Hello and welcome to Sportstar's live coverage of today's Indian Premier League encounter between the Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Well, what a match we had and Kolkata Knight Riders finally broke away from its losing streak and kept its qualification hopes alive. While Andre Russell played a gem of a knock, Hardik Pandya once again entertained all with his pyrotechnics. That's all we have for you today and thanks for joining us. Do join us tomorrow.
That's the game. Kolkata Knight Riders beat Mumbai Indians by 34 runs.
WICKET - Piyush Chawla becomes only the third bowler to pick 150 wickets in the IPL and Krunal Pandya has to depart. Employs the sweep shot but gets a top edge and Chawla settles under the ball and takes a fine catch.
SIX - Krunal Pandya manages to clear the deep mid-wicket boundary and that will be a maximum.
Mumbai needs 43 off 6 deliveries and it will be Piyush Chawla.
WICKET - Relief for Kolkata as Gruney gets the prized scalp of Hardik Pandya. The six-machine departs for a fantastic 91 off just 34 deliveries. Kolkata can now believe it can win the match.
FOUR - He gets into the nineties with a crisp shot over the covers.
SIX - On the pads and Hardik with wonderful wrist work flicks it over the deep backward square leg boundary.
SIX - This is some serious batting as this time he employs the helicopter shot and the ball sails into the crowd.
FOUR - Hardik smacks Narine straight over the umpire's head and collects a boundary.
Hardik Pandya pockets three boundaries and is literally toying with the bowling attack. 20 runs off the over and he is not yet finished.
Dropped - Krunal Pandya has been handed a life as a poor communication between Dinesh Karthik and Robin Uthappa has robbed off Piyush Chawla of his 150th wicket. Krunal got a top edge and Uthappa called for it but Karthik too went for the catch and the duo collided in the process and the catch was spilled.
Mumbai Indians needs 93 off 30 deliveries.
Hardik Pandya slams fastest fifty of IPL 2019: He has been sensational right from the start as this time he smokes Sunil Narine for a massive six over deep mid-wicket. Raises his bat and salutes his team. What a knock!
WICKET - Sunil Narine strikes and he breaks the threating stand as Kieron Pollard falls.
FOUR - Gurney bowls a full toss and Hardik gleefully accepts it as he dispatches it to the boundary.
SIX - Hardik Pandya brings out the helicopter shot and the ball has disappeared over the cow corner for a maximum.
Mumbai needs 125 in 48 deliveries.
SIX - Hardik Pandya is in no mood to let this game slip away. Chawla errs in line and Hardik is quick to dispatch him over the deep square leg boundary.
SIX - Piyush Chawla drops it short, Hardik Pandya goes deep inside the crease and whacks it over the deep mid-wicket for a maximum.
SIX - Hardik Pandya sends one over the deep mid-wicket boundary and Sunil Narine cannot afford to provide room to the batsmen as both have the range and the power to clear the ropes.
FOUR - Kieron Pollard shows no mercy as he goes on his back-foot and cuts it through the off-side for a boundary.
SIX - Six more and Hardik Pandya is getting into his groove. Chawla misses the length and Hardik smokes him over the cow corner for a maximum.
SIX - Hardik Pandya greets Piyush Chawla with a six as he gets underneath a slightly fuller one and smacks it straight over the bowler's head for a maximum.
Hardik Pandya joins Kieron Pollard.
WICKET -Suryakumar Yadav perishes after smashing a six and it's Andre Russell who picks up his second wicket. Yadav gets a top-edge and Dinesh Karthik settles under the skier.
Suryakumar Yadav and Kieron Pollard are banking on singles and Kolkata won't mind that. The game is quickly slipping away from Mumbai's grasp.
Pollard is off the mark as he nudges a short delivery to the third man and picks a single.
Kieron Pollard walks out and he needs to do an Andre Russell to keep Mumbai in the game.
WICKET - Andre Russell strikes immediately after being introduced as he induces an edge off Evin Lewis and Dinesh Karthik collects an easy catch. Mumbai in trouble.
FOUR- Evin Lewis finds a boundary with a crisp drive through the covers. But Mumbai needs more of those as the asking rate is constantly climbing up.
FOUR - Excellent timing from Suryakumar Yadav as he works a straighter delivery through the mid-wicket for a boundary.
SIX - Suryakumar Yadav breaks away from the shackles with a gorgeous six over deep mid-wicket. On the pads and Yadav just gently flicks it and the ball lands just on the advertising cushions.
WICKET - Huge blow for Mumbai as Rohit Sharma departs. Gurney gets the prized scalp as he traps the Mumbai skipper. Quicker delivery, Rohit attempts a big heave, misses it and the ball pings him on the back leg. Rohit reviews but the on-field decision stays.
SIX - Excellent shot from Evin Lewis. Short and wide and Lewis frees his arms and carts it over the point region for a maximum.
FOUR - Rohit Sharma comes down the track and lofts Sunil Narine over the mid-wicket for a boundary.
WICKET - Sunil Narine strikes and he removes De Kock for a duck. De Kock plays the sweep shot but gets a top-edge as Andre Russell takes a simple catch in the deep.
FOUR - On the hips and Rohit pulls it through the square leg for a boundary.
FOUR - Length delivery and Rohit opens the face of his bat and guides it through the vacant slip region and the ball races away to the boundary.
Alright the umpires are out there in the middle and so Jacques Kallis is involved in a seriously animated conversation with the players. Mumbai openers Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock make their way and this should be an interesting chase. Sandeep Warrier will begin the proceedings with the ball. Here we go!
Last ball of the innings. SIX and Russell's unbeaten 80 powers Kolkata to 232/2. A six over long-off has helped Kolkata post the highest score of the season. Mumbai needs to bat out its skin and if it chases it, it will be the highest chase ever in IPL history.
FOUR - It's raining boundaries and Malinga is leaking runs. 14 runs already off the first three deliveries. This time Russell gets a thick under edge and the ball beats the keeper and runs away to the fence.
FOUR - Malinga misses the length and Russell gets down on his knee and smacks through the covers for a boundary.
SIX- This has disappeared into the stands as Russell packs off Malinga for a maximum.
Malinga to bowl the last over.
SIX - Slower delivery, outside off and Russell reaches out and slaps it over cover for a flat six.
No-ball Free Hit - Andre Russell is on strike and Jasprit Bumrah concedes a boundary as Russell pulls a back of length delivery through the square leg.
FIFTY for Russell - Andre Russell brings up his half-century in 30 deliveries and this has been some innings after being promoted up the order.
SIX - That was some shot from Andre Russell as he clears his front-foot and slaps a short delivery over the third man for a maximum.
SIX - Andre Russell picks up a slower one from Hardik Pandya and muscles it into the crowd and then smokes a full toss as Evin Lewis watches the ball sail into the stand.
SIX - Bumrah bowls a short of length delivery and Karthik pulls him over the deep mid-wicket boundary for a maximum.
FOUR- Short delivery from Bumrah and Karthik was quick to latch on to it as he pulls it to the deep mid-wicket boundary.
WICKET -Hardik Pandya breaks the stand as he removes the well-set Shubman Gill. Slower delivery, Gill tries to clear deep mid-wicket but fails to as Evin Lewis settles under the catch.
Five overs to go and on such a fine batting track, can Andre Russell take Kolkata past the 200-run mark is the big question.
FOUR - Andre Russell smacks a length delivery from Malinga through the third man area and Malinga is taking a beating. The third man was up in the circle and a worried Rohit Sharma is quick to make some changes.
FOUR - Back to back boundaries for Shubman Gill as Malinga bowls on the pads, Gill flicks it and the ball beats the short fine-leg fielder and races to the fence.
FOUR - Shubman Gill is making the most on a belter of a track and he drills Lasith Malinga through the mid-off for a boundary.
SIX - Fuller again from Chahar and this time Rusell gets underneath the delivery and smashes it over the mid-wicket for a maximum.
SIX - This time it's Andre Russell as he gets under a fuller one and hits it over the deep mid-wicket boundary.
SIX - This is huge from Shubman Gill as he smokes the leg-spinner for a maximum over long-on and that ball has taken some serious pounding.
It was a cat and mouse game between Hardik Pandya and Andre Russell. Just four runs came off the over but it was more of Pandya bowling wide of Russell's reach and in the process he bowled three wides. Should be interesting.
Hardik Pandya into the attack.
SIX - Top shot from Shubman Gill as he dances down the track and lifts Rahul Chahar straight over the sightscreen for a maximum.
FIFTY FOR Shubman Gill - Excellent from Shubman Gill as he brings his fifty in 32 deliveries. Much needed half-century. Kolkata 106/1 after 11 overs.
Jasprit Bumrah returns back into the attack and Shubman Gill greets him with a crisp drive through the covers for a boundary.
Andre Russell walks in at No.3 for the first time this season.
WICKET - Rahul Chahar breaks the opening stand and he gets the prized scalp of Chris Lynn. Lynn goes for a wild swing, gets the height but not the elevation as Evin Lewis takes a skier at long-on. An excellent innings comes to an end as Lynn departs for a 29-ball 54.
SIX - Now Shubman Gill gets into the act as he smokes Rahul Chahar over the covers for a maximum. Pure class.
FOUR- Superb shot from Lynn and he drills Barinder Sran to the long-on boundary. Such sheer power coupled by timing and the ball races away to the fence.
FIFTY FOR LYNN - Brilliant innings from Chris Lynn as he brings up his half-century in just 27 deliveries.
SIX - Chris Lynn is on fire as this time he gets under a slightly fuller delivery and smacks it over deep mid-wicket for a six. He is looking dangerous and Mumbai needs a breakthrough.
FOUR - Chris Lynn continues to deal in boundaries as this time he smashes Krunal Pandya wide of long-off for a boundary.
SIX - Drags it short and deserves the treatment as Lynn pulls Chahar and the ball sails over the deep mid-wicket boundary for a maximum.
FOUR - Excellent shot from Chris Lynn and he makes room and carts it over the deep extra cover for a boundary.
Rahul Chahar into the attack after the strategic time-out.
DROPPED - Kieron Pollard hands Chris Lynn a life! Slower delivery from Malinga, Lynn tried to clear mid-off and a diving Pollard got both his hands and almost took a stunner before spilling it.
FOUR- Jasprit Bumrah drags his length short and Lynn is quick to pounce on it as he slaps through the square leg for a boundary.
Jasprit Bumrah into the attack.
FOUR - Top-edge but lands safe. Chris Lynn employs the sweep shot, gets a top-edge but the ball clears fine leg and crosses the ropes.
FOUR - Chris Lynn makes room and guides a slightly fuller delivery through the point region for a boundary.
Malinga is mixing his deliveries well and both batsmen are being watchful. Mumbai is pulling back things after a costly first over.
Lasith Malinga into the attack.
Excellent from Krunal Pandya as he gave just two runs and he has been accurate with his length.
Spin introduced early and it will be Krunal Pandya.
SIX - Excellent from Gill as this time he connects one for a maximum. Short delivery, it seemed Gill had plenty of time as he pulls over the deep square leg for a six.
FOUR - Back of length delivery, width on offer and Gill opens the face of his bat and guides it through the off side for a boundary. Good, positive intent from the young batsman.
FOUR - First runs on the board and Shubman Gill opens his account with a boundary. On the pads, full and Gill flicks it through the mid-on and the ball races away to the boundary.
The Mumbai Indians team is in a huddle and out come the Kolkata openers - Chris Lynn and Shubman Gill. Barinder Sran has the new ball. The countdown has begun and here we go!
It's do-or-die for Kolkata as a loss today will virtually end their hopes of qualifying for the play-offs and a win for Mumbai will help the Rohit Sharma-led side book a play-off berth.
Playing XI
Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma(C), Quinton de Kock(WK), Evin Lewis, Suryakumar Yadav, Krunal Pandya, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Rahul Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah, Lasith Malinga, Barinder Sran
Kolkata Knight Riders: Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Robin Uthappa, Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik(C/WK), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Piyush Chawla, Sandeep Warrier, Harry Gurney
Mumbai Indians won the toss and have elected to bowl first against Kolkata Knight Riders.
Toss coming up in moments from now and it will be a crucial one.
Before we head into the encounter, here's the preview by our correspondent, Y.B. Sarangi.
With its back to the wall in its remaining three matches, Kolkata Knight Riders will meet Mumbai Indians twice in eight days. The first meeting is at the Eden Gardens here on Sunday, when KKR will seek to not only stay alive in the Indian Premier League but also complete its home assignments on a high.
For KKR, it is easier said than done to reverse the negative momentum of its six-match losing streak. KKR’s last win came three weeks ago. Now, it seems as if the team has forgotten how to secure a victory.
Even though KKR has rarely under-performed with the bat, except for the collapse in Chennai, its batting has attracted more criticism than its bowling.
The KKR bowlers have not been able to take enough wickets and put pressure on the opponent. Whenever its bowlers have managed to take early wickets – for example against Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals – it has not been able to maintain the control over the rival batsmen in the latter half of the innings.
Video: Can Kolkata Knight Riders snap its losing streak?
Hard times have triggered self-doubts in KKR, which is doing trial and error to find a winning combination.
Speculation over Dinesh Karthik continuing as the captain loomed until the wicketkeeper-batsman showed character to notch up an unbeaten 97 and help KKR post a competitive total against RR.
The side will pray that everything falls into place in its last home engagement.
Closer to qualification, MI must overcome the fatigue of playing and travelling to give a strong performance against a doubt-stricken KKR.
READ | IPL Playoffs and final to begin at 7:30pm
Loaded with impact players – such as Lasith Malinga, the Pandya brothers (Hardik and Krunal), Jasprit Bumrah and Quinton de Kock – the Rohit Sharma-led outfit has put up fights to stay among the top in a season of ups and downs.
MI will be eager to put it past KKR here and ensure a safe passage to the playoffs.
The match will be streamed live on Hotstar.
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