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Kolkata Knight Riders 189/5 (19.1 Ovs)
Suryakumar Yadav 10 (5)
Royal Challengers Bangalore 185/7
Aravind 2.1-0-16-1
Kolkata Knight Riders won by 5 wkts
What a comeback that was! At one stage, KKR's hopes looked dead and buried when they were reeling at 69 for four but that's when Yusuf and Russell joined forces. In these conditions, these could always chase it down and indeed they did in style. That over from Shane Watson turned things in KKR's favour. Yusuf Pathan has once again stepped up when not many were pinning their hopes on him. RCB are in deep trouble now having lost five matches out of seven. They desperately need Chris Jordan.
Twist?:
Chahal comes back and gets rid of the dangerous Russell. Is there a twist left in this game now? KKR are still the favourites but they need 17 from the final two overs. This could go down the wire. SK Yadav is in.
Is that the game?:
Absolute madness this is! The two powerhouses have crushed RCB in the space of just two overs. You don't see Watson conceding 24 runs off a single over everyday but it has just happened and it has happened at the wrong time. The equation is down to just 23 from 18 and from here, it should be a stroll for KKR.
Russell gives hope:
Much-needed from KKR's point of view as Russell hits two sixes and a four of Shamsi in the 15th over to bring down the equation to 63 from the last five which is very gettable on this ground especially with Pathan and Russell himself out in the middle. Remember, Suryakumar Yadav is still to come as well. We got an exciting finish coming up!
Another one:
Watson's turn now! The RCB are pumped up and why not? Pandey looks to swat Watson out of the ground but could only hit it to long on where Sachin Baby accepts the catch gleefully. The big man Andre Russell is in and this is their big hope. Yusuf and Russell can do it but it's a tall order.
RCB on top:
Sreenath Aravind takes out Gautam Gambhir with a yorker! He is a tad unlucky though as the impact was just outside off. The task keeps getting tougher for KKR as the required run rate is almost 11 now. Gambhir got deceived by a slower delivery that was bowled at a yorker length as Yusuf Pathan walks in. KKR need a special innings from him tonight.
Chahal arrives with a bang:
Yuzvendra Chahal has had an indifferent tournament so far but this is exactly the kind of start he needed to get his confidence back. Lynn had already set himself up for the big chase with a six off Binny but Chahal is introduced in the powerplay and he hits timber with a brilliant delivery. Local lad Manish Pandey enters with the home side well and truly on top.
Binny strikes early:
Uthappa is gone! The man in-form is dismissed in the very first over by his statement Stuart Binny. He takes the ball away a little and Uthappa gets a thickish outside edge. Kohli gobbles it up at backward point and RCB have their early breakthrough. The dangerous Chris Lynn is in next.
Amazing finish:
RCB scored a staggering 54 runs in the final three overs as they post 185 on the board. At one stage after Kohli's wicket, even 165 looked improbable. They should be happy with these bonus runs but will the bowlers step up to defend this? KKR have a strong batting lineup.
Kohli departs:
KKR have done excellently here! Kohli is first dropped by Gambhir but then fails to make most of the reprieve as he holes out to extra cover. Huge blow this is for the home side. Sachin Baby comes to the middle.
Another half-century:
He has anchored this innings to perfection with Gayle and AB falling cheaply. But now he has to accelerate in the final four overs to take RCB to a decent total.
Rahul delivered for RCB after Gayle's early departure. © BCCI
Big moment:
What a delivery from Chawla! That was a flipper, it came back in and fast and AB didn't have time to bring his bat down. He is trapped plumb in front and this is certainly a huge moment in the game. Watson walks in but Virat is now the key. He has to bat through the innings now.
Chawla strikes:
Much-needed breakthrough for KKR! Rahul has been too good against the spinners tonight and he looks to hit Chawla over extra cover. He doesn't time the ball properly and is caught at the boundary. Enter AB de Villiers. AB chants begin at Chinnaswamy.
Rahul tees off:
Rahul realises the need to move on and hits a six and a four off Chawla in the 10th over. He then hits does the same with Sunil Narine to bring up his half-century off just 29 deliveries. What a knock this has been! It's been his breakthrough season in the IPL without a doubt.
Powerplay: 40 for one
RCB have recovered to score 40 in the powerplay after the initial dull start. KL Rahul is once again looking good and they would be hoping for him to carry on. KKR would be happy with Gayle's wicket but they know AB and Watson are waiting to come in with Kohli already out there in the middle.
Yet to fire:
Huge blow for RCB early in the game. Chris Gayle tries to pull the ball into the orbit but gets a top edge. Uthappa calls for it and takes the catch neatly. Gayle is yet to fire for the home side this season. When will this rut end?
Toss: KKR opt to bowl
No brainer from Gauti! Knight Riders will bowl first and they have made three changes. Manish Pandey is back on his home ground. But the big news is, RCB welcome back Chris Gayle as they make four changes to their line-up.
Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI): Robin Uthappa(w), Gautam Gambhir(c), Manish Pandey, Chris Lynn, Suryakumar Yadav, Yusuf Pathan, Andre Russell, Piyush Chawla, Umesh Yadav, Sunil Narine, Morne Morkel
Royal Challengers Bangalore (Playing XI): Virat Kohli(c), Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, Shane Watson, Lokesh Rahul(w), Sachin Baby, Stuart Binny, Varun Aaron, Sreenath Aravind, Yuzvendra Chahal, Tabraiz Shamsi
Build up:
Having won just two out of their six games, the Royal Challengers Bangalore look to change their fortunes on their home turf. Their batting heavy side will have to make use of the home conditions in order to revive their campaign. Will Chris Gayle be included in order to strengthen it further? Or how about Chris Jordan? RCB badly need a death overs specialist and he can certainly deliver.
Kolkata Knight Riders on the other hand, have had a decent tournament and are placed fourth on the table. A win can take them to the second spot ahead of the Mumbai Indians. They have tinkered a lot with their overseas combination, so it will be interesting to see what they do tonight. Will the local lad Robin Uthappa fire in front of his home crowd?
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