IPL Live Score: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) Live Scorecard and commentary

KKR vs KXIP Live Ball by ball commentary

IPL 2016 Full coverage

Kolkata Knight Riders continue with their breezy run of form in this year’s IPL. They are now perched high atop the points table with 12 points. With 3 home games lined up for them hereafter, the KKR camp would be entertaining prospects of qualifying for the play-offs now. Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa had put them in a comfortable position at the start, and commendable discipline shown by their bowlers despite the assault from Maxwell.

Player of the match : Andre Russell

KXIP 157-9 after 20 overs

Absolute BRILLIANCE from Andre Russell in the 2nd ball of the over. Bowls a terrific yorker to Gurkeerat, stops the ball with his right hand and runs out Axar Patel at the non striker’s end. Gurkeerat is himself run out on the next ball while attempting a sucidal second run after hitting the ball straight to long off. As an icing on the cake, Russell traps Swapnil Singh leg before wicket on the penultimate ball of the match. KKR sign off with an exhilarating win 7 run win infront of their home crowd.

KXIP 153-6 after 19 overs

Axar Patel turns the match on its head, with a useful cameo. 10 runs off Morne Morkel’s over and it is upto Andre Russell to defend 12 runs in the all important last over of the match.

KXIP 143-6 after 18 overs

A CRUCIAL moment in the game! A frustrated David Miller sent a full toss straight into the lap of long on. However, Andre Russell seemed to bowled the full toss a bit too high for the umpire’s liking and a referral was made to the third umpire. In the end, it was a tricky decision to call it a fair delivery and declare Miller OUT. Axar Patel restores parity to the chase with two gigantic sixes over midwicket. Russell’s exceptional over turned sour in the last couple of deliveries. 22 needed of 12 now.

KXIP 130-5 after 17 overs

A boundary off the last ball of Shakib Al Hasan’s crucial over keeps the equation in balance for both sides. Gurkeerat Singh sends a full toss between long on and long off, and it landed very close to the boundary. 8 runs in the over, 35 required from the last 3 overs.

KXIP 122-5 after 16 overs

MASSIVE WICKET! Piysuh Chawla traps Maxwell leg before wicket while he was attempting an audacious reverse sweep off the 4th ball of the over. The tables have turned once again. Fantastic over from Chawla as he finishes his spell with figures of 4-0-27-2. A thrilling finish is on the cards. 43 runs required off the last 4 overs.

KXIP 117-4 after 15 overs

Shakib comes back into the attack. Maxwell keeps going. A massive six over midwicket to keep the KXIP hopes high. The bowler manages to pull things back with just 2 runs in the last 4 balls.

KXIP 109-4 after 14 overs

Umesh Yadav proves costly yet again.11 runs off the over and KXIP are truly in business here. Gambhir’s bowling options are dwindling with every passing over. Hogg and Yadav already look too expensive to be handed the ball once again.

KXIP 98-4 after 13 overs

Brilliant over from Piyush Chawla with Maxwell looking so dangerous. Just 5 runs.

KXIP 93-4 after 12 overs

Brad Hogg leaking runs in all directions and Maxwell has got going here. A scintillating half century off just 29 balls has given KXIP more than just a chance. 17 runs off the over, and the required rate has come down to under 9 now. We have a match on our hands folks!

KXIP 76-4 after 11 overs

Maxwell takes full advantage of the extra pace used by Chawla in this over. Hits a 4 and a 6 to keep the required run rate under check. 12 off the over, and the fate of the game looks to be settling on Maxwell’s innings now.

KXIP 64-4 after 10 overs

Miller has a lucky escape as the bails don’t come off after being kissed by Brad Hogg’s viciously spinning 2nd ball of the over. Maxwell misses a full toss on the pads but makes amends with a six over long off in the very next ball. 11 useful runs for KXIP in the over.

KXIP 53-4 after 9 overs

Spin from both ends now. And Piyush Chawla strikes in his very first over. Saha drags the last ball of the over onto his stumps. Useful partnership broken and KXIP’s hopes dip further. Spinners surely are going to make or break it for KKR in this game. David Miller joins Maxwell in the middle.

KXIP 48-3 after 8 overs

Shakib Al Hasan is introduced into the attack and he bowls a disciplined over that goes for just 5 runs. This over indicates how important a role spin is going to play in this innings.

KXIP 43-3 after 7 overs

Umesh Yadav makes clever use of slower balls to confuse the batsmen. Makes amends for an expensive 1st over and concedes just 6 runs this time. Maxwell and Saha build a crcuial partnerhsip for KXIP.

KXIP 37-3 after 6 overs

Morne Morkel bowls the last over of the powerplay and mixes up his pace quite well. Maxwell, though, manages to pinch two boundaries over the head of the short fine leg fielder. Useful runs for KXIP!

KXIP 27-3 after 5 overs

Umesh Yadav’s profligacy from the last match against RCB continues. Concedes 11 in his first over and gives KXIP some breathing space.

KXIP 16-3 after 4 overs

KXIP sink further into trouble as Vijay departs on the 1st ball of the Morne Morkel over. Can’t handle Morkel’s extra bounce and ends up playing a nothing shot that lands straight in the arms of Shakib at mid off. Glenn Maxwell comes in to bat with high hopes and expectations of his team. KKR, though, seem to be all over their opponents.

KXIP 13-2 after 3 overs

Murali Vijay’s frustration is quite apparent now. Attempts to unsettle Russell on a couple of deliveries by moving in the crease. Uthappa misses a ball that was curling away from him behind the stumps and KXIP earn 4 lucky byes. Russell hits back with the wicket of Manan Vohra on the last ball of the over. The visitors seem to be losing the plot in the chase quite early. Wriddhiman Saha joins his skipper.

KXIP 7-1 after 2 overs

Morne Morkel hits the deck hard in the 2nd over and extracts some lethal bounce. Top edge from Murali Vijay on the last ball goes for a boundary at fine leg. Just 5 runs off Morkel’s 1st over.

KXIP 2-1 after 1 over

Andre Russell strikes with the 4th ball of the 1st over. Marcus Stonis attemps to lift one over the head of mid off, but mistimes the shot and Piyush Chawla takes a catch running backwards. Manan Vohra joins Murali Vijay in the middle.

Innings Break

Gambhir would be disappointed not to reach 180. But hats off to Sandeep Sharma and Mohit Sharma for the disciplined bowling in the last 4 overs, which went for just 36 despite the presence of Yusuf Pathan and Andre Russell. Still, it would be tough for the underperforming KXIP batting unit to chase this total down on a slow and low track, facing the wily KKR spinners.

KKR 164-3 after 20 overs

Sandeeo Sharma bowls the last over and keeps the two batsmen in check with accurate yorkers. Fantastic last over from the youngster as he keeps KKR down to just 164. Russell is run out off the last ball while trying to steal a leg bye.

KKR 160-2 after 19 overs

Mohit Sharma bowls the yorker length with finesse with the first 4 balls. But misses the length slightly on the 5th ball and Russell gets under that one and smacks it over long on. Much needed six for KKR in an otherwise brilliant over from Mohit. 180 seems a bit too far fetched for the home team now!

KKR 150-2 after 18 overs

Sandeep Sharma attempts to bowl wide outside the off stump to avoid getting smashed by the two powerful hitters. The strategy backfires as he bowls three wides on the trot, but regains discipline during the rest of the over. Just one boundary from Andre Russell in this over.

KKR 138-2 after 17 overs

Mohit Sharma brought into the attack to try and stem the flow of runs with some clever variations. Yusuf hoicks one over square leg for a six. Robin Uthappa run out after an ugly mix up on the penultimate delivery. Brilliant innings of 70 off 49 from Uthappa, and KKR now have the license to swing at everything. Andre Russell joins Pathan for a late assault.

KKR 128-1 after 16 overs

Axar Patel ends his spell with a relatively quiet over. Strategic Time Out should help the KKR batsmen take stock of their position and launch into an attack in the last 4 overs.

KKR 121-1 after 15 overs

Robin Uthappa presses on the accelerator with a six and a four in Swapnil Singh’s 3rd over. The over goes for 14, as KXIP start feeling the heat of facing a well set batsman in the slog overs. KKR should ideally target something in excess of 180 to put KXIP out of contention on this slow pitch.

KKR 107-1 after 14 overs

Glenn Maxwell’s deadly accurate direct hit from cover sends back Gambhir. KXIP finally have something to cheer about. Yusuf Pathan comes in to join Uthappa, who gets to his 38 ball half century with a sparkling boundary through deep mid off. Confusion between David Miller and Mohit Sharma at long on leads to Uthappa’s mistimed shot being put down on the last ball of the over. Very eventful period of play for both sides.

KKR 100-0 after 13 overs

Vijay summons Glenn Maxwell to try and break this massive opening partnership. But he leaks 2 boundaries and concedes 11 easy runs. KKR get to the 3-figure mark and Gambhir bags yet another deserving half century.

KKR 89-0 after 12 overs

King Khan has been spotted in the stadium. KKR continue to keep the scoreboard ticking. Axar Patel concedes 6 runs in his 3rd over.

KKR 83-0 after 11 overs

Marcus Stoinis stars his 3rd over with a full toss on the leg stump, which Uthappa smashes to the fine leg boundary. 5 easy singles follow in the next 5 deliveries. The KKR openers have read the pitch well and are slowly changing gears now.

KKR 74-0 after 10 overs

Both Gauti and Uthappa are attempting to take on the young Swapnil Singh. The bowler varies his pace and line well in the first 5 balls, but bowls a benign full toss at Gambhir on the last ball. The KKR skipper despatches it with disdain over the square leg boundary, for a mighty six.

KKR 62-0 after 9 overs

Uthappa lifts the last ball of this Axar Patel over towards long off, and the ball clears the boundary comfortably. KKR have their first six of the innings! This brings us to the Strategic Time Out. The openers have done exceptionally well on this slow pitch to keep the run rate healthy, and without handing KXIP any easy breakthroughs.

KKR 51-0 after 8 overs

Murali Vijay seems to have understood the importance of spin on this Eden Gardens wicket. Brings on off spinner Gurkeerat Singh, who bowls 5 good balls. But Uthappa sweeps the last ball through the gap between long on and deep mid wicket to bring up the 50 run partnership with a much needed boundary.

KKR 43-0 after 7 overs

Left arm spinner Swapnil Singh, playing his first game in the IPL, gets a go at the KKR openers. Starts off brilliantly with just 3 singles in the over. Uthappa and Gambhir seem to be in no hurry here.

KKR 40-0 after 6 overs

Vijay takes a chance with Marcus Stoinis in the last over of the powerplay. Stoinis bowls a remarkably improved 2nd over, conceding just 4 runs off the first 5 balls. Gambhir, however, ruins it with a superb straight drive on the last ball.

KKR 32-0 after 5 overs

The hat-trick hero from the last game – Axar Patel – is introduced into the attack. Bowls a miserly over and concedes just 2 runs.

KKR 30-0 after 4 overs

Uthappa starts the over with a beautiful drive off the front foot and gets a boundary behind square on the off side. 5 singles in the next 5 deliveries.

KKR 21-0 after 3 overs

Marcus Stoinis handed the ball very early. Gambhir despatches a couple of boundaries on the leg side. KKR have got going!

KKR 12-0 after 2 overs

Gautam Gambhir gives the required boost to KKR innings with a couple of boundaries in this Mohit Sharma over. Robin Uthappa seems to be biding his time at the start.

KKR 2-0 after 1 over

Good start by Sandeep Sharma. Maintains his customary swing and just-outside-the-off-stump line to restrict the KKR openers to just a couple of singles in the first over.

Toss Update : Kings XI Punjab have won the toss and decided to bowl first. Murali Vijay belives that chances of rainfall later in the evening, and KKR’s stellar record batting 2nd this year are strong enough factors to put the opposition into bat first.

PLAYING XI :

KXIP: Murali Vijay, Manan Vohra, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, David Miller, Wriddhiman Saha, Axar Patel, Mohit Sharma, Swapnil Singh Sandeep Sharma

KKR: Robin Uthappa, Gautam Gambhir, Shakib Al Hasan, Manish Pandey, Yusuf Pathan, Andre Russell, Suryakumar Yadav, Piyush Chawla, Umesh Yadav, Brad Hogg, Morne Morkel

With a convincing win over the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Chinnaswamy stadium, the Kolkata Knight Riders stand second in the table with five wins and ten points from their eight matches played. Their next challenge is against the Kings XI Punjab, a rejuvenated side after easing past table toppers Gujarat Lions in their previous encounter. A change of captaincy and a stellar performance from Axar Patel helped them notch only their second win after a hat-trick of defeats.

LAST ENCOUNTER: The previous encounter at the Kings XI’s home ground saw the hosts lose by a margin of six wickets, after they had put an under-par 138 on the board. A strong opening partnership by Gambhir and Uthappa helpedKKR achieve the target in just 17.1 overs. Pardeep Sahu and Axar Patel were tight in the middle overs but the small target was never expected to be a concern for a strong KKR top order.

Earlier, a staid half-century from Shaun Marsh, and a subsequent cameo from Kyle Abbott gave their bowlers something to bowl at. As many as seven KXIP batsmen succumbed with single-digit scores. The KKR spin-trio of Narine-Chawla-Shakib kept things tied up in the middle after Morkel had accounted for a Vijay early in the innings.

Robin Uthappa was awarded the man of the match for his 28-ball 53.

KKR vs KXIP Match Prediction

At the PCA stadium, KXIP’s fragile middle order was exploited by a potent KKR spin attack. Since then, except for a blitz from Maxwell and Miller against Mumbai, they have been fairly inconsistent. With Shaun Marsh out with a back injury, there is more pressure on Miller and Maxwell to make substantial contributions with the bat. The burden of captaincy off his shoulders, Miller will be expected to bat more freely.

Their pace attack has looked off-color, with a recently retired Mitchell Johnson not at his best. Sandeep Sharma has been decent, but not incisive. Axar Patel would look to carry his form into the game, after taking the first hat-trick of the season in the last match. Mohit Sharma has been the pick of the fast bowlers, with 10 wickets in 7 matches.

Despite a stutter in the middle of their campaign, the other side looks like a well-oiled machine, and Yusuf Pathan’s recent return to form has given their middle order a much-needed boost. Their spin attack might pose problems for the Punjab batsmen on a slow Kolkata track.

With Shaun Marsh returning home, Farhaan Behardien might get a look-in, and will look to bolster the batting resources of a side which his hurting from Maxwell and Miller’s indifferent form.

PREDICTED XI:

KXIP: Murali Vijay, Marcus Stoinis, Farhaan Behardien, Glenn Maxwell, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, David Miller, Wriddhiman Saha, Axar Patel, Mohit Sharma, KC Cariappa, Sandeep Sharma

KKR: Robin Uthappa, Gautam Gambhir, Chris Lynn, Manish Pandey, Yusuf Pathan, Andre Russell, Suryakumar Yadav, Piyush Chawla, Umesh Yadav, Sunil Narine, Morne Morkel

FORM GUIDE:

KXIP

Last five encounters: (Most recent – Least recent)

WON (against Gujarat Lions by 23 runs)

LOST (against Mumbai Indians by 25 runs)

LOST (against Sunrisers Hyderabad by 5 wickets)

LOST (against Kolkata Knight Riders by 6 wickets)

WON (against Rising Pune Supergiants by 6 wickets)

The Punjab franchise is languishing at the bottom of the table, with only four points from seven games. Despite retaining a major chunk of the team, the Kings haven’t able to find consistency, with only a handful of players managing sporadic good performances. Their key players haven’t created much impact, with Glenn Maxwell being their biggest concern, having made a solitary half century in seven games.

They come on the back of a morale-boosting triumph over table toppers Gujarat, and the change of leadership from Miller to Vijay might just be a catalyst for them to salvage something out of this tournament.

KKR

Last five encounters: (Most recent – Least recent)

WON (against Royal Challengers Bangalore by 5 wickets)

LOST (against Delhi Daredevils by 27 runs)

LOST (against Mumbai Indians by 6 wickets)

WON (against Rising Pune Supergiants by 2 wickets)

WON (against Kings XI Punjab by 6 wickets)

Two-time champions, and second placed at the moment, the Kolkata Knight Riders overcame a string of defeats in the last match, beating the Royal Challengers comfortably in their own ground. Gambhir and Uthappa have been solid at the top, and Suryakumar Yadav, Yusuf Pathan and Andre Russell have made their contributions when it mattered.

KEY PLAYERS

KKR

GAUTAM GAMBHIR

The experienced warhorse has been making a strong case for a comeback in the Indian team, with 339 runs in eight matches. Instrumental in changing the franchise’s fortunes since 2012, Gambhir would look like to ensure that the team’s form doesn’t taper off before reaching the play-offs.

YUSUF PATHAN

His swashbuckling batting has made him a force to reckon with in the IPL. Despite a silent start, Pathan came to his own against the Royal Challengers, blazing his way to a 29-ball 60. If he can continue the form, KKR will have its combination sorted before the play-offs.

ANDRE RUSSELL

The colorful West Indian hasn’t been setting the stage on fire, but trust him to come up with game-changing performances with both bat and ball. Along with Pathan, Russell crushed the Bangalore bowling attack in their previous encounter with a brisk 24-ball 39. With 9 wickets in his kitty, his medium pace has also been fruitful.

KXIP

MURALI VIJAY

Punjab’s best bet at the top of the order, Murali Vijay has been the highest run getter for the franchise this season with 198 runs. With the added responsibility of captaincy, Vijay would want to put some more points in Punjab’s kitty, who sit at the bottom of the table.

GLENN MAXWELL

Maxwell’s form has been the biggest concern for the team, having managed only 95 runs in seven matches. However, his ability to play match-winning knocks cannot be underplayed, and he would be hoping to repeat his trademark swipes on the leg-side.

AXAR PATEL:

Patel is a key player in the Punjab outfit due to his all-round prowess, highlighted by his hat-trick against Gujarat in their last match. Capable of bowling four tight overs, as well as hitting quick cameos, the 22-year old would like to carry his form against Kolkata, a team known for being good players of spin.