"Unfortunately nothing is clicking for my team," yelps Viru. Back to cricket. So, that 18 runs off the last over should give some confidence to PUN. But mind you! KOL have never lost chasing this T20 League. Welcome back! Gambhir and Uthappa are out in the centre, Sandeep Sharma has the new rock. one slip in place. Let's get started...
Marsh: "The score is below par. We will back our bowlers. If we field like the other night we have a chance. Hopefully, we can bowl well and take our chances, we can make a match out of this."
Gambhir, at the toss, said that the pitch was not going to change much. He would hope that his words come true. For if it gets slower from here, Axar Patel and Pardeep Sahu will make this target seem bigger than what it is. Don't forget Mohit Sharma with all those cutters and slower ones. It might not be that run fest which makes the bowlers rethink their profession but a low-scoring one which has all the thrill. You won't want to miss it, join us in a while.
Once again the pitch played tricks and Punjab succumbed to it. Having said this, the credit must go to the KOL bowlers too as they stuck to nagging lines and propelled the batsmen to commit mistakes. David Miller had a bad day at the office and now his slump would start worrying the Punjab camp. If it was not for Shaun Marsh, PUN won't even have got what they eventually did. Special mention to Robin Uthappa, who was exceptional behind the wickets. Punjab have never been a formidable side at home and once again halfway through the innings, the advantage sits with the visitors.
19.6 -
A Russell to Kyle Abbott, 3 runs, sloppy work by Surya at long-on and Russell at the bowler's end result in three runs for PUN. Drilled down to long-on where Surya misfielded and then threw it at the stumps at the non-striker's end to effect a direct-hit, but Russell was not in front of the stumps. Hence, the ball deflected off the sticks and they took another overthrow
19.5 -
A Russell to Kyle Abbott, SIX, nice strike from Abbott. With a stable base and still head, Abbott butchers it over the man at long-on and it goes all the way. It was the cross-seamer from Russell
19.4 -
A Russell to S Marsh, 1 run, mediocred with width, Marsh cuts it to backward point, who stops it
19.3 -
A Russell to S Marsh, SIX, Marsh composes his fifty in style with a maximum. The low full toss from Russell, Marsh lofts it over the man at long-on, who jumped in the air to pouch it, but to no avail
19.2 -
A Russell to Kyle Abbott, 1 run, Abbott backs away, but Russell follows him with a back of a length delivery, Abbott punches it to mid-off
19.1 -
A Russell to S Marsh, 1 run, back of a length delivery and angled away from Marsh, pulled to deep mid-wicket
Andre Russell, right-arm fast, comes into the attack
18.6 -
U Yadav to Kyle Abbott, no run, short delivery from Yadav, Abbott tried to pull and connected with thin air
18.5 -
U Yadav to Kyle Abbott, no run, shortish and Yadav follows the batsman, Abbott stands tall and dabs it down the pitch with soft hands
18.4 -
U Yadav to Kyle Abbott, 2 runs, too straight from Yadav, clipped to deep mid-wicket for a brace
Kyle Abbott, right handed bat, comes to the crease
18.3 -
U Yadav to S Marsh, out Pardeep Sahu Run Out!! 1 run completed. Confusion in the middle has led to another dismissal. This has been a disappointing show by PUN. Low full toss from Yadav, Marsh punched it to sweeper cover, where Russell was quick to get to the ball and fling in a throw at the batsman's end. Sahu didn't even look at his partner and decided to run. Unfortunately, he was far too down the pitch to get back. Pardeep Sahu run out (A Russell/Uthappa) 1(1)
U Yadav to S Marsh, THAT'S OUT!! Run Out!!
18.2 -
U Yadav to Pardeep Sahu, 1 run, the banged in short delivery from Yadav and he gets good shoulder on it, Sahu tries to pull and misses. It hits the slice of his helmet. However, his partner was quick to respond for a quick single. Yadav showed athleticism by running across the length of the pitch, putting in a dive and under-arming a throw, but he misses
18.1 -
U Yadav to S Marsh, 1 run, Marsh clips it to backward square leg, where the fielder ushers in a throw at striker's end, but misses. If he had effected a direct-hit, the batsman would have gone
Pardeep Sahu, right handed bat, comes to the crease
17.6 -
M Morkel to Mohit Sharma, out Caught by Uthappa!! The procession continues as Sharma now has been sent back to the hutch. The slower back of a length delivery and again Morkel follows the batsman with it, Sharma backs away and initially looks to pull. He then gets into an awkward position and in the end, almost tried to fend it away. It hit his glove and an easy catch for the keeper to take as he moved to his left. Mohit Sharma c Uthappa b M Morkel 1(3)
M Morkel to Mohit Sharma, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!
17.5 -
M Morkel to S Marsh, 1 run, the yorker and on the stumps, Marsh digs it out square on the off-side
17.4 -
M Morkel to Mohit Sharma, 1 run, shortish and angled in, Sharma stays leg-side of the ball and dabs it to third man. Morkel followed the batsman all the way there
17.3 -
M Morkel to Mohit Sharma, no run, Morkel, this time, gets good shoulder on this short delivery, Sharma ducks under it. Exemplary short one from the towering pacer from South Africa
17.2 -
M Morkel to S Marsh, 1 run, another shortish delivery from Morkel from round the wicket, pulled to deep mid-wicket
17.1 -
M Morkel to S Marsh, FOUR, Morkel bangs it short and bowls it on off-stump, Marsh rocks back in a flash and pulls it to the deep mid-wicket fence
Mohit Sharma, right handed bat, comes to the crease
Morne Morkel [3.0-0-20-1] is back into the attack
16.6 -
U Yadav to Axar, out Caught by Suryakumar Yadav!! KOL continue to whittle away at the opposition ranks. Yadav again uses the slower one, Patel backs away and tries to heave, but it gets it off the toe-end towards Suryakumar at mid-off, who snaffles the skier. Axar c Suryakumar Yadav b U Yadav 9(8)
U Yadav to Axar, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!
16.5 -
U Yadav to S Marsh, 1 run, another off-pace delivery from Yadav, as a result, Marsh is early into his push-drive. He gets it off the toe-end, with his bottom hand coming off the bat handle. Yadav dives to his left and looks to take it with his left-hand, but these sort of catches either stick or not
16.4 -
U Yadav to Axar, 1 run, from mid-crease, Yadav hits a good length and outside off, Patel sits back and punches it to sweeper cover. It was an off-cutter from Yadav
16.3 -
U Yadav to Axar, 2 runs, the slower one and on the stumps, Patel works it to deep mid-wicket and scampers across to steal a brace
16.2 -
U Yadav to S Marsh, 1 run, low full toss and just outside off, Marsh punches it to Russell square on the off-side, who swoops down on the ball and fires in a rocket throw at the striker's end to keep the pair to just a single
16.1 -
U Yadav to Axar, 1 run, the cross-seam delivery from Yadav that was bowled just outside off, Patel punches it to long-off
Umesh Yadav [1.0-0-6-0] is back into the attack
15.6 -
Shakib to S Marsh, 2 runs, flatter delivery and on the stumps, Marsh punches it to deep mid-wcket for a brace
15.5 -
Shakib to S Marsh, no run, slightly shorter in length, Marsh brings out the punch to the right of the bowler
15.4 -
Shakib to Axar, 1 run, Patel camps back and awkwardly pushes it to long-off
15.3 -
Shakib to S Marsh, 1 run, too straight from Shakib, clipped to deep mid-wicket
15.2 -
Shakib to Axar, 1 run, Patel dabs it to short third man. The pair pinch a single. However, Marsh loses his bat when he was about to get back to the crease. No damage done though
15.1 -
Shakib to Axar, 2 runs, shorter in length, Patel uses the short-arm pull to long-on for a brace
Strategic Time-Out in place now.
14.6 -
Narine to Axar, 1 run, Patel push-drives it to long-off
Axar Patel, left handed bat, comes to the crease
14.5 -
Narine to Maxwell, out Caught by Chawla!! Maxwell has in his career unfurled a series of reverse hits to make merry. However, this time, that shot lets him down. The flatter delivery and on off-stump, Maxwell sinks on one knee and brings out his favourite shot, the reverse sweep. But he can't pierce the gap as he finds Chawla at cover-point, who takes it easily. It came off the toe-end as well. Maxwell c Chawla b Narine 4(7)
Narine to Maxwell, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!
14.4 -
Narine to S Marsh, 3 runs, wild throw by the man at deep mid-wicket results in an overthrow. Marsh clips it to deep mid-wicket, where the fielder swoops down on the ball quickly, but ushers in a wild throw and the man backing up didn't have a chance to stop. No wonder, the two pinch three runs in the end
14.3 -
Narine to S Marsh, FOUR, lovely connection from Marsh there. He sinks on one knee and slog-sweeps it to the deep mid-wicket fence
14.2 -
Narine to Maxwell, 1 run, by rolling his wrists on the ball, Maxwell neatly works it to deep mid-wicket
14.1 -
Narine to S Marsh, 1 run, flatter delivery and on the stumps, Marsh tucks it to mid-wicket
Sunil Narine [3.0-0-12-1] is back into the attack
13.6 -
Shakib to S Marsh, 1 run, too straight from Shakib, clipped to deep square leg
13.5 -
Shakib to Maxwell, 1 run, pushed through from Shakib, Maxwell aims to reverse sweep and gets an edge to short fine leg. Good running between the wickets though, by the pair
13.4 -
Shakib to Maxwell, no run, Maxwell attempts to reverse sweep a flatter delivery and misses. The pair can't pinch a single there
13.3 -
Shakib to S Marsh, leg byes, 1 run, Marsh skips down the track and tries to whip it around the corner, but misses. Shakib dishes out an appeal for LBW, but once Marsh had come down the track it was always difficult to give that one
13.2 -
Shakib to S Marsh, FOUR, Marsh twins timing and placement on this fine shot to collect a boundary. He dances down the track, gets close to the pitch of the ball and lofts it one bounce to the long-on fence
13.1 -
Shakib to S Marsh, no run, flatter delivery and on middle-stump, Marsh clips it to mid-wicket, but can't breach the gap
Shakib Al Hasan [2.0-0-15-0] is back into the attack
12.6 -
Y Pathan to S Marsh, 1 run, pushed through and on the stumps, flicked to deep mid-wicket
12.5 -
Y Pathan to Maxwell, 1 run, Maxwell nudges this delivery to short fine leg
12.4 -
Y Pathan to Maxwell, no run, shorter in length and just outside off, Maxwell looks to pull and misses. The keeper appeals for a caught behind but to no avail
12.4 -
Y Pathan to Maxwell, wide, Maxwell wanted to intially slog sweep this delivery, but he decided not to. Declared as a wide
12.3 -
Y Pathan to S Marsh, 1 run, Marsh takes it on the half volley and punches it to long-off
12.2 -
Y Pathan to Maxwell, 1 run, too straight from Pathan, clipped to deep mid-wicket
12.2 -
Y Pathan to Maxwell, wide, sliding down leg, given as a wide
Glenn Maxwell, right handed bat, comes to the crease
12.1 -
Y Pathan to D Miller, out Caught by Uthappa!! Yusuf has straightaway made an incision. Miller's poor form in this T20 League continues. Usually when the captain leads from the front, the team does well. However, in this case, Miller is struggling for form. From round the wicket, Yusuf bowled it quicker through the air and just outside off, Miller tried to cut and eked out an outside edge, Uthappa, stayed low to pouch the catch with both hands. Superb reflexes shown by him again. It was too close to cut there. D Miller c Uthappa b Y Pathan 6(6) [4s-1]
Y Pathan to D Miller, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!
Yusuf Pathan, right-arm off break, comes into the attack
11.6 -
Chawla to S Marsh, FOUR, short and wide delivery from Chawla, Marsh rocks back and cuts it to the third man fence. It came more off the outer part of the willow, but Marsh will take that boundary
11.5 -
Chawla to S Marsh, no run, shorter in length and begging to be smashed. Marsh camps back and cuts it towards the cover-region
11.4 -
Chawla to D Miller, 1 run, too straight from Chawla, Miller clips it towards mid-wicket
11.3 -
Chawla to D Miller, no run, flatter delivery from Chawla, Miller punches it firmly back towards the bowler
11.3 -
Chawla to D Miller, wide, sliding down leg, Miller misses with his tuck, rightly adjudged as a wide. KOL have been guilty of bowling a lot of wides in this T20 League
11.2 -
Chawla to D Miller, no run, outside off from Chawla, Miller drives it back towards the bowler, who stops it on his followthrough
11.1 -
Chawla to D Miller, FOUR, drifting down leg, Miller sinks on one knee and takes it on the half volley to paddle it to fine leg. Deft touch from him. There is no one out there at fine leg and as a result, nice placement from Miller
10.6 -
Narine to S Marsh, 2 runs, Marsh camps back in the crease and clips it deep backward square leg. The pair collect a brace
10.5 -
Narine to D Miller, 1 run, fullish from Narine, Miller sweeps it to deep mid-wicket
David Miller, left handed bat, comes to the crease
10.4 -
Narine to W Saha, out Caught by Uthappa!! Well, Saha has been chugged down. He tried to cut a flatter delivery after making room, but got a bottom edge. The keeper, Uthappa, showed good reflexes behind the stumps by pouching the catch with both hands. However, on replays I can see that when he snaffled the catch, the ball touched the helmet's grille and then he hung on to it. Hmm, now can that be given out? I don't think so. W Saha c Uthappa b Narine 8(14)
Narine to W Saha, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!
10.3 -
Narine to S Marsh, leg byes, Marsh makes a touch of room and tries to tuck it around, but misses. However, the non-striker was ready to steal a leg-bye. Good running between the wickets there
10.2 -
Narine to W Saha, 1 run, Saha skips down the track, gets close to the pitch of the ball and push-drives it all along the carpet to mid-on
10.1 -
Narine to S Marsh, 1 run, slightly shorter in length, Marsh pulls it to long-on. He didn't exactly time it, but the duo pinch a single
9.6 -
Chawla to W Saha, 2 runs, jumps back and punches this flatter delivery square of the wicket
9.5 -
Chawla to W Saha, no run, sinks to one knee and seeks to sweep this fullish flighted delivery, gets a top-edge which pings the helmet and rolls to the off-side. Was a little early into the stroke...
9.4 -
Chawla to S Marsh, 1 run, pulls the length back slightly and turns it into the left-hander, Marsh jumps back and punches wide of mid-on
9.3 -
Chawla to W Saha, 1 run, another one looped up nicely in the air, Saha yet again gets too close to the pitch and toe-ends the drive to long-off
9.2 -
Chawla to W Saha, no run, flighted generously outside off, a bit fullish in length, Saha steps out and gets too close to the pitch of the delivery, a mistimed drive back to the bowler
9.1 -
Chawla to W Saha, no run, fuller on off-stump, Saha taps it back towards the bowler
Chawla continues...
Oh, the strategic time-out. This helps, if you got a job like me...
8.6 -
Narine to W Saha, 1 run, drifted in around off, Saha saunters down and on-drives to long-on
8.6 -
Narine to W Saha, wide, fuller and down the leg-side, Saha falls over the flick but manages to plant his back foot inside the crease. Mind you! He's a keeper and he knows a thing or two about tricks behind the stumps
8.5 -
Narine to W Saha, 2 runs, tad shorter and Saha pounces on it this time, goes deep inside the crease and chops it past a diving backward point
8.4 -
Narine to W Saha, no run, repeat the previous ball please! This time he finds cover
8.3 -
Narine to W Saha, no run, another one in the same zone, Saha's back foot punch finds point
8.2 -
Narine to W Saha, no run, quicker and flatter outside off, Saha tries to cut off the back foot, beaten on the top-edge
8.1 -
Narine to W Saha, no run, flighted on off, Saha gets inside the line and drives to mid-on
7.6 -
Chawla to W Saha, 1 run, slowed it up in the air, just outside off, Saha was early into the push/drive. A soft leading edge which rolls to cover
Wriddhiman Saha, right handed bat, comes to the crease
7.5 -
Chawla to Vijay, out Bowled!! Whaaaday googly from Chawla! Vijay certainly hasn't picked that. Saw that late and wanted to cut square on the off-side, went too deep and missed it completely. The ball clatters the stumps in no time. Vijay b Chawla 26(22) [4s-4]
Chawla to Vijay, THAT'S OUT!! Bowled!!
7.4 -
Chawla to Vijay, no run, knelt down and aimed for a sweep down the leg-side, the length is full and on leg-stump, Vijay drags the sweep straight to short fine
7.3 -
Chawla to S Marsh, 1 run, flicked towards long-on
7.2 -
Chawla to Vijay, 1 run, wristed towards mid-wicket
7.1 -
Chawla to S Marsh, 1 run, the legspinner which turns sharply into Marsh who was trying to run it down to third man. It hit the pad first before it hit the splice of the bat. No appeal and anyway would have missed leg. Was it spinning too much? Looked like so
Piyush Chawla, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack
6.6 -
Narine to S Marsh, 1 run, slowish and around off-stump, Marsh comes down the pitch and drives to long-off
6.5 -
Narine to S Marsh, no run, floated up on the stumps, pushed back to the bowler
6.4 -
Narine to Vijay, 1 run, hurled on the pads, clipped towards mid-wicket
6.3 -
Narine to Vijay, no run, this one spun the other way, gives it loads of air and beats Vijay in the flight. Vijay was too ambitious and went for the drive, missed and lost his balance. Only for a fleeting moment though. Uthappa whips the bails and sends a query to the square leg umpire. TV umpire confirms it as "NOT OUT"
6.2 -
Narine to S Marsh, 1 run, tossed up on the stumps, driven neatly towards long-off
6.1 -
Narine to S Marsh, no run, flatter and on the stumps, driven with soft hands towards cover
Sunil Narine, right-arm off break, comes into the attack
5.6 -
M Morkel to S Marsh, 1 run, hits the back of a length region and gets good bounce around leg-stump, Marsh is early into the pull, misses and is pinged on the thigh pad, sneaks a leg bye as the ball dribbles to mid-wicket. Might have got some inside edge...
5.5 -
M Morkel to S Marsh, no run, yet again there's width on offer but this time Marsh has mistimed the cut to backward point
5.4 -
M Morkel to S Marsh, no run, offers a bit of width on a length, Marsh cuts nicely but couldn't get it past backward point
From round the wicket now...
5.3 -
M Morkel to Vijay, 1 run, the slower short ball at the batsman, Vijay awkwardly fends as he is taken aback by the slowness of the delivery, hit the splice and rolled towards square leg
5.2 -
M Morkel to Vijay, FOUR, ah, a pull shot off the front foot! Picked the length early and stood still to dispatch the pull through mid-wicket
5.1 -
M Morkel to Vijay, no run, stump-to-stump line from Morne Morkel, keeps it tight around the corridor of uncertainty, blocked with soft hands towards cover
4.6 -
Shakib to S Marsh, 2 runs, full on off-stump, Marsh advances and wrists through mid-wicket
4.5 -
Shakib to Vijay, 1 run, quick and flat around Vijay's pads, clipped away towards mid-wicket
4.4 -
Shakib to Vijay, FOUR, slightly short and ample width on offer for Vijay, he camps back and cracks the cut square of the wicket. T-I-M-E-D!
4.3 -
Shakib to S Marsh, 1 run, eased to long-on
4.2 -
Shakib to S Marsh, no run, the flighted delivery which spun sharply into the batsman, Marsh rocks back and is cramped for room, wanted to pull but splices it towards mid-wicket
4.1 -
Shakib to Vijay, 1 run, slides in on a length, Vijay is content with a single towards mid-wicket
3.6 -
M Morkel to S Marsh, FOUR, whoa! How about that for a start! That should get Shaun Marsh going. A left-handers dream delivery, full and wide, driven off the meat through covers
3.5 -
M Morkel to Vijay, 1 run, fuller around the pads, clipped square on the leg-side
Shaun Marsh, left handed bat, comes to the crease
3.4 -
M Morkel to Vohra, out Caught by Shakib!! There's the first wicket KOL were looking for. Manan Vohra looked a bit rusty and has holed out to the man at deep square leg. Sits deep inside the crease and flicks a fullish delivery in the air. Not timed, might have been off the toe of the bat. Shakib runs to his right, dives and grabs it neatly. Vohra c Shakib b M Morkel 8(12)
M Morkel to Vohra, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!
3.3 -
M Morkel to Vohra, 2 runs, backs away and Morne follows him with a short delivery, Vohra ramps and doesn't time it all that well, lands well in front of an incoming third man. A wild throw from the fielder and the duo take one on the overthrow
3.2 -
M Morkel to Vohra, no run, this one might have held on the surface and came later than Vohra expected, good length outside off, Vohra checks his drive back towards the bowler
3.1 -
M Morkel to Vohra, 2 runs, length on off, Vohra shuffles slightly and tucks off his hip past square leg
Morne Morkel [1.0-0-5-0] is back into the attack
2.6 -
Shakib to Vijay, no run, lopped up around off, Vijay pushes tamely and gets an inside edge onto his pad
2.5 -
Shakib to Vijay, FOUR, superb shot! Quicker and just outside off, right in the driving zone for Vijay, sweetly punch-driven through the covers. Don't bother running for those
2.4 -
Shakib to Vohra, 1 run, gets across and uses his wrists to lift that wide of mid-wicket
2.4 -
Shakib to Vohra, wide, sprayed down leg, Vohra fails to flick
2.3 -
Shakib to Vohra, no run, this time he confidently looks to sweep but Shakib has bowled it flat and straight, missed and is struck on the pad. Around leg-stump line and would have gone down leg
2.2 -
Shakib to Vohra, no run, gets fractionally forward to negate the turn, Shakib is a wily old customer, shoots the slider on the pads and Vohra fails to get bat on the swipe
2.1 -
Shakib to Vohra, no run, slider on off, Vohra drives straight to cover
No slips for Shakib....
Shakib Al Hasan, left-arm orthodox, comes into the attack
1.6 -
U Yadav to Vohra, 1 run, nicely done! Waits on the back foot and wrists the length ball wide of mid-on and keeps strike
1.5 -
U Yadav to Vohra, 2 runs, fullish and around off, Vohra seeks to loft it over mid-on, ekes out a leading edge which swirls over extra cover, another edge which results in runs...
1.4 -
U Yadav to Vohra, no run, outside off, Vohra is happy to tap that towards cover
1.3 -
U Yadav to Vijay, 1 run, gets it to straighten a bit outside off on a good length, Vijay closed the bat face early on the drive, gets a thick outside edge which rolls down to third man
1.2 -
U Yadav to Vijay, 2 runs, another leg-sidish delivery from Umesh Yadav, Vijay flicks this in the air and to the left of Morne Morkel at short fine, an easy double on offer
1.1 -
U Yadav to Vijay, no run, fullish and splayed into the pads, Umesh Yadav gets away with that, flicked straight to short fine leg
Umesh Yadav, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack
Here's Umesh...
0.6 -
M Morkel to Vohra, no run, length ball angled in on off, Vohra hops and tucks with a closed bat face in front of mid-on. Wasn't a bad over from Morne...
0.5 -
M Morkel to Vijay, 1 run, sensible stuff from Vijay. Nudges this goodish length delivery into the leg-side and scampers for a quick single
0.4 -
M Morkel to Vijay, FOUR, stand and deliver! That's Murali Vijay for you. Not a half-volley but when you time it that well, there is very little any bowler could do. Length swerved in on the stumps, Vijay nonchalantly lifts it over mid-on
0.3 -
M Morkel to Vijay, no run, sticks to the back of a length and hurls it around off, nice solid forward push from Vijay
0.2 -
M Morkel to Vijay, no run, back of a length right in the zone for Vijay, punched sweetly towards cover-point
0.1 -
M Morkel to Vijay, no run, nice good length delivery to start with, not much of movement in the air, but Vijay decides to let it go as the line is well outside off
Vijay and Vohra are at the crease. Vijay is on strike. M Morkel will open the attack
It turned out to be one of those lopsided encounters of T20 League 2016. We have had quite a few of them already. KOL were too strong on the day for an insipid PUN outfit. Tomorrow, MUM will lock horns against BLR at the Wankhede. Join us for all the action. Until then, goodbye and goodnight.
Uthappa (Man of the Match): "I was a little rusty behind the wickets at the start of the tournament. It is good to get better and better as the tournament progresses. Happy with the way I am batting as well and contributing to the team. It is important to get some momentum at the start of the tournament. We have focused on that as a unit. Myself and Gambhir have a good understanding. You don't try to fix something that ain't broke. We share a good chemistry. The understanding between us is one of the secret to our success. We rotate the strike well. The understanding and camaraderie is very very good. We just compliment each other. That is about it."
Gambhir: "We were pretty professional. We were chasing 138. Obviously opening partnership was the key. The way Robin batted, he made it easy. Well, I think there is always room for improvement. We want to continue doing well. Winning is a habit. We need to continue the good work that we are doing. Well, I think you can't flirt with form as well. When you're scoring runs, you need to score as many as you can. In the middle-order, too, Surya, Pandey and others are doing well. Well, we have got a stable squad. We have trusted our players. In T20s we need to take the chances. You need to give security to players. As I said in my last presentation, we wanted to ease Narine into this competition. We don't want to put pressure on him. We have quality bowlers apart from Narine. It is for others to take the burden from Narine. We know when he is confident, he can be lethal. He has been good in the last two games."
Miller: "It is always disappointing to lose a game of cricket. We lost too many wickets up front and we did not get enough runs. If I can I will be the best coach in the world (talking about where PUN went wrong). It is T20 cricket. We are not far away. I believe in our boys. The middle-order obviously has not done well. In the bowling department, we have bowled too many boundary balls. Obviously tonight, we missed chances. A lot of positives at the same time. We created chances. Happy for Marsh as he got some runs. We have some unbelievable players and we can turn it around."
KOL put up a fine all-round show to register their third win in four games. The bowlers bowled with discipline and purpose to put the lid on the scoring rate and pick up wickets at regular intervals. Morne Morkel and Sunil Narine ended up with two scalps each. Gambhir and Uthappa then cracked an enterprising stand to help the visitors cross the finishing line, with close to three overs to spare
17.1 -
Mohit Sharma to Suryakumar Yadav, FOUR, well, that is it. KOL have posted an easy victory by six wickets. This is their sixth successive win against PUN in the history of the T20 League. It has been a slick show put up by KOL. It was a slower one, Yadav drove it past Mohit for a boundary to long-off. The players shake hands as they make their way back to the pavilion
Mohit Sharma [3.0-0-25-0] is back into the attack
16.6 -
Kyle Abbott to Y Pathan, no run, very full and on the stumps, Pathan clips it to mid-wicket
16.6 -
Kyle Abbott to Y Pathan, wide, banged in short delivery, left alone to the keeper, called as a wide for height
16.5 -
Kyle Abbott to Suryakumar Yadav, 1 run, the slower short one from Abbott, pulled to deep mid-wicket. Just three runs now needed for a convincing win
16.4 -
Kyle Abbott to Y Pathan, 1 run, back of the hand slower one from Abbott, cut to point. Again the pair stutter in terms of running between the wickets. Yadav, though, gets back in
16.3 -
Kyle Abbott to Y Pathan, FOUR, Pathan cracks a firm drive to a fuller length delivery past the diving mid-on fielder for a boundary. Nice connection by Pathan
16.2 -
Kyle Abbott to Y Pathan, FOUR, the banged in short delivery, Pathan pulls it to the fine leg fence with disdain. No chance for the fieider in the deep to stop it
16.1 -
Kyle Abbott to Y Pathan, 2 runs, a tad fuller and outside off, Pathan cuts it to deep backward point with a flourish. There seemed to be a bit of confusion between the pair, but Pathan did well to get back to his crease and collect a brace
Kyle Abbott [2.0-0-19-0] is back into the attack
15.6 -
Axar to Y Pathan, 1 run, stump-to-stump line, Pathan drives it to long-off
Yusuf Pathan, right handed bat, comes to the crease
Strategic Time-Out in place
15.5 -
Axar to Shakib, out Caught by Sandeep Sharma!! Well, another one has been chugged down. It has been a good show by KOL but some of their middle-order have thrown their wickets away on a platter. Maybe they are looking at the net run-rate. Slightly slower through the air from Axar, Shakib tries to hoick it across the line. He gets a top-edge and Sandeep grabs an easy catch at short third man. Shakib c Sandeep Sharma b Axar 11(15) [4s-1]
Axar to Shakib, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!
15.4 -
Axar to Shakib, FOUR, Vohra has dropped a regulation chance at long-off. This is getting bad to worse for PUN. Shakib backs away and lofts it to long-off, where Vohra is late to pick up the ball. He does not bend low quickly and the ball just goes through his hands. Vohra still puts in a dive to save the boundary, but to no avail
15.3 -
Axar to Suryakumar Yadav, 1 run, slower through the air from Patel, Yadav pushes it to long-on
15.2 -
Axar to Shakib, 1 run, Shakib sits on one knee and slog-sweeps it to deep mid-wicket. It did not come off the sweet spot of the bat though
15.1 -
Axar to Shakib, no run, Patel hurls it well outside off, left alone to the keeper
14.6 -
Mohit Sharma to Suryakumar Yadav, no run, another slower one from Sharma, clipped to mid-wicket
14.5 -
Mohit Sharma to Suryakumar Yadav, no run, the yorker and on the stumps, Yadav flicks it to mid-wicket. Yadav was batting deep inside the crease. He was perhaps expecting a yorker there. Nice game of chess between the bowler and the batsman, on that occasion
14.4 -
Mohit Sharma to Suryakumar Yadav, FOUR, the cross-seam short delivery from Sharma, Yadav stays slightly leg-side of the ball and ramps it over the keeper. No need to run for those
14.3 -
Mohit Sharma to Shakib, 1 run, Shakib was in trouble there. But I think with that desperate dive, he got just back in at the bowler's end. Shakib chops it to point and hares down to the other end for a quick single. The fielder at point flings in a rocket throw, but misses. By then, Shakib was in with a dive
14.2 -
Mohit Sharma to Shakib, no run, offered with width, Shakib backs away and tries to cut, but the ball whistles past the outside edge
14.1 -
Mohit Sharma to Shakib, no run, the slower one from Sharma, Shakib punches it to cover. KOL are just coasting towards the target
Mohit Sharma [2.0-0-20-0] is back into the attack
13.6 -
Axar to Suryakumar Yadav, no run, pushed through from Patel, driven back towards the bowler
13.5 -
Axar to Shakib, 1 run, Shakib takes a step out of the crease and drives this flatter delivery to long-off
13.4 -
Axar to Shakib, no run, Shakib stays back and chops it to point, but can't bisect the gap
13.3 -
Axar to Suryakumar Yadav, 1 run, pushed through and on the stumps, patted to long-on
13.2 -
Axar to Suryakumar Yadav, no run, flatter delivery and just outside off, Yadav drives it to cover
Suryakumar Yadav, right handed bat, comes to the crease
13.1 -
Axar to M Pandey, out Bowled!! Patel has struck with a straight ball. Pandey won't be happy though, as it hardly did anything in the air or off the track. Pandey tries to play a half-hearted drive after backing away a touch, missed it completely and his stumps took a beating. He played for the turn and paid the price for it. Patel, though, was pumped up after picking up the scalp. M Pandey b Axar 12(11) [4s-1]
Axar to M Pandey, THAT'S OUT!! Bowled!!
Axar Patel [1.0-0-10-0] is back into the attack
12.6 -
Pardeep Sahu to M Pandey, 1 run, the straighter-one from Sahu, Pandey clips it to mid-wicket. The keeper himself hunts it down and ushers in a throw at the striker's end. By then, the batsman was well in
12.5 -
Pardeep Sahu to Shakib, 1 run, shorter in length, Shakib pulls it to mid-wicket
12.4 -
Pardeep Sahu to Shakib, no run, very low full toss from Sahu, Shakib drives it back towards the bowler, who makes a good save off his own bowling
12.3 -
Pardeep Sahu to Shakib, no run, a hint of drift and turn on this one, Shakib prods forward and defends
12.2 -
Pardeep Sahu to M Pandey, 1 run, very full and outside off, Pandey slaps it to sweeper cover and picks up an easy single
12.1 -
Pardeep Sahu to M Pandey, no run, Pandey cuts it to cover-point, but can't pierce the gap
11.6 -
Mohit Sharma to Shakib, 2 runs, width on offer, Shakib cuts it past the backward point fielder, who fumbles it and that facilitates Shakib to add two more runs to the tally
11.5 -
Mohit Sharma to M Pandey, 1 run, Sharma yanks his length back on this slower one, Pandey picks the length quickly and pulls it to mid-wicket
11.4 -
Mohit Sharma to Shakib, 1 run, the off-pace delivery and on off-stump, Shakib cracks the drive to deep extra cover
11.3 -
Mohit Sharma to Shakib, no run, the slower one from Sharma, Shakib dabs it into the off-side
11.2 -
Mohit Sharma to M Pandey, 1 run, stump-to-stump line, Pandey punches it to long-on. Pandey keeps his head very still when he cracks the punch and transfers his body weight well
11.1 -
Mohit Sharma to M Pandey, FOUR, back of a length delivery and outside off, Pandey stands tall and punches it to the extra cover fence. Miller from cover looked to hound it down and did put in a dive, but to no avail
Mohit Sharma [1.0-0-11-0] is back into the attack
10.6 -
Pardeep Sahu to M Pandey, 1 run, slower through the air from Sahu, pushed to mid-on for a quick single
Shakib Al Hasan, left handed bat, comes to the crease
10.5 -
Pardeep Sahu to Gambhir, out Caught by Maxwell!! A blinder taken by Maxi at deep mid-wicket. The Aussie, known for his athletic fielding in the cricketing circles, charged forward from deep mid-wicket, put in a full length dive to snaffle it with both hands, inches above the ground. It is perhaps too late though for PUN to essay a sterling comeback. Gambhir tried to chip it around the corner, but could only get it to Maxwell at deep mid-wicket, who grabbed a spectacular catch. Gambhir c Maxwell b Pardeep Sahu 34(34) [4s-3]
Pardeep Sahu to Gambhir, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!
10.4 -
Pardeep Sahu to Gambhir, no run, shorter in length, Gambhir cuts it to point
10.3 -
Pardeep Sahu to Gambhir, 2 runs, Gambhir uses his feet, gets close to the pitch and then drives it to sweeper. It did not come off the middle, but he will take those two runs. Gambhir has now 3000 runs while chasing in the T20 League. Good record that to have in your kitty
10.2 -
Pardeep Sahu to M Pandey, 1 run, very full and on the stumps, flicked to mid-on
A slip in place for Pandey now
10.1 -
Pardeep Sahu to Gambhir, 1 run, the straighter-one from Sahu, flicked to square leg
9.6 -
Maxwell to Gambhir, 1 run, full on the stumps, clipped through mid-wicket
9.5 -
Maxwell to Gambhir, FOUR, offspinner outside off, Gambhir waits on the back foot and stabs it fine of short third man
9.4 -
Maxwell to Gambhir, no run, pushed through on middle and leg, flicked into the leg-side
9.3 -
Maxwell to Gambhir, 2 runs, dances down the pitch and lifts this flighted delivery over extra cover, easy as you like!
9.2 -
Maxwell to Gambhir, 2 runs, Gambhir flicked this to deep mid-wicket and called for two immediately. The throw was nice and flat but Gambhir was too quick
The TV umpire has been asked to check a run out. Gambhir is the man in question. Looks safe and NOT OUT should be the call. Very safe and NOT OUT it is...
9.1 -
Maxwell to M Pandey, 1 run, short and slow on the stumps, Pandey hangs back and pulls along the ground
8.6 -
Pardeep Sahu to Gambhir, no run, the googly outside off, Gambhir stays back and is late on the cut
8.5 -
Pardeep Sahu to Gambhir, no run, fuller and quicker outside off, Gambhir tries to get underneath it but to no avail
8.4 -
Pardeep Sahu to M Pandey, 1 run, spins away outside off, Pandey opens the bat face to guide it wide of short third man
Manish Pandey, right handed bat, comes to the crease
8.3 -
Pardeep Sahu to Uthappa, out Lbw!! Pardeep Sahu strikes! Hurls a slower armball on middle, Uthappa gets into position early in an attempt to sweep it fine. Misses and is struck in front of middle, the finger goes up and Sahu is chuffed to bits. Would have easily clipped middle or leg. Uthappa lbw b Pardeep Sahu 53(28) [4s-9]
Pardeep Sahu to Uthappa, THAT'S OUT!! Lbw!!
8.2 -
Pardeep Sahu to Gambhir, 1 run, tossed up around off, Gambhir loft-drives in the air but places it wide of mid-off
8.1 -
Pardeep Sahu to Uthappa, 1 run, full and drifting into middle, Uthappa drives it past the non-striker and towards long-on
7.6 -
Maxwell to Uthappa, 1 run, punched down to long-on
7.5 -
Maxwell to Gambhir, leg byes, 1 run, on a length around leg-stump, Gambhir fails to get bat on the flick, off the pads
7.4 -
Maxwell to Gambhir, FOUR, delicate! Just opened the bat face and glided it wide a diving short third man
7.3 -
Maxwell to Uthappa, 1 run, looped up just outside off, Uthappa kneels down and attempts an ugly heave. The ball skews off the toe-end towards cover
7.2 -
Maxwell to Gambhir, 1 run, sits back in the crease and steers it with an open blade to the right of a diving backward point
7.1 -
Maxwell to Gambhir, no run, quicker on off, played back to the bowler
Glenn Maxwell, right-arm off break, comes into the attack
And that will be strategic time-out! PUN badly needed one, didn't they? With the kind of pace Uthappa is going at the moment, this game might finish in or around 16th over. MAXI to fire some offies
6.6 -
Pardeep Sahu to Gambhir, 1 run, quicker on middle and leg, Gambhir clips off his toes to keep strike
6.5 -
Pardeep Sahu to Gambhir, no run, woof! Gambhir gets lucky again. This legbreak spun in sharply and Gambhir nearly chopped it into the stumps. Went too deep inside the crease and the ball just went past the leg-stump
6.4 -
Pardeep Sahu to Gambhir, no run, legbreak around off, Gambhir jumps and cuts late, couldn't get it past backward point
6.3 -
Pardeep Sahu to Uthappa, 1 run, fifty for Uthappa! The fastest for KOL in this season. Gets there with a modest push towards cover
6.2 -
Pardeep Sahu to Uthappa, FOUR, clever stuff! Waits for this flatter delivery to angle in and then reverse slaps it wide of lone slip
One slip for Robbie....
6.1 -
Pardeep Sahu to Gambhir, 1 run, the slider just outside off, Gambhir dabs with an open bat face in front of backward point
Pardeep Sahu, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack
KOL are off to a flier and from now its just a matter of time, ain't it?
5.6 -
Axar to Uthappa, 2 runs, floated up outside off, Uthappa drills it off the bottom half and hustles back for the second
5.5 -
Axar to Gambhir, 1 run, fired around the pads, Gambhir clips wide of mid-on
5.4 -
Axar to Uthappa, 1 run, eased down to long-on
5.3 -
Axar to Gambhir, 1 run, drop-and-run cricket from GG. Opens the bat face and drops it wide of the keeper to sneak in a quick single
5.2 -
Axar to Uthappa, 1 run, steps back and punches this shortish delivery wide of backward point
5.1 -
Axar to Uthappa, FOUR, Axar Patel comes into the attack and Uthappa greets him with a boundary through mid-wicket. Flatter and quicker outside off, Uthappa drops to one knee and fetches the sweep. Nailed!
Axar Patel, left-arm orthodox, comes into the attack
4.6 -
Mohit Sharma to Uthappa, 1 run, goodish length outside off, a customary dab down to third man
4.5 -
Mohit Sharma to Uthappa, FOUR, had there been a first slip, Uthappa would have been a goner! Things not going PUN's way at the moment. Good length darted away slightly in the corridor of uncertainty, Uthappa looks to drive towards mid-on and went a bit hard on the stroke. The outside edge is found and it flies well wide of a desperate diving Saha (obviously to his right)
4.4 -
Mohit Sharma to Uthappa, FOUR, 50 up for KOL. Short and sat up invitingly for Uthappa who murders the pull off the front foot, scorched off the turf through mid-wicket
4.4 -
Mohit Sharma to Uthappa, wide, errs in line, slower length ball down leg, Uthappa is late on the flick
4.3 -
Mohit Sharma to Uthappa, no run, a direct hit and Gambhir would have been racing back to the pavilion. Uthappa pushes it towards mid-on and was uncertain on a single. Gambhir was half-way down the pitch and had given up on seeing Miller swoop on the ball. Miller fires and misses at the bowler's end. Lucky escape that!
4.2 -
Mohit Sharma to Gambhir, 1 run, on a length and just outside off, Gambhir opens the bat face to dab it wide of backward point
4.1 -
Mohit Sharma to Gambhir, no run, nice start from Mohit Sharma! Keeps it on a good length around off, Gambhir respects with a straight bat
Mohit Sharma, right-arm medium, comes into the attack
3.6 -
Kyle Abbott to Gambhir, 1 run, sits up on a length and Gambhir is quite content to take a single towards square leg
3.5 -
Kyle Abbott to Gambhir, FOUR, short and Gambhir had ample time to pick his spot. Sits back and dismisses the ball off his sight with a nonchalant pull wide of mid-on
3.4 -
Kyle Abbott to Gambhir, no run, fuller on the stumps, Gambhir defends it back to the bowler
3.3 -
Kyle Abbott to Uthappa, 1 run, slower short ball, hurried the batsman into a pull, Uthappa was early into the stroke. Gets a top-edge which kisses the helmet and rolls to third man
3.2 -
Kyle Abbott to Uthappa, FOUR, fantastic! How well has he hit that? Just stood still and silked it through the covers. Back of a length outside off, Uthappa times the pants off a punch
3.1 -
Kyle Abbott to Gambhir, 1 run, full and on the stumps, Gambhir drives to mid-on
2.6 -
Sandeep Sharma to Uthappa, FOUR, top-edge again and this time it's a boundary! Short and down leg, Uthappa edges the pull which lobs well over the keeper and towards the fine leg fence
2.5 -
Sandeep Sharma to Uthappa, 2 runs, Uthappa charges down the pitch in a bit to bludgeon this length ball over mid-on. Mis-hits and gets a thick top-edge which lands well wide of a backtracking mid-on. Miller does well to slide near the boundary ropes to save a certain boundary
2.4 -
Sandeep Sharma to Uthappa, 2 runs, strays this length delivery into the pads, a hint of inswing on offer too. Uthappa clears his front leg and rolls his wrists on the flick, a double through mid-wicket
2.3 -
Sandeep Sharma to Uthappa, no run, curls in around off and middle, Uthappa closes the bat face on the drive, the ball rolls away towards mid-on
2.2 -
Sandeep Sharma to Uthappa, FOUR, nicely done! Uthappa shuffles slightly and picks the length ball to loft it over a leaping mid-on, once it went past the fielder it was always going to be a boundary
2.1 -
Sandeep Sharma to Gambhir, 1 run, touch short and drifting into leg, Gambhir tickles it off his pad towards short fine
1.6 -
Kyle Abbott to Uthappa, FOUR, short and plenty of room on offer, Uthappa watches it all along and slashes it past a diving cover. Raced away!
1.5 -
Kyle Abbott to Uthappa, no run, back of a length in the outside off channel, punched with soft hands towards cover
1.4 -
Kyle Abbott to Gambhir, 1 run, on and around leg-stump, Gambhir flicks off his pads, square on the leg-side
1.4 -
Kyle Abbott to Gambhir, wide, bumper angled in on leg-stump, Gambhir pulls and misses, deemed as a wide for height I reckon
1.3 -
Kyle Abbott to Uthappa, 1 run, "Kick it, kick it" screams Maxi who's mic'd up. Length ball on the stumps, Uthappa drops it tamely in front of his nose and responds for a quick single. Abbott sprints forward and deflects it onto the stumps via his boot. Gambhir was well in though
One slip for Abbott too...
1.2 -
Kyle Abbott to Gambhir, 1 run, fullish on leg-stump, clipped away behind square on the on-side
1.1 -
Kyle Abbott to Gambhir, no run, back of a length delivery angled away from the left-hander, Gambhir moves across and looks to flay over backward point. The ball zips off the surface and bounces past the blade
Kyle Abbott, right-arm medium, comes into the attack
0.6 -
Sandeep Sharma to Gambhir, 1 run, another one on the stumps, Gambhir tucks to mid-wicket and will keep strike
0.5 -
Sandeep Sharma to Uthappa, 1 run, easy peasy for Robbie, length on middle, he is happy to wrist that wide of mid-wicket
0.4 -
Sandeep Sharma to Gambhir, 1 run, back of a length wider of off, Gambhir cuts it past backward point and towards third man
0.3 -
Sandeep Sharma to Uthappa, 1 run, on a length drifting in around middle, tucked away towards mid-wicket
0.2 -
Sandeep Sharma to Uthappa, leg byes, FOUR, swings another length ball down the leg-side, Uthappa fails to get bat on the flick. Nonetheless the ball flicks the pads and races away fine to the fine leg fence
0.1 -
Sandeep Sharma to Uthappa, FOUR, poor first ball from Sandeep Sharma! Slips a length ball down the leg-side and all Uthappa needed to was get some bat on that, glanced away wide of short fine. KOL are off and running with a boundary
Uthappa and Gambhir are at the crease. Uthappa is on strike. Sandeep Sharma will open the attack