crowd is getting into it as well. Ashwin is off his chair in the dugout as he walks towards the fourth umpire.

After 5 overs,Kings XI Punjab 43/2 ( Mayank Agarwal 15 , Sarfaraz Khan 5)

Big call from DK to throw the ball to Dre Russ and he could do no wrong. He serves on demand. Gets the big wicket of Gayle and dents KXIP’s chances big time.

FOUR! Sarfaraz Khan with unorthodoxy has started his innings with a ramp over the wicket-keeper. Gets low, arc his back, as he has pulled out from the shot only to get under the ball and glide it over the head of the wicket-keeper.

Kings XI Punjab kept itself in the race, falling behind the asking rate just a bit but Chris Gayle and Mayank Agarwal were busy, finding the boundaries off Prasidh Krishna and Lockie Ferguson. But Andre Russell forced Gayle’s dismissal in the fifth over, bowling a ball of fuller length and enticing a catch in the straight field. Mayank Agarwal and Sarfaraz Khan will have to play the role that Robin Uthappa and Nitish Rana did for Kolkata Knight Riders earlier in the day.

OUT! Andre Russell is the man for KKR! He has got the big fish and his compatriot has to make the long walk back. Was the back of a length delivery, a effort ball, tucking Gayle up with a delivery around his chest. Gayle was once again trying to clear his front leg and eyeing the straight boundary but gets it from the upper-half of his bat. There was almost a collision between mid on and mid off, which the duo avoid marginally and Krishna holds onto it. KXIP 37/2

Gayle c Prasidh b A Russell 20(13)

After 4 overs,Kings XI Punjab 36/1 ( Chris Gayle 20 , Mayank Agarwal 13)
 

Ferguson continues and he starts off with a peach that swirls past Gayle’s outside edge. Was a perfect delivery to the left-hander. However, he cannot keep the big man quiet for a long time. Gayle slaps a boundary and a maximum to end the over.

SIX! No doubts over this one! Gayle was expecting the ball to be short and the big Jamaican stands tall and blasts it over long on for a maximum.

FOUR! Ahh juuussttt away from mid on’s grasp. Digged in short from Ferguson and Gayle clears the front leg and flat-bats it straight. Didn’t get it from the middle but had enough to beat the fielder in the ring.

After 3 overs,Kings XI Punjab 25/1 ( Chris Gayle 10 , Mayank Agarwal 13)

Krishna spoils his comeback after leaking a boundary off the last ball, trying to search for a yorker. Agarwal struck Krishna for back-to-back boundaries early in the over, post which Krishna did line up three dots, including a slower delivery, that completely outfoxed him. However, Kings XI are able to take 13 runs from the over.

FOUR! Krishna gets this one a little too straight and full. Agarwal takes it on the full and flicks it to mid wicket fence

FOUR! Agarwal creates room this time by backing away on the onside and thrashes it over covers for successive fours.

FOUR! Agarwal gets in the line of the ball and glances it off the middle stump to square leg boundary.

Kolkata Knight Riders drew first blood when new ball bowler Lockie Fegusson got opener KL Rahul to spoon a simple catch to mid-off in the second over. The inside out shot that Rahul tried was the result of the pressure that the fast bowler had built with three dot balls to begin his over. It undid some of the good work that Chris Gayle had launched by striking a six and a four in the opening over of the 219-run chase.

After 2 overs,Kings XI Punjab 12/1 ( Chris Gayle 10 , Mayank Agarwal 1)

Excellent start from Lockie Ferguson, who has picked the prized wicket of KL Rahul, with a ball clocked at almost 146. Mayank Agarwal comes to the middle and gets off the mark, the only run that came from the over.

Mayank Agarwal’s last 10 scores in IPL:

22, 2, 0, 2, 11, 12, 21, 2*, 18, 30

KL Rahul against KKR in IPL before this match:

14, 0*, 52, 60, 66

Managed just 1 today

OUT! Lockie Ferguson strikes early! KL Rahul has popped an easy catch to mid off.  Was a quick delivery angled into the Rahul’s stumps. Rahul was backing away looking to go over cover, miscues it. KXIP 11/1
 

Rahul c Kuldeep Yadav b Ferguson 1(5)

After 1 overs,Kings XI Punjab 11/0 ( KL Rahul (W) 1 , Chris Gayle 10)

Gayle kickstarts Kings XI’s innings with a six. Krishna does the right thing by keeping it short and wide, out of his range, even induces an edge that flies over. Kings XI collect 11 runs from the opening over.

Chris Gayle has amassed 615 runs at an average of 51.25 and a SR of 152.23 against KKR in IPL which is the fourth most by any player. He has scored 408 runs at an average of 81.60 against them at Kolkata from seven innings in IPL. His IPL scores against them at Kolkata : 102*, 86, 6, 96, 49, 7, 62*

FOUR! Krishna continues to keep it short as he angles another one across Gayle, who throws his hands at it, gets a thick edge over the slips.

Highest target successfully chased in IPL,

by KXIP – 206 v SRH at Hyderabad in 2014 and 206 v CSK at AbuDhabi in 2014
v KKR – 203 by CSK at Chennai in 2018

SIX! Up and over! Chris Gayle is away with a six over third man. Krishna tries the bouncer outside off stump and Gayle subtlely helps the ball on its way. Goes for 55m, probably the shortest six he has hit in his career.

If there is any batting line up that can make a mockery of 218 – the highest total at Eden Gardens – it is surely Kings XI’s.

Two explosive openers in KL Rahul and Chris Gayle stride out to the middle. If KKR get these two in the powerplay, I believe the match will all but over. Prasidh Krishna has the ball in hand. Rahul takes strike. Expects more fireworks…

Big, BIG mistake

Nitish Rana’s last 13 balls – 41 runs, SR – 315.38
Andre Russell’s 17 balls – 48 runs, SR – 282.35

KKR’s last 60 balls – 129 runs, RR – 12.90

Highest totals at Kolkata in IPL:

218/4 – KKR v KXIP, 2019*
210/6 – MI v KKR, 2018
204/2 – KXIP v KKR, 2010

Andre Russell’s blitz ensure that Kolkata Knight Riders posted the biggest total in IPL games at the Eden Gardens. Between being bowled off a no-ball and being dismissed by an admirable overhead catch on the midwicket fence in the final over, Russell made 45 runs with three fours and five sixes to knock the winds out of Kings XI Punjab’s sails.

Robin Uthappa played a smart role in leading the batting display, first by taking a couple of sixes off R Ashwin and then letting Nitish Rana and Russell take over the primary role of attacking the visiting bowlers. Ashwin may have erred in keeping on the slower bowlers at a critical period of the innings when the two Indian batsmen were not challenged by some pace and bounce.

It will take a lot of doing, chasing 219 for victory, and Kings XI Punjab will rely on Chris Gayle to provide the impetus when its starts batting on a flatbed.

Highest totals for KKR in IPL:

245/6 v KXIP, Indore, 2018
222/3 v RCB, Bangalore, 2008
218/4 v KXIP, Kolkata, 2019*

After 20 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 218/4 ( Robin Uthappa 67 , Dinesh Karthik (C) (W) 1)

KKR end with 218 on the board. And yet again it took a Andre Russell show to give the much-needed kick in the KKR innings. A 17-ball 48 after playing 19-ball 49 against SRH. Good knocks from Rana and Uthappa too. This is a winning total and will take some gutsy batting from Kings to chase this down. Not to forget, they have Chris Gayle. We will be back soon.

FOUR! Cheeky from Uthappa, shuffles inside the crease and then opens the blade at the last moment to fetch a boundary to backward point.

OUT! Russell gone, slower and shorter from Tye, Russell tries to clear the favourite deep mid-wicket boundary for another six but Mayank Agarwal placed there takes a stunning catch.  Russell falls two short of a fine fifty. A Russell c Agarwal b Tye 48(17)

After 19 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 210/3 ( Robin Uthappa 61 , Andre Russell 47)

Carnage from Russell, 25 runs off the last over. Shami must be hurt. He had got Russell out in his last over but a error by Punjab in the field saved the big man. We have seen the result now.

FOUR! Shami from round the wicket, bowls wide and full outside the off stump line, Russell drives it through the covers for a boundary.

SIX! Another one from Russell, full-toss from Shami and Russell swirls in his crease and hits it over deep in the leg side for another maximum

Andre Russell caused the Eden Gardens crowd to go from shocked silence to finding its voice with a series of lusty blows to celebrate his great escape. A top-edge flew over the line as paceman Andrew Tye was taken to the cleaners with a series of boundary hits. With two four and two sixes off successive deliveries, Russell pulled the Kolkata Knight Riders back towards its hunt of the 200-run mark. He has given the Kings XI Punjab enough reason to rue its blunder on field.

SIX! Fuller and on the legs, Russell muscles it over the long-on region for another maximum.

SIX! Shami gives a fuller length and Russell belts it over the long-off region for a maximum

After 18 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 185/3 ( Robin Uthappa 58 , Andre Russell 25)

Dre Rus is doing his job. Two sixes and two fours. 22 off the last over. You just cannot dare to give this man a second chance in a T20 game. Fireworks at Eden Gardens right now.

Mohammed Shami castled Andre Russell but off a no-ball as the Kings XI Punjab had just three fielders inside the 30-yard circle. Russell was walking off the pitch when he was recalled by the umpire, perhaps with some support from one of his colleagues. For a captain who is well aware of the rules – and ran a batsman out for backing up too far – this was a shocker, not checking to see if the mandated number of fielders were inside the circle.

SIX! Fullish in length from Tye, Russell clears his front leg, makes room and hits it over the deep mid-wicket boundary for a huge one.

SIX! RUSSELL making it count, another top-edge but such a fast bat swing and enormous power makes sure the ball sails over the fine leg region for a maximum

FOUR! Knuckle ball spotted by Russell, he waits and waits and then hits the ball to deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

SIX! Slower and short, Russell heaves but top-edges it, does not matter as the ball goes flying over the fine leg for a maximum.

After 17 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 163/3 ( Robin Uthappa 57 , Andre Russell 4)

What a blunder from Punjab. Shami bowled Russell on a perfect yorker. He was walking back but the umpires called him back to the crease as only three players were inside the ring. NO-BALL, said the umpire. Ashwin was shocked but it was his and his team’s fault. BIG MISTAKE this. They have given Russell a second chance.

FOUR! On the legs, Uthappa flicks it away for to deep midwicket for a boundary.

Robin Uthappa, thrust into a second fiddle role during the second half of the century stand with Nitish Rana, completed his half-century with a glanced four at the end of good over by the big paceman Hardus Viljoen. With four overs left, it appeared as if Kolkata Knight Riders lost some momentum in the wake of Nitish Rana’s fall. But with Uthappa and Andre Russell as the crease, it remains to be seen how the Kings XI Punjab faster bowlers manage the death overs.

A superb running catch by Mayank Agarwal ended Nitish Rana’s entertaining stay in the middle and paved the way for Andre Russell to take centerstage. Credit is also due to Varun Chakravarthy for tossing the ball up and getting it to turn just a shade to deceive Nitish Rana into believing that he could find another six over long-on. But it flew high over mid-off for Agarwal to run in from deeper and complete a very good catch.

After 16 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 153/3 ( Robin Uthappa 51 , Andre Russell 1)

Viljoen completes his four overs. Gave away 36 runs and took a wicket. Uthappa reaches fifty. Russell has taken two balls to set his eye in. Time out taken.

FOUR! FIFTY for UTHAPPA!

Bad ball to end the over by Viljoen, fired in down the leg stump line and all Uthappa had to do was guide it away for a boundary to deep fine-leg

Andre Russell’s SR in IPL:

Career : 180.23
At Kolkata : 192.51

Nitish Rana today:

First 21 balls – 22 runs (SR – 104.76)
Next 13 balls – 41 runs (SR – 315.38)

Century stands for KKR v KXIP in IPL:

D Hussey/W Saha, Mohali, 2008
C Gayle/M Tiwary, Kolkata, 2010
G Gambhir/ E Morgan, Mohali, 2013
R Uthappa/G Gambhir, Kolkata, 2016
R Uthappa/N Rana, Kolkata, 2019*

After 15 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 147/3 ( Robin Uthappa 46 , Andre Russell 0)

Varun Chakravarthy into the attack. Ashwin had no other option. He had to throw the ball to him and the debutant, who went for 34 runs in his first two overs, has sent dangerous Rana back. But boy, oh, boy, is it blessing in disguise for KKR as the new batsman in goes by the name of Andre Russell. Just 1 off this over. Top comeback by the young man.

Most sixes for KKR v KXIP in an IPL match:

7 – Nitish Rana, Today
6 – Sourav Ganguly At Kolkata in 2008
6 – Manish Pandey At Bangalore in 2014

OUT! Rana gones and guess who has sent him back. Varun it is, googly from him, Rana wanted to hit him on the leg side, did not connect and Mayank Agarwal took a brilliant catch at mid-on, running in from the long on. Nitish Rana c Agarwal b Chakravarthy 63(34)

Nitish Rana changed gears effortlessly, punishing the bowlers so much that they seemed unsure of where to bowl to him. He had a shot for every challenge thrown at him by the Kings XI Punjab side. The sixes flew off the middle of his bat as he raced past the 50-mark and dominated the century stand with Robin Uthappa. He generated immense power with the bat and raised visions of a total in excess of 200.

After 14 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 146/2 ( Robin Uthappa 45 , Nitish Rana 63)

Viljoen back on and what a welcome to him. Rana has stormed to his successive fifty in the tournament. 100-run stand has also come up between the two batsmen. Punjab looking lousy in the field. 20 came off this over. Still six overs to go in this innings.

Rana and Robin feasting on the part-timers

FOUR! Full, too full from Viljoen and he hits it on the half-volley, through the point region, another boundary for him

SIX! Back of the length from Viljoen and Rana goes big over long-on region for another maximum.

Most runs conceded by Ashwin in an IPL match:

53 v SRH, Mohali, 2018
47 v KKR, Kolkata, 2019*
46 v RCB, Chennai, 2012

FOUR! FIFTY for Rana.

Bowled on the pads and Rana flicks it to deep fine leg for a boundary. Raises his bat.

Nitish Rana made Kings XI Punjab captain R Ashwin pay for his decision to continue bowling by striking two sixes in the off-spinner’s final over. For someone who had not conceded a single boundary in the previous match in Jaipur, Ashwin found Eden Gardens and Kolkata Knight Riders’ Indian batsman a different ball game, spending 47 runs, including 30 from sixes. The home team’s third wicket pair breezed along but instead of getting the batsmen to face some pace, Ashwin got Mandeep Singh to bowl an over perhaps to compensate for the expensive ways of the slow bowlers. But that move backfired too as Nitish Rana showed his whole range of strokes.

After 13 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 126/2 ( Robin Uthappa 41 , Nitish Rana 48)

Mandeep Singh, right-arm medium, has been given the duty to fill in for Varun with two overs but he starts off with a short and wide delivery, gets hit for a boundary. Gets hit for two back to back sixes. Ashwin has got it all wrong today. 18 has come in this over. Rana on his way to another fifty.

SIX! Back to back maximums from Rana, this time Mandeep goes full but wide and Rana hits it to third man, where Shami jumps in the air but could not catch the ball. Result, a six.

SIX! Bad delivery again, too short and for Rana, who is in red hot form, it was another chance to free his arm and hit the ball over the deep mid-wicket boundary.

FOUR! New bowler is Mandeep Singh and he gives a loose one first up, short and wide, Uthappa smashes it away to off side for a boundary

After 12 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 108/2 ( Robin Uthappa 36 , Nitish Rana 35)

Ashwin is done with his overs. And yet again, in this over, he has gone for not one six but two sixes. Has leaked 47 runs off his four. KKR, on their way to a big total until Kings do something different.

SIX! Power of Nitish Rana, loopy, outside the off-stump, the batsman reaches the pitch of the ball and puts it over the deep cover boundary for a maximum.

SIX! BANG! Another biggie from the willow of Rana, full-toss from Ashwin and Rana smashes it away for a maximum over the deep mid-wicket region.

After 11 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 92/2 ( Robin Uthappa 34 , Nitish Rana 22)

Hardus Viljoen comes back into the attack. Quiet over this one from Punjab, a good one from the bowler. Highlight has to be Chris Gayle, almost 40, diving to his right, to stop a certain boundary. Just 3 off the over. Ashwin should be relieved.

Robin Uthappa and Nitish Rana beat back Kings XI Punjab charge with a half century partnership that will set the stage for possibly some bigger hitting in the second half of the innings. They sensibly played Andrew Tye with great care and punished the spinners for erring in length. It could force Ashwin to think in terms of having the fastmedium bowlers on while the Indian pair is in the  middle.

After 10 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 89/2 ( Robin Uthappa 33 , Nitish Rana 21)

Ashwin continues. He is bowling well but has been giving that one big six away in every over. Fifty-run stand comes up between Uthappa and Rana. KKR have recovered well after the two wickets that fell quickly. 11 off the over.

SIX! Slightly short from Ashwin and Rana’s eyes lighten up, rocks back and hits it over long-on boundary for a huge one.

After 9 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 78/2 ( Robin Uthappa 30 , Nitish Rana 13)

Tye brought back, replaces struggling Varun. It would be interesting to see whether Varun gets the ball again in hand to bowl. If no, then who will complete those two overs. He has gone for 34 runs in his 2 overs so far. Also, Tye has to be reserved for the end overs. Brilliant from him in this over, five off it. Strategic time-out taken.

Varun Chakravarthy, perhaps stressed by the attention in the wake of the massive bidding war for him in the IPL Players’ Auction in December, continued to be at the receiving end of the stick when he came back for his second over immediately after power play. The two fours that Robin Uthappa hit off his bowling kept the scoreboard moving at a fast clip. The six that left-handed Nitish Rana hit off Ashwin in the following over meant that the Kings XI Punjab had to call Andrew Tye to try and apply the brakes.

After 8 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 73/2 ( Robin Uthappa 26 , Nitish Rana 12)

Ashwin continues. He is continuing with his loopy deliveries, asking the batsmen to go after him. Rana does get a six. 11 off the over.

SIX! RANA HITS IT OVER LONG-ON. Flight from Ashwin, Rana sits and pulls it away for a huge one to the leg side.

After 7 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 62/2 ( Robin Uthappa 25 , Nitish Rana 2)

Varun Chakravarthy brought back and Uthappa has hit him for two fours. He went for 25 runs in his very first over in IPL. 9 came off this. He is trying way too much to live up to the reputation of ‘bowler with a difference’. Need to get the basics right first.

Robin Uthappa’s willingness to shoulder responsibility was in evidence as he swung R Ashwin for a six to take Kolkata Knight Riders past the 50-run mark in the power play overs. The home team does have the batting firepower to post another total in the region of 180, with the track not offering much by way of spin to the Kings XI Punjab skipper.

FOUR! Again the same very mistake by Varun, short and wide, Uthappa rocks back, cuts it, the ball beats the short third man and races away for a boundary.

FOUR! Bad ball from Varun, short and wide, Uthappa cuts it away for four to third man.

Only Bhuvneshwar Kumar (25) has taken more wickets against KKR than Ravichandran Ashwin (19) in IPL.

After 6 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 53/2 ( Robin Uthappa 16 , Nitish Rana 2)

Ravichandran Ashwin, right-arm off break, brings himself into the attack. Non-striker, watch out. Brave from the Punjab captain, he is flighting the ball to Uthappa. Got hit for a six on the next delivery. Uthappa, however, has the habit of committing mistakes on these very deliveries. End of powerplay and fifty has come up for KKR.

SIX! Uthappa Special, flight from Ashwin, the batsman comes forward and frees his arm, clears long-on region by a good distance.

With the hard-hitting Sunil Narine’s wicket in the fourth over, South African fast-medium bowler Hardus Viljoen showed why Kings XI Punjab preferred him over spinner Mujeeb-ur-Rahman with some crafty work as soon as he was brought in to replace Varun Chakravarthy in the attack. He mixed the pace of the deliveries to keep the left-hander quiet and then got one to bounce higher to find the top-edge of Narine’s bat for KL Rahul to run from behind the stumps. Kings XI Punjab has reasons to be happy with the progress it has managed so far.

After 5 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 44/2 ( Robin Uthappa 8 , Nitish Rana 1)

Andrew Tye, right-arm fast medium, brought into the attack. The game gets spicier here. KKR got to a good start but lost quick wickets. Will they continue to attack or try to calm things down a bit. Uthappa is trying to play his shots and looking to collect quick singles. He does not change his game with respect to situation generally. Rana is in form. Tye gives away just 2 in the over.

Robin Uthappa’s batting average of 27.30 against KXIP in IPL – the lowest for any player among players who scored atleast 350 runs against them in IPL. He is one of the five players to score 600-plus IPL runs against them.

After 4 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 42/2 ( Robin Uthappa 7 , Nitish Rana 0)

Hardus Viljoen, right-arm fast medium, has been brought into the attack and the debutant has delivered. He has sent back the danger man Narine. After a great start, Punjab have brilliantly pulled this game back. Nitish Rana joins Uthappa.

SIX! Room given and Uthappa spots it a second earlier, full flow of his arms and the ball touches the sweetest part of the bat, flies over backward point for a handsome six.

OUT! Debutant Viljoen gets rid of Narine, the danger man, back of the length from the bowler, Narine clears front leg and heaves but fails, another leading edge, goes into the orbit, and keeper Rahul catches it with both hands safely. Jolt to KKR after smooth start. Narine c Rahul b Viljoen 24(9)

Robin Uthappa has been dismissed by Ravichandran Ashwin five times in IPL – the most he has been dismissed by any bowler. Will Ashwin bring himself into the attack?

David Miller judged a swirling skyer admirably to catch Chris Lynn when the Kolkata Knight Riders opener attempted to score a third boundary off Mohammed Shami in his second over. Shami dropped a caught and bowled chance off Sunil Narine when the left-hander sought to extend his dominance over the spinner in the previous over to the India fast bowler. He has lived a charmed life but has entertained the Eden Gardens crowd thus far.

After 3 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 34/1 ( Sunil Narine 24 , Robin Uthappa 0)

Shami continiues. What an over. Or we may say what a couple of overs. Sixes, fours and wickets falling, all happening at Eden Gardens. Shami has sent Lynn back, who was looking to hit every ball out of the park. Narine is still doing the same. Was dropped by Shami in his follow through. Tough chance gone down. Two boundaries in the over, a wicket and a couple of blind slogs. Uthappa is the new man in.

Highest scoring rate for Narine at an IPL venue: (Min. 30 balls faced)

12.50 – Indore
11.06 – Bangalore 
10.45 – Kolkata*

Mohammed Shami, who has played a fair bit at the Eden Gardens, hit the right length in the first over to keep Chris Lynn and left-handed Sunil Narine quiet. It is always great to see an India fast bowler find his rhythm from the word go. Narine, playing his 100th IPL game, freed his arms against mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy for three sixes and a four but he also offered the bowler a sharp caught and bowled chance. How much would Kings XI Punjab rue Varun Chakravarthy’s inability to latch on that retrun catch!

OUT! Lynn gone, on good length, Lynn tries to go over deep mid-wicket again, but the ball takes the leading edge and goes into the orbit, comes down and David Miller was beneath it, taking a really good catch near the non-striker’s end. Chris Lynn c Miller b Shami 10(10)

FOUR! Short and Lynn tries to smash it to leg side, does not connect well but manages to get a boundary to long-on region.

FOUR! On good length, little bit of room and Lynn smashes it over the point region for a boundary

After 2 overs,Kolkata Knight Riders 26/0 ( Chris Lynn 2 , Sunil Narine 24)

Debutant Varun Chakravarthy, right-arm leg break, brought into the attack. And what a bad start for the young man. He has leaked 25 runs in the over, courtesy of Sunil Narine, who is after him from the word go. Three sixes and one four. This could be start of a carnage.

SIX! Full this time on the legs of Narine, who flicks it to long on region for another maximum

SIX! Short again, Narine gets on his knees and hits it over the deep mid-wicket for a maximum

FOUR! On the shorter side is Varun and Narine transfer weight on the back foot, and pulls it away for a boundary to deep mid-wicket where Andrew Tye makes a blunder.

SIX! Narine gets a lovely flighted delivery from Varun, and he smashes it over the long-off region for a maximum. First six of the match today.

Chris Lynn’s SR in IPL:

Career : 139.56
At Kolkata : 132.81

After 1 over, Kolkata Knight Riders 1/0 ( Chris Lynn 1 , Sunil Narine 0)

Mohammed Shami bowls the first over. First ball drifting in to Lynn, hit the pads, no run taken. The second delivery fired in down the leg stump line. He found his line on the third ball, right on money, bringing it in from the off stump line. Beats Lynn again with the same delivery on the next ball. Lynn gets off the mark on the penultimate ball of the over. Narine tries to steal a single off the last ball but sent back by Lynn. Just 1 off the over.

Horses for courses is the usual formula and Kings XI Punjab embraced that, especially with the likes of David Miller and Andrew Tye becoming available for selection for this game. It made two other changes, bringing in Hardus Viljoen and mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy at the expense of Nicholas Pooran, Sam Curran and Mujeeb-ur-Rahman as well as domestic fastmedium bowler Ankit Rajpoot from the XI that beat Rasjathan Royals in Jaipur. Kolkata Knight Riders, on the contrary, made no changes to the squad that stunned Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening game.

Varun Chakravarthy for Mujeeb-ur-Rahman may raise a few eyebrows but then the man who said he has a rich variety of deliveries has got his first chance this season to show why the team chased him so much at the IPL Players’ Auction.

Alright, we begin with KKR vs KXIP at Kolkata. Andre Russell rung the bell today at Eden Gardens. It’s a packed stadium and Chris Lynn and guess what, Sunil Narine, will open for Knight Riders..

Varun Chakravarthy will get the opportunity to bowl alongside and learn from the seasoned Ravichandran Ashwin in the IPL today. Know more about him here.

KKR’s win-loss record at Kolkata in IPL against KXIP is 7-3.

KKR v KXIP in IPL:

Matches played : 23
KKR won : 15
KXIP won : 8

Kings XI Punjab XI: Chris Gayle, KL Rahul (wk), Mayank Agarwal, Sarfaraz Khan, David Miller, Mandeep Singh, Andrew Tye, R Ashwin (C), Mohammed Shami, Hardus Viljoen, Varun Chakravarthy

David Miller back in mix for Punjab. Also, Varun Chakravarthy makes his debut for Kings. Hardus Viljoen replaces Sam Curran.

Kolkata Knight Riders XI: Chris Lynn, Nitish Rana, Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik(w/c), Shubman Gill, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Piyush Chawla, Kuldeep Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Prasidh Krishna

TOSS NEWS: Ravichandran Ashwin has won the toss and Kings XI Punjab will bowl first. KKR are unchanged.

Agree?

Toss to take place in less than ten minutes. Don’t go anywhere.

Michael Clarke, at the pitch report, said that track looks better than the last match played at Eden Gardens. There is no wind blowing and conditions are very good for cricket.

Will we get to see Varun Chakaravarthy’s mystery spin today?

Kings XI Punjab: R Ashwin (C), Sam Curran, Varun Chakaravarthy, Mohammed Shami, Nicholas Pooran, Moises Henriques, Hardus Viljoen, Darshan Nalkande, Sarfaraz Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Agnivesh Ayachi, Harpreet Brar, Murugan Ashwin, Chris Gayle, Andrew Tye, K L Rahul, Ankit Rajpoot, Mandeep Singh, Simran Singh, Mayank Agrawal, Karun Nair, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and David Miller.

While there is still some time to go before the toss at the Eden Gardens. You can quench your cricketing thirst by f ollowing some international cricket taking place in Abu Dhabi, between Australia and Pakistan

Expect a cracker of a game today!

R Ashwin ‘Mankading’ Jos Buttler not against Spirit of Cricket, no warnings to be given to the non-striker, says MCC. Read what MCC has to say on the matter  here.

Skipper R Ashwin is in the eye of a storm after ‘Mankading’ a rival player but a winning start will keep Kings XI Punjab upbeat when they face home favourites Kolkata Knight Riders on Wednesday. Read the KKR vs KXIP preview here.

Hello and welcome to the LIVE coverage of the sixth IPL 2019 match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab. Both the teams began their tournament campaign on a winning note and would looking to continue the good run.