20th over: KKR 169-3 (Uthappa 80, Russell 55)
Single off the first ball. And the second. Then driven down the ground for two. Now one off two. And an under-edge for four wins it!
KKR WIN BY 7 WICKETS!
19th over: KKR 160-3 (Uthappa 76, Russell 54)
Mohit Sharma goes for the yorker and it’s a juicy full-toss, outside off stump, which Uthappa guides over the top of cover, for four! Russell tries to finish it with a 12, swinging for all his might but just under-edging into the ground for no run. Further swings bring further misses.
Six off six needed...
18th over: KKR 155-3 (Uthappa 71, Russell 54)
More into the attack and he nearly takes a wicket as Uthappa clips him aerially to Mohit Sharma at deep square leg, who runs in and dives forward but can’t cling on. More doing well to get his yorkers in but there are twos everywhere, it seems. Fine straight drive brings two more, as excellent relay fielding between Raina and Faf saves the boundary.
17th over: KKR 147-3 (Russell 53, Uthappa 64)
Dwayne Bravo back into the attack, with these two very well settled. Good ball into Russell is played down for a single. Full-toss is punched down the ground by Uthappa before a slower-bouncer is sent past Russell for a dot. Fuller slower ball is into Russell who waits and hits it with the off-turn, high, into the stands. Glorious. The next one is quicker and even bigger. Geez, this guy is something else. 101m!!
16th over: KKR 132-3 (Uthappa 63, Russell 39)
Lovely chip beyond the in-field sees Uthappa give Russell the strike, who then muscles a full ball on leg-stump through midwicket for four! Then he dances down and smashes aerially through the same region for six! Three singles to finish it. Glorious from Russell.
15th over: KKR 118-3 (Uthappa 61, Russell 27)
Nehra returns and Uthappa goes to fifty with a glorious straight six! Then a well-opened face guides another through third man. And another, as Nehra comes around the wicket and third man comes up. Confusing field settings here. Really confusing. Russell has a swing for the last ball and misses.
14th over: KKR 103-3 (Uthappa 46, Russell 27)
Negi’s good work undone by two fours from the first two balls; the first a deliberate punch through backward point from Russell, the second a wild top-edge over short third-man. Bravo’s the bowler and he follows up with a better length ball which is pushed into the off side for one. A couple of slower balls are read well for singles and a two.
13th over: KKR 91-3 (Uthappa 43, Russell 18)
Pawan Negi to Russell from ball two but he’s holding his own here, ensuring he doesn’t give away too much room and is nailing the block-hole and angle into the right-handers. Brilliant over sees just 5 from it.
12th over: KKR 86-3 (Uthappa 41, Russell 15)
Russell swings across the line, mis-times, but bisects the fielders at mid-wicket for four! Touch later on, from Uthappa, who guides a full-ball superbly through to third man, with a straight bat.
11th over: KKR 75-3 (Uthappa 36, Russell 9)
Watchful from Russell to Negi, before he dances down, makes room and smokes him over cover for six! Single off the last ball...
10th over: KKR 66-3 (Uthappa 35, Russell 1)
Awful shot selector from Yadav, who gets out swinging across the line. Chance of two in two as Uthappa gets a leading edge but it’s over the head of Nehra at mid-wicket. Andre Russell in....
WICKET! S.Yadav c Bravo b More 2 (KKR 57-3)
Awful shot from Yadav, who swipes across the line and finds Bravo at third-man.
9th over: CSK 57-2 (Uthappa 28, Yadav 2)
So Negi gets Pandey, who looked like he really got hold of a short-ball but could only find Jadeja. Really, really good from Negi who almost gets a stumping on the last ball but Dhoni cannot quite gather after a bit swipe from the batsman. Should’ve had it Dhoni...
WICKET! Pandey c Jadeja b Negi 3(CSK 54-2)
IT was ambling along and Negi goes short and Pandey gets hold of it but straight to the man at deep square leg!
8th over: KKR 53-1 (Uthappa 26, Pandey 3)
Newbie Ronit More into the attack and his first ball is expertly flicked around the corner for four! The rest of the over is a bit more settled and it’s just singles from it.
7th over: KKR 44-1 (Uthappa 19, Pandey 1)
Negi into the attack after his superb cameo at the end of the CSK innings. Starts with a wide that Dhoni does well to prevent from going to the boundary. A two and a single before Pandey is beaten by some turn.
6th over: KKR 38-1 (Uthappa 16, Pandey 0)
Last over of Power Play and another hit back to the bowler, this time from Uthappa to Nehra, sees the bowler get one hand on the ball. Difficult again as the single is scrambled. A wide aside, it’s a good over from Nehra with just two from it.
5th over: KKR 36-1 (Uthappa 15, Pandey 0)
Gambhir goes, getting well ahead of himself there, swishing across the line and caught at deep third man. Manish Pandey is in at No.3. Nice drives to the covers before swinging hard at a slower ball. Same again next ball as he gets off the mark with an under-edge to mid-wicket for one to Uthappa.
WICKET! Gambhir c More b Sharma 19 (KKR 33-1)
Gambhir was looking settled but needlessly goes across the line and top-edges to third man. It looks like it might go all the way but assured work from debutant More makes it a simple catch.
4th over: KKR 33-0 (Gambhir 19, Uthappa 12)
Good use of the feet from Uthapa sees him come down the wicket to Nehra and cart him back over his head for four. Then Gambhir back into the party as he nails a HUGE shot over mid-wicket for six! 91m!!
3rd over: KKR 21-0 (Uthappa 7, Gambhir 12)
Smashed back at Mohit Sharma by Gambhir. Sharma does well to stick out a hand and save three. Unfair to call that a chance, even if it did come to him on the full. All quiet quiet until Gambhir picks up the length excellently and carts Sharma over square leg for six!
2nd over: KKR 13-0 (Uthappa 6, Gambhir 5)
Nehra starts with a leg-side wide before beating Gambhir with balls too close to cut and one too sharp to slap. Nehra struggles to readjust straightaway to the left-right combo and it’s another wide, before he remains on the money until the final ball when he drifts onto Gambhir’s pads. It’s flicked away to the boundary where it’s well fielded by Bravo, who saves three runs.
1st over: KKR 6-0 (Uthappa 5, Gambhir 1)
Mohit Sharma with the ball and the first ball is edged by Uthappa, but straight onto his pad. Gorgeous wrist-work from the keeper-batsman sees mid-wicket left for dead by a well-timed flick. Gambhir on strike and he’s beaten first up. Single as he hits into the ground and over point’s head.
The chase is on – KKR need 166. All to play for...
20th over: CSK 165-9 (Nehra 1, More 2)
Russell gets a wicket first ball, as Mohit Sharma bowls high into the night sky and it’s taken by Uthappa. A couple of edges and a muted LBW appeal before Rohit More keeps out a yorker and is eventually called through for a single by Nehra. Swing and a miss last ball but it’s a bye.
KKR require 166 to win
WICKET! Sharma c Uthappa b Russell 0 (CSK 160-9)
Standard tailender’s way – swing and hope and a top-edge to a Russell slower the ball. It’s high, very high, and the keeper takes it.
19th over: CSK 160-8 (Sharma 0, Nehra 0)
Hogg’s last over and Negi, second ball, comes down the wicket and nudges into the leg-side for one. Jadeja goes but Negi, back on strike, dances down and plants him over mid-on for six! Bowled next ball, though, for an exceptional cameo of 27 from 13.
WICKET! Negi b Hogg 27 (CSK 160-8)
Quicker, flatter batter and Negi, who gave himself room, is bowled.
Updated
WICKET! Jadeja c Cummins b Hogg 24 (CSK 154-7)
Jadeja, who’s been off-strike for a bit, slog-sweeps Hogg but can only find Cummins in the deep. A solid rebuilding job from him, though.
18th over: CSK 153-6 (Jadeja 24, Negi 20)
Negi beaten by pace as Cummins goes across him and he fails to get anything on a dab to third man. Then he strikes him for four over cover, clearing his front leg and swinging hard! And then a tickle, off the pad, fine for four! And another - this time swiped through midwicket! ONE MORE! Thumped this time, over mid-wicket for a one-bounce four! A single and that’s 17 off the over.
17th over: CSK 136-6 (Jadeja 24, Negi 7)
Good yorker to Jadeja, which is clamped back down the crease to Russell. A slower-ball then does for Bravo. Pawan Negi is the new man in and his leading edge beats the keeper and that’s four! A two and a single and Negi retains the strike.
WICKET! Bravo b Russell 30 (CSK 129-6)
A brilliant slower ball from Russell has Bravo swinging and looking to the heavens, before turning to see his off-stump has been struck.
16th over: CSK 128-5 (Bravo 30, Jadeja 23)
Cummins back into the attack. Jadeja gets one at the ribs and takes the single, before Bravo hooks and can only sky to the edge of the ring. Gambir, running back, makes a meal of the chance and it’s dropped!
DROPPED! Thank you Gauti! #CSK #IdhuNammaSeason #whistlepodu
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 30, 2015
15th over: CSK 121-5 (Bravo 26, Jadeja 20)
Russell continuing and he’s sharp. Bravo is pegged back for the first four balls, before Bravo drops one into the off-side and scampers for the sanctuary of the non-striker’s end. Jadeja gets off strike and then Bravo finishes with a four, guided in the air, fine, to third-man.
Updated
14th over: CSK 115-5 (Bravo 21, Jadeja 19)
Brad Hogg back into the attack, with two overs left. The first two – one going one way, then the wrong-un – leave Bravo beffudled. But the next ball he keeps a strong base and carts Hogg down the ground for four! A pad away and then a six over mid-wicket to finish the over!
13th over: CSK 104-5 (Bravo 14, Jadeja 13)
Back to pace now as Andre Russell comes into the attack. A swipe goes into the leg-side for one. Jadeja tucks one into square leg for a single before Bravo pushes to mid-on for another. Too quick for a pull and Jadeja can only mis-time to mid-wicket for no run.
TIMEOUT
Updated
12th over: CSK 101-5 (Bravo 14, Jadeja 12)
Yusuf Pathan continuing and singles are taken to the off-side, as he veers from his ideal length and line. A single ends the over.
11th over: CSK 97-5 (Bravo 12, Jadeja 10)
Sloppy work from Pandey allows Bravo to get on strike, who follows a leg-spinner closely to get an edge down to third-man for four! More honest for the rest of the over before an LBW appeal is turned down and the resulting deflection goes for four! Dot to finish a great spell.
10th over: CSK 88-5 (Jadeja 9, Bravo 8)
Yusuf Pathan to carry on the trial by spin, which KKR are winning. It’s gentle, darting off-spin, which Bravo is able to guide down to third-man for a four. A single gets him off-strik before Jadeja gets another to finish the over.
9th over: CSK 81-5 (Jadeja 7, Bravo 3)
Epic googly beats the outside edge of Jadeja’s bat. The leftie gets forward a bit more to defend a couple into the off-side. The first five are dots before Jadeja goes into the off-side for one.
TIMEOUT
8th over: CSK 80-5 (Bravo 3, Jadeja 6)
Jadeja manages to wangle a four but it’s still tough going. An edge through to the keeper goes begging for the last ball!
7th over: CSK 73-5 (Jadeja 1, Bravo 1)
Chawla can bowl with a bit more freedom here, as CSK look to stem the loss of wickets. Dhoni and Bravo have to just focus on moving the ball between fielders. But Dhoni is bowled and, surely, with him goes the match. Amazing.
WICKET! Dhoni b Chawla 1 (72-5)
Carnage now as Chawla bowls Dhoni through the gate.
6th over: CSK 69-4 (Bravo 1, Dhoni 0)
A wicket first ball gets rid of McCullum, fifth ball gets rid of Faf before a close LBW shouts sees off the over. A full-toss for four down the ground in there as well. My word.
WICKET! du Plessis st Uthappa b Hogg 20 (CSK 69-4)
Faf runs past one and that’s Hogg’s second...
WICKET! McCullum LBW Hogg 32 (CSK 64-3)
Hogg’s first ball has McCullum rocking back and completely mis-reading it and playing across the line. High? Maybe, but he’s gone...
5th over: CSK 64-4 (McCullum 32, du Plessis 16)
Piyush Chawla is our first sight of spin and Faf goes inside out, into the gap at cover for four! Charges this time and beats long-off for another. Great use of his feet. Makes space a few balls later and hits over the top of the covers for a third four!
4th over: CSK 52-2 (McCullum 32, du Plessis 4)
Same again from Raina, as he takes four off Yadav first ball. Didn’t get hold of the shot – pull to mid-wicket – but it runs off the practice pitch to sprint beyond the fielder. He’s gone next ball, guiding the ball straight to Chawla at mid-on. Faf du Plessis out to the crease and off the mark with four from a flick off his pads. Down the ground, one-bounce, for four from B-Mac at the end.
WICKET! Raina c Chawla b Yadav 8 (CSK 43-2)
Raina tries to hit Yadav over the top, straight, but doesn’t get hold of the ball and it’s straight to mid on.
3rd over: CSK 39-1 (McCullum 28, Raina 4)
Good pace from Cummins keeps B-Mac honest. Slower-ball it’s total misread but somehow punched past the keeper for four! Faster balls and faster hands and that’s four behind square on the leg-side. Charging upper-cut goes for six over third man. What nonsense batting. Two to end the over.
2nd over: CSK 23-1 (McCullum 12, Raina 4)
It’s Yadav to Raina and it’s a glorious drive from Raina for four, all along the carpet! Length back has Raina pushed back and defending into the off side. The next four are spot on, with Raina feeling for the last one through to the keeper.
1st over: CSK 19-1 (McCullum, 12, Raina 0)
Wicket first up thanks to a fine grab from ten Doeschate. Suresh Raina’s in at three and swing from Cummins gets him just outside leg-stump for a leg bye. McCullum on strike and Cummins is full and swingy enough for the Kiwi to be a bit more watchful. Then he smacks the next ball over cover for SIX! Then five wides down the leg-side Charge next ball and six over the top. Another leg-side wide. Play and a miss. Absurd first over.
Updated
WICKET! D.Smith c ten Doeschate b Cummins 0 (CSK 0-1)
Ha, nonsense start - Cummins back of a length and Smith throws his hands at it – the ball flies out towards a heavily fortified cover-point region, where Ryan ten Doeschate dives to his left and takes a stunning grab.
Players out in the middle now – Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith striding out to the like yellow-clad warriors on a mission to go at five-an-over in the Power Play overs.
Chance we might see spin early on. Here goes...
Updated
KKR HAVE WON THE TOSS AND WILL BOWL FIRST!
Gautam Gambhir says he wants the ball up top. MS Dhoni says he would have batted anyway. But the real news is that Danny Morrison has finally lost it.
He’s been teetering on the edge for a long time, but after singing to greet viewers to the middle, he coaxed over Smiley The Spidey Cam with nothing but the tips of his fingers (steady). A true shambles of a man.
The last time these two met, just two days ago, CSK won by two runs. Ravi Ashwin, who took 2-5 for them (from two overs), is out with a finger injury sustained while fielding in that match. Big loss.
TEAM NEWS
KKR: RV Uthappa†, G Gambhir*, MK Pandey, SA Yadav, RN ten Doeschate, YK Pathan, AD Russell, PJ Cummins, PP Chawla, GB Hogg, UT Yadav
CSK: DR Smith, BB McCullum, SK Raina, F du Plessis, MS Dhoni*†, RA Jadeja, DJ Bravo, MM Sharma, P Negi, A Nehra, RG More
Vithushan will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s a report of yesterday’s truncated match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals:
Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals were left frustrated after theirIPL encounter was rained off before the second innings could get under way.
The Royals captain Shane Watson won the toss and asked Royal Challengers to bat and they posted a total of 200 for seven but the heavens opened shortly after their knock ended and despite various interruptions to the downpour, the ground could not be dried in time and play was abandoned.
Royal Challengers didn’t get off to the best start as Chris Gayle was dismissed in the first over for 10, hitting consecutive balls off Tim Southee for four and six then holing out to Deepak Hooda at square-leg. Another key man and their other opener departed shortly afterwards, edging Southee to wicketkeeper Sanju Samson for just one, but that allowed AB de Villiers to take control.
