Cricket Scorecard

Kolkata's bowling lost the plot in the death overs. They were fairly disciplined till de Villiers took centrestage. Just the one wicket for Krishna and Russell. Otherwise, it was all hammering. Only Chakravarthy had economical figures of under 6.5.

After Finch's dismissal, it was the bromance partnership of Kohli and de Villiers taking charge. But de Villiers was the one who showed a huge impatience, blasting the balls to over the small Sharjah ground, bulldozing his way to an unbeaten 73 off 33 balls. Kohli largely played second fiddle in his 33 runs, getting his first boundary only in the 19th over. In the end, courtesy, Mr. 360, Bangalore have a defendable total on the board. 

Their start was a bit quiet though. Finch was coming down the track early on, getting mixed results with that. Padikkal was more conservative when he started out, allowing Finch to go for the big ones. The opening partnership was for 67 runs before Padikkal fell, bowled, backing away on the leg side. Finch continued for a while after that and got out in a similar fashion, 3 runs shy of his half ton. Kohli had come after Padikkal's dimissal and was knocking the balls for 1s and 2s. 

Excellent finish for Bangalore. Stunning performance. 83 is what they got in the last 5 overs, when everyone feels the wicket is slowing down after a number of games having been played. An unbeaten 100-run stand off 46 balls between AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli has propelled Bangalore to a near-200. Now, to the ball, for them. 

Is that a run out? De Villiers seems to have scampered back but the throw is a good one. Referred upstairs but the sprinting horse has galloped across.

Andre Russell to Virat Kohli, Just a single to finish! Yorker, around off, Kohli can only squeeze it down to long on. BANGALORE FINISH ON 194/2!

Andre Russell to AB de Villiers, Yorker, on middle, dug out past the bowler for just a run.

Andre Russell to AB de Villiers, Short outside off, punched wide of long off for a brace.

Andre Russell to AB de Villiers, Safe as a house, is the horse in its stable. A wide slower ball, outside off, on the Free Hit, ABD reaches out and carves it over cover-point. He turns blind for the second and the fielder returns a decent throw to the keeper as well. Karthik breaks the stumps as well and appeals. It is referred upstairs but replays show that AB is well in.

Andre Russell to AB de Villiers, ! This guy is a genius. Not a bad ball at all. Yorker outside off, AB carves it between backward point in the deep and sweeper cover! And guess what, it is a NO BALL spotted by the third umpire! Massive overstepping.

Andre Russell to AB de Villiers, Dot ball! Around off, almost a yorker, dug out back to the bowler.

Andre Russell to AB de Villiers, ! Russell can say, but for now, De Villiers will have his say. A length ball, cardinal sin in the death overs, outside off, swung mercilessly over wide long off! AB moves to 64 from 28 balls.

Okay. One over to go. Is 200 on the cards? Can Dre Russ have something to say about the same?

Prasidh Krishna to Virat Kohli, A low full toss, outside off, Kohli reaches out and swings it over wide long on. Pat Cummins does well to stop the ball but cannot prevent the two. 12 from the over but actually, not a bad one from Krishna. Just the one boundary.

Prasidh Krishna to AB de Villiers, A slower ball, short in length, de Villiers looks to pull but due to the change in pace, he mistimes it. The ball goes off the inner half of the bat through square leg. A single taken.

Prasidh Krishna to Virat Kohli, Outside off, driven through point for a single.

Prasidh Krishna to Virat Kohli, ! Well, this is unbelievable. Not the boundary, but the fact that it is Virat Kohli's first of the evening! Full and wide outside off, Kohli throws his bat at it and gets a thick outside edge. It flies to the left of short third man and reaches the fence. Prasidh smiles.

Prasidh Krishna to Virat Kohli, Outside off, carved over cover for a brace again.

Prasidh Krishna to Virat Kohli, A low full toss, swung over mid-wicket for a couple.

Prasidh Krishna returns. 3-0-30-1 so far.

Andre Russell to AB de Villiers, Bending his back, generating bounce, from around the wicket, slants it across, ABD looks to ramp it over the keeper but misses. 17 from the over, 54 in the last 3!

Andre Russell to AB de Villiers, Yorker length, finally, outside off, squeezed through cover-point for a couple. The stand moves to 71 from 33 balls.

Andre Russell to Virat Kohli, Low full toss, heaved towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Andre Russell to AB de Villiers, WIDE. A wild bouncer, outside off, AB lets it go. Karthik fumbles and the batsmen take a bye. Russell is not happy and Karthik apologizes.

Andre Russell to AB de Villiers, A full toss, outside off, AB slaps it over cover. Kamlesh Nagarkoti gets across to his left from long off and keeps the batsmen to a couple.

Andre Russell to AB de Villiers, ! There goes AB again! Half century in 23 balls! A length ball, oh dear, at this stage - on middle and off. De Villiers lofts it clean as a whistle straight back over the bowler!

Andre Russell to AB de Villiers, ! SLAP! Here comes Russell and there goes Russell. Full toss and it is slapped over mid-wicket.

Andre Russell is back on. 2-0-17-1 so far.

Pat Cummins to AB de Villiers, Full and around middle, ABD swings it wide of long on for a single. So 19 from the first 3 overs for Cummins and 19 alone from the last. 4-0-38-0.

Pat Cummins to AB de Villiers, ! That is a full toss. De Villiers swings it flat, over mid-wicket and it clears the ropes! The 50-run stand is up in 27 balls!

Pat Cummins to AB de Villiers, Intelligent bowling. Full and outside off, pretty wide, that is because he sees AB get across to lap. De Villiers does go through with the shot but misses.

Pat Cummins to AB de Villiers, Misses out. A short ball, outside off, AB backs away, looks to play the upper cut but misses.

Pat Cummins to AB de Villiers, ! More runs. Short and outside off, de Villiers pulls it over mid-wicket, one bounce and into the ropes!

Pat Cummins to AB de Villiers, ! SLAP! That is why you should not be fumbling. Had Karthik not fumbled on the previous ball, AB would not have got on strike. A length ball, outside off, de Villiers just tonks it over long off!

DRINKS. So the green signal has been turned on. No more stoppages. No more blockings. AB is in the mood. He has rocketed to 26 from 15 balls, going past Kohli in the blink of an eye! Bangalore are 129/2 with 4 overs left. So 175 is a bare minimum from here but if de Villiers takes off, do not count out even 200. How does Kolkata's death bowling stack up?

Pat Cummins is about to bowl out. 3-0-19-0 so far.

Pat Cummins to Virat Kohli, WIDE. Nervy start. Full and down the leg side, Kohli misses his err... sweep cum flick. Karthik fumbles and they take a bye.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to AB de Villiers, ! Nicely done. 18 from the over! A bit too straight and a bit too full. De Villiers just whips it past short fine leg and sends a signal to Kolkata - Beware!

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to AB de Villiers, Outside off, this is hit straight to extra cover. Lucky. That was a full toss.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to AB de Villiers, ! No, my child, no. De Villiers is too good a batsman to miss out on these slower balls. Nagarkoti changes the length and gets it much fuller. But there is no change of pace from the previous ball. De Villiers swings it over wide long on, out of the ground, onto the highway, hits a car, hits another one and literally, brings the traffic to a standstill!

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to AB de Villiers, ! SLAM! This one goes. You cannot keep bowling slower balls every time and keep getting away with it. Banged in short but no pace. De Villiers waits for the ball to arrive and then rocks back. Pulls it over wide long on. Just the third six for Bangalore.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to AB de Villiers, Ahh... slower ball and it should have gone. AB swings for the moon but gets hit right near the box. Ouch.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to AB de Villiers, A length ball, outside off, de Villiers blasts this wide of long off. With these two, you are not going to stop two.

Bangalore's innings progression in splits of 50 runs - First fifty - 39 balls (RR 7.69). Next fifty runs - 41 balls (RR 7.31).

Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Misfield followed by good fielding in the deep. Flatter ball outside off, Kohli cuts it, the man at point who should have stopped but failed to do so. Tom Banton, the sweeper cover, runs to his left, dives and contains it well, as it looked like a boundary. Two in the end. 

Varun Chakravarthy to AB de Villiers, On the shorter side on middle and leg, de Villiers rocks back and nudges this to long off for a single. 

Varun Chakravarthy to AB de Villiers, Flatter ball outside off, tapped straight to short third man this time. 

Varun Chakravarthy to AB de Villiers, Outside off, punched to cover-point for a dot. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, On the shorter side, pulled to deep mid-wicket for a single. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Very full, outside off, Kohli fails to dig it out. 

Did you know? This is the second time Aaron Finch has been dismissed in the 40s against Kolkata and he is yet to score a fifty against them. Last time when he was dismissed in the 40s against this team was in 2013. He made 48 then, playing for Pune - bowled by Lakshmipathi Balaji.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Virat Kohli, Excellent finish. Goes full down the leg side, Kohli comes down but is unable to dig it out as well as he would have liked. It comes off the inside edge and goes to the off side for a single.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Virat Kohli, Fullish ball on middle, Kohli works this to Russell at wide long on and calls for two. Knows de Villiers will respond equally well and they get two.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Virat Kohli, A couple, absolutely brilliant from Kohli and de Villiers. Kohli chips the fullish ball over the bowler's head, calls two and de Villiers responds equally well. 

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to AB de Villiers, Outside off, nudged past point for a single. 

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Virat Kohli, Full on off and middle, Kohli taps this to the on side for a single. 

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to AB de Villiers, This is worked to the leg side for a single. 

Prasidh Krishna to AB de Villiers, A single to finish. De Villiers works this to long on for a single. 

Prasidh Krishna to AB de Villiers, ! What has happened here? It has richocheted off the stumps at the bowler's end and gone into the long off fence. Full ball on middle, in the slot for de Villiers. He whacks it hard back past the bowler. It hits the stumps at the bowler's end and deflects to the long off fence. How hard did he hit that!

Prasidh Krishna to AB de Villiers, This is worked to the off side for a dot. 

Who will walk out to bat now? AB de Villiers.

Prasidh Krishna to AB de Villiers, Good length ball on off and middle, tapped to short mid-wicket. 

Prasidh Krishna to Aaron Finch, ! BOWLED! Prasidh Krishna gets his man. Finch, backs away, but it is one time too many. It was full on off and middle, Aaron Finch, like Padikkal, exposes his stumps and looks to hit it on the off side. Misses and the middle pole takes a pounding. Misses out on his half century by 3 runs but Bangalore now have two of their best batsmen in the middle.

Prasidh Krishna is back in the attack. 2-0-21-0 for him so far. 

Prasidh Krishna to Aaron Finch, ! Slapped hard. Good length ball on top of the stumps, Finch backs away, to the leg side and slaps this hard through the covers for a boundary.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Aaron Finch, Excellent over. Just the 4 off it. Slow again, slow good length ball on middle and leg, worked to the leg side for a single. 

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Virat Kohli, Slower length ball outside off, Kohli bunts this to long off for a single. 

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Virat Kohli, Another slower ball outside off, it kept low as well. Goes under the flashing blade of Virat Kohli as he looks to pull. Good slower ball from Nagarkoti.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Aaron Finch, Slow back of a length ball outside off, Finch looked to work that on the off side but inside edges it onto his pads. It goes to the off side and they sneak in a single. 

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Virat Kohli, A quick single this time as Kohli taps the fullish ball to Chakravarthy at short mid-wicket and crosses over. 

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Virat Kohli, Full on middle, Kohli comes down and looks to work that on the leg side. Ends up getting an inside edge onto his pads. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Aaron Finch, Another couple to finish. On middle, Finch works it to square leg. The keeper gives chase and Kohli, who wants two, pushes Finch and gets a couple in the end. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Aaron Finch, Very full outside off, Finch drives it through covers and comes back for the second. Misfield from Morgan there, at cover.

Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Full on middle, tapped on the leg side for a single. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Misses! Flatter ball outside off, Kohli looked to guide it to third man but misses. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Outside off, Kohli nudges it to backward point. Runs the first one hard and gets back for the second. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Aaron Finch, On the shorter side on the stumps, Finch gives room and slaps it towards deep point for a single. 

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Aaron Finch, Slow back of a length ball outside off, hit to cover-point for a single. Kohli wants two but Finch is not interested again. 78/1 at the end of 10 overs. 

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Virat Kohli, Full and outside off, driven to long off for a single. 

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Aaron Finch, Takes the pace off and bowls a slow fullish ball on top of the stumps, dabbed towards short third man for a single. 

Kolkata coach, Brendon McCullum, is up for a chat. On Kolkata's current position in the table, McCullum is happy with the wins, even though they have not been at their best, but is aware that to go deep into the tournament, they have to be better. Believes that Kolkata have got so many firepower in both batting and bowling that it becomes difficult to select the right combination every time, but feels that they aim to get it right most of the time. On Karthik's batting form and Morgan taking cap

Kamlesh Nagarkoti into the attack now.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Virat Kohli, On middle, nudged to deep square leg for a single. Kohli wants two but Finch was not interested.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Aaron Finch, Short ball, firmly pulled to Banton at deep mid-wicket. He fumbles but it does not cost Kolkata much. Just the one.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Virat Kohli, Virat Kohli works this to long on for a single. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Good fielding by the man at cover-point. Full and outside off, a firm cover-drive by Kohli. Good fielding there, at cover-point, to contain it. Just the one. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Aaron Finch, LEG BYE! Full on the pads, Finch looks to sweep but misses to get hit on the pads. The ball rolls further towards short fine leg and a leg bye is sneaked in.

Varun Chakravarthy to Aaron Finch, Finch defends this solidly off the front foot. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Aaron Finch, On the shorter side, Finch looks to pull but misses to get hit on the body. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Aaron Finch, An appeal for LBW but not given. Chakravarthy looked for a review but skipper Karthik cools him down, saying there is no need, reckoning it came off the bat. Floated on middle, Finch prods forward and defends. Varun thinks it came off the pad and hence appealed, but to no avail. Off the bat then.

Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Outside off, nudged to Russell at short third man for a single. 

Andre Russell to Virat Kohli, And Kohli is underway. Taps the good length ball to mid off and races quickly to the other end. Start of the quick singles then!

DRINKS! Okay then. The big man has struck with the ball. His 4 overs will be crucial tonight, with a bruised ankle and Narine absent. Which means, Kolkata are a bowler short. There are two ways to look at this score. For a Sharjah track, this looks like an under-par score. But if you believe in the firepower that Bangalore have, with Saini slotted at 9, they can build on this platform. Another point of view could be that this does not look like a 200-plus track. 150-plus would do, which means Ba

Andre Russell to Virat Kohli, Virat Kohli works the fullish ball back to Russell. 

Bangalore skipper, Virat Kohli walks in at number 3, replacing Padikkal.

Andre Russell to Virat Kohli, WIDE! Bouncer, bowled way too short, Kohli ducks under it. Wide called. Sunil Gavaskar, on-air called it right, that it will be a bouncer first up.

Andre Russell to Devdutt Padikkal, ! TIMBER! Andre Russell deserved that really well. 300 T20 wickets for him as well. Padikkal leaves the field for 32. Padikkal gives room on the off side and looked to go big over covers. It was full and on middle and off. He misses but not the ball. It crashes into the woodwork behind. He should have got Finch earlier, Russell, but nabs Padikkal now.

Interesting comparison of Bangalore's batting in the Powerplay.  The first 4 overs went for 37/0 (RR: 9.25). But the last two went for just 10 (RR: 5.00)

Andre Russell to Aaron Finch, Good length ball outside off, Finch jumps and taps that through covers for a single. 

Andre Russell to Aaron Finch, WIDE! Goes full down the leg side, Finch misses his flick.

Andre Russell to Devdutt Padikkal, Fullish outside off, steered to short third man for a single.

Andre Russell to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Not timed properly, but the shorter boundaries and you will get away with it. Fullish ball around off, Padikkal looks to go big over the off side but does not time it that well, to the naked eye. It goes high in the air towards long off. Two fielders converge - long on and long off. The fielder jumps and looks to get a hand but it goes over him and lands on the full just over the ropes. A maximum. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Devdutt Padikkal, On off, worked to the on side for one. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Aaron Finch, Finch taps the short ball on the leg side and takes a single. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Aaron Finch, ! Short ball, Finch goes back and firmly pulls this over mid-wicket. Shubman Gill is the man there. Does not collect it properly on the first time. It slips through and Gill dives and looks to contain. But his body seems to have come in contact with the boundary ropes, to the naked eye. The umpires take a look at the replays and after multiple examinations, it is called a boundary.  

Is that a boundary? Looks so. Karthik was not happy with Gill there. Is Gill guilty here? Yes, boundary signalled.

Varun Chakravarthy to Aaron Finch, Another couple as Finch works this aerially over square leg for two.

Varun Chakravarthy to Aaron Finch, Good running, a couple. And that brings up the 50 for Bangalore as well. Flatter ball on the stumps, Finch rocks back and works this to long on. He calls two and Padikkal responds well by running back to the bowler's end, the danger end.

Varun Chakravarthy is into the attack now. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Devdutt Padikkal, This is worked on the on side for a single. 

Andre Russell to Aaron Finch, AND ! The man there was set up by Russell. Short ball, Finch pulls it towards short fine leg. The man there, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, spills it and it goes into the fine leg boundary. Russell is frustrated. Bangalore are 47/0 at the end of the Powerplay.

Andre Russell to Aaron Finch, Bowls a quick short ball now, Finch looks to pull but misses and gets hit on the visor. 

Andre Russell to Aaron Finch, Finch comes down the track again, Russell takes the pace off and bowls a slow good length ball outside off. A play and miss from Finch. 

Andre Russell to Devdutt Padikkal, Shortish ball on top of the stumps, pulled to Nagarkoti at deep square leg for one.

Andre Russell to Aaron Finch, Digs it in short, Finch hits it aerially towards mid-wicket and takes a single. 

Andre Russell to Aaron Finch, Back of a length ball outside off, Finch chops it back on the track. 

Andre Russell into the attack now. 

Pat Cummins to Aaron Finch, Finch takes a single and will keep strike. Fullish ball outside off, he works this to point and gets to the other end. 

Pat Cummins to Devdutt Padikkal, Shortish ball, pulled to deep backward square leg for a single. 

Pat Cummins to Devdutt Padikkal, Padikkal moves to the leg side. Cummins bangs in a short off-cutter, Padikkal looked to guide that over the keeper's head on the off side but misses. 

Pat Cummins to Devdutt Padikkal, Full ball outside off, strong cover drive but straight to the man. It is actually a tricky place where Eoin Morgan is standing at short extra cover. There is grass just in front of him, so Morgan is at a risk of the ball shooting up, if it lands on the seam on the grass.

Pat Cummins to Aaron Finch, On middle, Finch comes down the pitch and taps it on the leg side for a single. 

Pat Cummins to Devdutt Padikkal, Leg bye! Full ball on leg, Padikkal misses his flick and gets hit on the pads. It goes to the off side and they take a leg bye. 

Prasidh Krishna to Devdutt Padikkal, A single to finish. Shortish ball, wristed to short mid-wicket for a single. 

Prasidh Krishna to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Not a good ball and it gets the punishment. Shortish ball on middle, Padikkal flicks it with ease to the deep backward square leg fence. 

Prasidh Krishna to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Power shot. Full ball just outside off, Padikkal just whips it over mid-wicket. Go full at your own risk, Kolkata!

Prasidh Krishna to Aaron Finch, A quick single. Shortish outside off, Finch hops and punches it towards cover-point and takes a quick run. 

Prasidh Krishna to Aaron Finch, Shortish ball, tucked to short fine leg. Got away there, Krishna.

Prasidh Krishna to Aaron Finch, Krishna does a Cummins as well. Sees Finch coming down and bangs it in short, Finch ducks and lets it be. 1 for the over, says the umpire. 

Pat Cummins to Devdutt Padikkal, Aggressive from the Australian! Another bouncer, Padikkal ducks under it.

Pat Cummins to Devdutt Padikkal, Goes fuller this time, around off, tapped to point for a dot. 

Pat Cummins to Devdutt Padikkal, Bouncer on top of the stumps, good one from Cummins. Devdutt ducks under it. Went short to Finch earlier, now Padikkal.

Back to over the wicket for Cummins. 

Pat Cummins to Devdutt Padikkal, ! And again, back-to-back boundaries. Gives himself room on the off side again, this time lifts the fullish ball over point.

Pat Cummins to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Aggressive! Good length ball on top of the stumps, Padikkal moves to the leg side and lifts it over covers. 

Pat Cummins to Devdutt Padikkal, Good length ball on off and middle from around the wicket, defended to the off side. 

Prasidh Krishna to Devdutt Padikkal, Padikkal is happy to take the singles. Fullish on off, knocked towards deep square leg for one. 

Prasidh Krishna to Aaron Finch, Shortish ball on top of the stumps, Finch punches it off his back foot, through cover and the batters exchange ends. 

Prasidh Krishna to Aaron Finch, ! OF THE PARK! Fullish ball around off, Finch stands still and lofts that over wide long on for a maximum.

Prasidh Krishna to Devdutt Padikkal, Good length ball on middle, tucked to backward square leg for a single. 

Prasidh Krishna to Aaron Finch, Good length ball on top of off, Finch comes down the track, hops and taps it behind square on the leg side and takes one.

Prasidh Krishna to Devdutt Padikkal, Full on middle, Padikkal closes the face of his bat and flicks it to deep square leg for a single. 

Who will bowl from the other end? Prasidh Krishna it is.

Pat Cummins to Aaron Finch, A couple to finish. Fullish on off, turned to the leg side for two. 8 runs off the first over for Bangalore, a good start for them. 

Pat Cummins to Aaron Finch, Short, quick ball, Finch comes walking down again, but allows the short ball through. Good response from Cummins there, saw him coming down and bangs it short. 

Pat Cummins to Devdutt Padikkal, Fullish on middle from round the wicket, glanced to square leg for a single. 

Pat Cummins to Aaron Finch, Full on middle and leg, defensively nudged to mid off. Finch calls for a quick single and gets it. 

Pat Cummins to Aaron Finch, ! Aaron Finch and Bangalore are underway. Finch comes down the track and lofts the full ball over mid-wicket for a boundary. 

Pat Cummins to Aaron Finch, Cummins begins with a full ball on middle and leg, flicked to mid on. 

The umpires make their way out to the middle. The Kolkata players make their way out and take their respective positions on the field. Following them are Bangalore's openers, Aaron Finch and Devdutt Padikkal. Pat Cummins to start with the ball for Kolkata. Let's play...

Pat Cummins is up for a chat. Says that the support staff deserve full credit for putting up this tournament. There is no pressure for the players, just to focus on their game. Cummins feels that as bowlers they have finished off games amazingly. On the batting front, he feels that a couple of games could not be finished off well.

Pitch Report - Kevin Pietersen is in the middle for the Pitch Report. He says that there is not much of shine that one would expect. It is very dark, he says. It is very Chinnaswamy-like reckons KP. He further feels that spinners benefited from bowling slower balls and that both teams would have made a note of that. States that it is important to respect the wicket.

Virat Kohli, Bangalore's skipper, says that the surface is getting slower and slower. States that the more players play on it, run around the pitch, the more it slows down. Says that it is important to continue doing what they have been doing well. Adds that Morris' entry has been a big boost. States that it is important to get a good start and that the intent has to be there. On the changes, Kohli informs that Mohammed Siraj comes in for Gurkeerat Singh Mann.

Bangalore (Playing XI) - Devdutt Padikkal, Aaron Finch, Virat Kohli (C), AB de Villiers (WK), Shivam Dube, Chris Morris, Washington Sundar, Isuru Udana, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj (IN PLACE OF GURKEERAT SINGH MANN), Yuzvendra Chahal.

TOSS - It is time for the spin of the coin. It lands in favour of Bangalore and they elect to bat!

Kolkata (Playing XI) - Rahul Tripathi, Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Tom Banton (IN PLACE OF SUNIL NARINE), Eoin Morgan, Andre Russell, Dinesh Karthik (WK/C), Pat Cummins, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Prasidh Krishna, Varun Chakravarthy.  

Dinesh Karthik, Kolkata's captain, says that he has no problems bowling first. Says that in the last game, they pulled off a rabbit out of the hat. States that it was going Punjab's way but Kolkata managed to pull it back. On the changes, Karthik says that Banton comes in for Narine. 

The news from Sharjah is that Tom Banton is getting his cap for Kolkata. Well, that's one change we can confirm.

Kohli vs Karthik! Bangalore and Kolkata, two batting giants lock horns shortly. It is at the battleground of sixes - Sharjah! Where 200 is a given....or is it? Well, in the last couple of matches here, we have had just one inning where a side went over 200. Mumbai had kept Hyderabad to under 180 to win by a comfortable margin. Delhi managed to win by 46 runs after posting 184 in their last game at this ground. Hmm....what awaits us now? Let's see as we bring you the toss and team updates in a wh

Kolkata's bowling lost the plot in the death overs. They were fairly disciplined till de Villiers took centrestage. Just the one wicket for Krishna and Russell. Otherwise, it was all hammering. Only Chakravarthy had economical figures of under 6.5.

After Finch's dismissal, it was the bromance partnership of Kohli and de Villiers taking charge. But de Villiers was the one who showed a huge impatience, blasting the balls to over the small Sharjah ground, bulldozing his way to an unbeaten 73 off 33 balls. Kohli largely played second fiddle in his 33 runs, getting his first boundary only in the 19th over. In the end, courtesy, Mr. 360, Bangalore have a defendable total on the board. 

Their start was a bit quiet though. Finch was coming down the track early on, getting mixed results with that. Padikkal was more conservative when he started out, allowing Finch to go for the big ones. The opening partnership was for 67 runs before Padikkal fell, bowled, backing away on the leg side. Finch continued for a while after that and got out in a similar fashion, 3 runs shy of his half ton. Kohli had come after Padikkal's dimissal and was knocking the balls for 1s and 2s. 

Excellent finish for Bangalore. Stunning performance. 83 is what they got in the last 5 overs, when everyone feels the wicket is slowing down after a number of games having been played. An unbeaten 100-run stand off 46 balls between AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli has propelled Bangalore to a near-200. Now, to the ball, for them. 

Is that a run out? De Villiers seems to have scampered back but the throw is a good one. Referred upstairs but the sprinting horse has galloped across.

Andre Russell to Virat Kohli, Just a single to finish! Yorker, around off, Kohli can only squeeze it down to long on. BANGALORE FINISH ON 194/2!

Andre Russell to AB de Villiers, Yorker, on middle, dug out past the bowler for just a run.

Andre Russell to AB de Villiers, Short outside off, punched wide of long off for a brace.

Andre Russell to AB de Villiers, Safe as a house, is the horse in its stable. A wide slower ball, outside off, on the Free Hit, ABD reaches out and carves it over cover-point. He turns blind for the second and the fielder returns a decent throw to the keeper as well. Karthik breaks the stumps as well and appeals. It is referred upstairs but replays show that AB is well in.

Andre Russell to AB de Villiers, ! This guy is a genius. Not a bad ball at all. Yorker outside off, AB carves it between backward point in the deep and sweeper cover! And guess what, it is a NO BALL spotted by the third umpire! Massive overstepping.

Andre Russell to AB de Villiers, Dot ball! Around off, almost a yorker, dug out back to the bowler.

Andre Russell to AB de Villiers, ! Russell can say, but for now, De Villiers will have his say. A length ball, cardinal sin in the death overs, outside off, swung mercilessly over wide long off! AB moves to 64 from 28 balls.

Okay. One over to go. Is 200 on the cards? Can Dre Russ have something to say about the same?

Prasidh Krishna to Virat Kohli, A low full toss, outside off, Kohli reaches out and swings it over wide long on. Pat Cummins does well to stop the ball but cannot prevent the two. 12 from the over but actually, not a bad one from Krishna. Just the one boundary.

Prasidh Krishna to AB de Villiers, A slower ball, short in length, de Villiers looks to pull but due to the change in pace, he mistimes it. The ball goes off the inner half of the bat through square leg. A single taken.

Prasidh Krishna to Virat Kohli, Outside off, driven through point for a single.

Prasidh Krishna to Virat Kohli, ! Well, this is unbelievable. Not the boundary, but the fact that it is Virat Kohli's first of the evening! Full and wide outside off, Kohli throws his bat at it and gets a thick outside edge. It flies to the left of short third man and reaches the fence. Prasidh smiles.

Prasidh Krishna to Virat Kohli, Outside off, carved over cover for a brace again.

Prasidh Krishna to Virat Kohli, A low full toss, swung over mid-wicket for a couple.

Prasidh Krishna returns. 3-0-30-1 so far.

Andre Russell to AB de Villiers, Bending his back, generating bounce, from around the wicket, slants it across, ABD looks to ramp it over the keeper but misses. 17 from the over, 54 in the last 3!

Andre Russell to AB de Villiers, Yorker length, finally, outside off, squeezed through cover-point for a couple. The stand moves to 71 from 33 balls.

Andre Russell to Virat Kohli, Low full toss, heaved towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Andre Russell to AB de Villiers, WIDE. A wild bouncer, outside off, AB lets it go. Karthik fumbles and the batsmen take a bye. Russell is not happy and Karthik apologizes.

Andre Russell to AB de Villiers, A full toss, outside off, AB slaps it over cover. Kamlesh Nagarkoti gets across to his left from long off and keeps the batsmen to a couple.

Andre Russell to AB de Villiers, ! There goes AB again! Half century in 23 balls! A length ball, oh dear, at this stage - on middle and off. De Villiers lofts it clean as a whistle straight back over the bowler!

Andre Russell to AB de Villiers, ! SLAP! Here comes Russell and there goes Russell. Full toss and it is slapped over mid-wicket.

Andre Russell is back on. 2-0-17-1 so far.

Pat Cummins to AB de Villiers, Full and around middle, ABD swings it wide of long on for a single. So 19 from the first 3 overs for Cummins and 19 alone from the last. 4-0-38-0.

Pat Cummins to AB de Villiers, ! That is a full toss. De Villiers swings it flat, over mid-wicket and it clears the ropes! The 50-run stand is up in 27 balls!

Pat Cummins to AB de Villiers, Intelligent bowling. Full and outside off, pretty wide, that is because he sees AB get across to lap. De Villiers does go through with the shot but misses.

Pat Cummins to AB de Villiers, Misses out. A short ball, outside off, AB backs away, looks to play the upper cut but misses.

Pat Cummins to AB de Villiers, ! More runs. Short and outside off, de Villiers pulls it over mid-wicket, one bounce and into the ropes!

Pat Cummins to AB de Villiers, ! SLAP! That is why you should not be fumbling. Had Karthik not fumbled on the previous ball, AB would not have got on strike. A length ball, outside off, de Villiers just tonks it over long off!

DRINKS. So the green signal has been turned on. No more stoppages. No more blockings. AB is in the mood. He has rocketed to 26 from 15 balls, going past Kohli in the blink of an eye! Bangalore are 129/2 with 4 overs left. So 175 is a bare minimum from here but if de Villiers takes off, do not count out even 200. How does Kolkata's death bowling stack up?

Pat Cummins is about to bowl out. 3-0-19-0 so far.

Pat Cummins to Virat Kohli, WIDE. Nervy start. Full and down the leg side, Kohli misses his err... sweep cum flick. Karthik fumbles and they take a bye.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to AB de Villiers, ! Nicely done. 18 from the over! A bit too straight and a bit too full. De Villiers just whips it past short fine leg and sends a signal to Kolkata - Beware!

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to AB de Villiers, Outside off, this is hit straight to extra cover. Lucky. That was a full toss.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to AB de Villiers, ! No, my child, no. De Villiers is too good a batsman to miss out on these slower balls. Nagarkoti changes the length and gets it much fuller. But there is no change of pace from the previous ball. De Villiers swings it over wide long on, out of the ground, onto the highway, hits a car, hits another one and literally, brings the traffic to a standstill!

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to AB de Villiers, ! SLAM! This one goes. You cannot keep bowling slower balls every time and keep getting away with it. Banged in short but no pace. De Villiers waits for the ball to arrive and then rocks back. Pulls it over wide long on. Just the third six for Bangalore.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to AB de Villiers, Ahh... slower ball and it should have gone. AB swings for the moon but gets hit right near the box. Ouch.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to AB de Villiers, A length ball, outside off, de Villiers blasts this wide of long off. With these two, you are not going to stop two.

Bangalore's innings progression in splits of 50 runs - First fifty - 39 balls (RR 7.69). Next fifty runs - 41 balls (RR 7.31).

Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Misfield followed by good fielding in the deep. Flatter ball outside off, Kohli cuts it, the man at point who should have stopped but failed to do so. Tom Banton, the sweeper cover, runs to his left, dives and contains it well, as it looked like a boundary. Two in the end. 

Varun Chakravarthy to AB de Villiers, On the shorter side on middle and leg, de Villiers rocks back and nudges this to long off for a single. 

Varun Chakravarthy to AB de Villiers, Flatter ball outside off, tapped straight to short third man this time. 

Varun Chakravarthy to AB de Villiers, Outside off, punched to cover-point for a dot. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, On the shorter side, pulled to deep mid-wicket for a single. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Very full, outside off, Kohli fails to dig it out. 

Did you know? This is the second time Aaron Finch has been dismissed in the 40s against Kolkata and he is yet to score a fifty against them. Last time when he was dismissed in the 40s against this team was in 2013. He made 48 then, playing for Pune - bowled by Lakshmipathi Balaji.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Virat Kohli, Excellent finish. Goes full down the leg side, Kohli comes down but is unable to dig it out as well as he would have liked. It comes off the inside edge and goes to the off side for a single.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Virat Kohli, Fullish ball on middle, Kohli works this to Russell at wide long on and calls for two. Knows de Villiers will respond equally well and they get two.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Virat Kohli, A couple, absolutely brilliant from Kohli and de Villiers. Kohli chips the fullish ball over the bowler's head, calls two and de Villiers responds equally well. 

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to AB de Villiers, Outside off, nudged past point for a single. 

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Virat Kohli, Full on off and middle, Kohli taps this to the on side for a single. 

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to AB de Villiers, This is worked to the leg side for a single. 

Prasidh Krishna to AB de Villiers, A single to finish. De Villiers works this to long on for a single. 

Prasidh Krishna to AB de Villiers, ! What has happened here? It has richocheted off the stumps at the bowler's end and gone into the long off fence. Full ball on middle, in the slot for de Villiers. He whacks it hard back past the bowler. It hits the stumps at the bowler's end and deflects to the long off fence. How hard did he hit that!

Prasidh Krishna to AB de Villiers, This is worked to the off side for a dot. 

Who will walk out to bat now? AB de Villiers.

Prasidh Krishna to AB de Villiers, Good length ball on off and middle, tapped to short mid-wicket. 

Prasidh Krishna to Aaron Finch, ! BOWLED! Prasidh Krishna gets his man. Finch, backs away, but it is one time too many. It was full on off and middle, Aaron Finch, like Padikkal, exposes his stumps and looks to hit it on the off side. Misses and the middle pole takes a pounding. Misses out on his half century by 3 runs but Bangalore now have two of their best batsmen in the middle.

Prasidh Krishna is back in the attack. 2-0-21-0 for him so far. 

Prasidh Krishna to Aaron Finch, ! Slapped hard. Good length ball on top of the stumps, Finch backs away, to the leg side and slaps this hard through the covers for a boundary.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Aaron Finch, Excellent over. Just the 4 off it. Slow again, slow good length ball on middle and leg, worked to the leg side for a single. 

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Virat Kohli, Slower length ball outside off, Kohli bunts this to long off for a single. 

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Virat Kohli, Another slower ball outside off, it kept low as well. Goes under the flashing blade of Virat Kohli as he looks to pull. Good slower ball from Nagarkoti.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Aaron Finch, Slow back of a length ball outside off, Finch looked to work that on the off side but inside edges it onto his pads. It goes to the off side and they sneak in a single. 

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Virat Kohli, A quick single this time as Kohli taps the fullish ball to Chakravarthy at short mid-wicket and crosses over. 

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Virat Kohli, Full on middle, Kohli comes down and looks to work that on the leg side. Ends up getting an inside edge onto his pads. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Aaron Finch, Another couple to finish. On middle, Finch works it to square leg. The keeper gives chase and Kohli, who wants two, pushes Finch and gets a couple in the end. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Aaron Finch, Very full outside off, Finch drives it through covers and comes back for the second. Misfield from Morgan there, at cover.

Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Full on middle, tapped on the leg side for a single. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Misses! Flatter ball outside off, Kohli looked to guide it to third man but misses. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Outside off, Kohli nudges it to backward point. Runs the first one hard and gets back for the second. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Aaron Finch, On the shorter side on the stumps, Finch gives room and slaps it towards deep point for a single. 

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Aaron Finch, Slow back of a length ball outside off, hit to cover-point for a single. Kohli wants two but Finch is not interested again. 78/1 at the end of 10 overs. 

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Virat Kohli, Full and outside off, driven to long off for a single. 

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Aaron Finch, Takes the pace off and bowls a slow fullish ball on top of the stumps, dabbed towards short third man for a single. 

Kolkata coach, Brendon McCullum, is up for a chat. On Kolkata's current position in the table, McCullum is happy with the wins, even though they have not been at their best, but is aware that to go deep into the tournament, they have to be better. Believes that Kolkata have got so many firepower in both batting and bowling that it becomes difficult to select the right combination every time, but feels that they aim to get it right most of the time. On Karthik's batting form and Morgan taking cap

Kamlesh Nagarkoti into the attack now.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Virat Kohli, On middle, nudged to deep square leg for a single. Kohli wants two but Finch was not interested.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Aaron Finch, Short ball, firmly pulled to Banton at deep mid-wicket. He fumbles but it does not cost Kolkata much. Just the one.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti to Virat Kohli, Virat Kohli works this to long on for a single. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Good fielding by the man at cover-point. Full and outside off, a firm cover-drive by Kohli. Good fielding there, at cover-point, to contain it. Just the one. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Aaron Finch, LEG BYE! Full on the pads, Finch looks to sweep but misses to get hit on the pads. The ball rolls further towards short fine leg and a leg bye is sneaked in.

Varun Chakravarthy to Aaron Finch, Finch defends this solidly off the front foot. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Aaron Finch, On the shorter side, Finch looks to pull but misses to get hit on the body. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Aaron Finch, An appeal for LBW but not given. Chakravarthy looked for a review but skipper Karthik cools him down, saying there is no need, reckoning it came off the bat. Floated on middle, Finch prods forward and defends. Varun thinks it came off the pad and hence appealed, but to no avail. Off the bat then.

Varun Chakravarthy to Virat Kohli, Outside off, nudged to Russell at short third man for a single. 

Andre Russell to Virat Kohli, And Kohli is underway. Taps the good length ball to mid off and races quickly to the other end. Start of the quick singles then!

DRINKS! Okay then. The big man has struck with the ball. His 4 overs will be crucial tonight, with a bruised ankle and Narine absent. Which means, Kolkata are a bowler short. There are two ways to look at this score. For a Sharjah track, this looks like an under-par score. But if you believe in the firepower that Bangalore have, with Saini slotted at 9, they can build on this platform. Another point of view could be that this does not look like a 200-plus track. 150-plus would do, which means Ba

Andre Russell to Virat Kohli, Virat Kohli works the fullish ball back to Russell. 

Bangalore skipper, Virat Kohli walks in at number 3, replacing Padikkal.

Andre Russell to Virat Kohli, WIDE! Bouncer, bowled way too short, Kohli ducks under it. Wide called. Sunil Gavaskar, on-air called it right, that it will be a bouncer first up.

Andre Russell to Devdutt Padikkal, ! TIMBER! Andre Russell deserved that really well. 300 T20 wickets for him as well. Padikkal leaves the field for 32. Padikkal gives room on the off side and looked to go big over covers. It was full and on middle and off. He misses but not the ball. It crashes into the woodwork behind. He should have got Finch earlier, Russell, but nabs Padikkal now.

Interesting comparison of Bangalore's batting in the Powerplay.  The first 4 overs went for 37/0 (RR: 9.25). But the last two went for just 10 (RR: 5.00)

Andre Russell to Aaron Finch, Good length ball outside off, Finch jumps and taps that through covers for a single. 

Andre Russell to Aaron Finch, WIDE! Goes full down the leg side, Finch misses his flick.

Andre Russell to Devdutt Padikkal, Fullish outside off, steered to short third man for a single.

Andre Russell to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Not timed properly, but the shorter boundaries and you will get away with it. Fullish ball around off, Padikkal looks to go big over the off side but does not time it that well, to the naked eye. It goes high in the air towards long off. Two fielders converge - long on and long off. The fielder jumps and looks to get a hand but it goes over him and lands on the full just over the ropes. A maximum. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Devdutt Padikkal, On off, worked to the on side for one. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Aaron Finch, Finch taps the short ball on the leg side and takes a single. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Aaron Finch, ! Short ball, Finch goes back and firmly pulls this over mid-wicket. Shubman Gill is the man there. Does not collect it properly on the first time. It slips through and Gill dives and looks to contain. But his body seems to have come in contact with the boundary ropes, to the naked eye. The umpires take a look at the replays and after multiple examinations, it is called a boundary.  

Is that a boundary? Looks so. Karthik was not happy with Gill there. Is Gill guilty here? Yes, boundary signalled.

Varun Chakravarthy to Aaron Finch, Another couple as Finch works this aerially over square leg for two.

Varun Chakravarthy to Aaron Finch, Good running, a couple. And that brings up the 50 for Bangalore as well. Flatter ball on the stumps, Finch rocks back and works this to long on. He calls two and Padikkal responds well by running back to the bowler's end, the danger end.

Varun Chakravarthy is into the attack now. 

Varun Chakravarthy to Devdutt Padikkal, This is worked on the on side for a single. 

Andre Russell to Aaron Finch, AND ! The man there was set up by Russell. Short ball, Finch pulls it towards short fine leg. The man there, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, spills it and it goes into the fine leg boundary. Russell is frustrated. Bangalore are 47/0 at the end of the Powerplay.

Andre Russell to Aaron Finch, Bowls a quick short ball now, Finch looks to pull but misses and gets hit on the visor. 

Andre Russell to Aaron Finch, Finch comes down the track again, Russell takes the pace off and bowls a slow good length ball outside off. A play and miss from Finch. 

Andre Russell to Devdutt Padikkal, Shortish ball on top of the stumps, pulled to Nagarkoti at deep square leg for one.

Andre Russell to Aaron Finch, Digs it in short, Finch hits it aerially towards mid-wicket and takes a single. 

Andre Russell to Aaron Finch, Back of a length ball outside off, Finch chops it back on the track. 

Andre Russell into the attack now. 

Pat Cummins to Aaron Finch, Finch takes a single and will keep strike. Fullish ball outside off, he works this to point and gets to the other end. 

Pat Cummins to Devdutt Padikkal, Shortish ball, pulled to deep backward square leg for a single. 

Pat Cummins to Devdutt Padikkal, Padikkal moves to the leg side. Cummins bangs in a short off-cutter, Padikkal looked to guide that over the keeper's head on the off side but misses. 

Pat Cummins to Devdutt Padikkal, Full ball outside off, strong cover drive but straight to the man. It is actually a tricky place where Eoin Morgan is standing at short extra cover. There is grass just in front of him, so Morgan is at a risk of the ball shooting up, if it lands on the seam on the grass.

Pat Cummins to Aaron Finch, On middle, Finch comes down the pitch and taps it on the leg side for a single. 

Pat Cummins to Devdutt Padikkal, Leg bye! Full ball on leg, Padikkal misses his flick and gets hit on the pads. It goes to the off side and they take a leg bye. 

Prasidh Krishna to Devdutt Padikkal, A single to finish. Shortish ball, wristed to short mid-wicket for a single. 

Prasidh Krishna to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Not a good ball and it gets the punishment. Shortish ball on middle, Padikkal flicks it with ease to the deep backward square leg fence. 

Prasidh Krishna to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Power shot. Full ball just outside off, Padikkal just whips it over mid-wicket. Go full at your own risk, Kolkata!

Prasidh Krishna to Aaron Finch, A quick single. Shortish outside off, Finch hops and punches it towards cover-point and takes a quick run. 

Prasidh Krishna to Aaron Finch, Shortish ball, tucked to short fine leg. Got away there, Krishna.

Prasidh Krishna to Aaron Finch, Krishna does a Cummins as well. Sees Finch coming down and bangs it in short, Finch ducks and lets it be. 1 for the over, says the umpire. 

Pat Cummins to Devdutt Padikkal, Aggressive from the Australian! Another bouncer, Padikkal ducks under it.

Pat Cummins to Devdutt Padikkal, Goes fuller this time, around off, tapped to point for a dot. 

Pat Cummins to Devdutt Padikkal, Bouncer on top of the stumps, good one from Cummins. Devdutt ducks under it. Went short to Finch earlier, now Padikkal.

Back to over the wicket for Cummins. 

Pat Cummins to Devdutt Padikkal, ! And again, back-to-back boundaries. Gives himself room on the off side again, this time lifts the fullish ball over point.

Pat Cummins to Devdutt Padikkal, ! Aggressive! Good length ball on top of the stumps, Padikkal moves to the leg side and lifts it over covers. 

Pat Cummins to Devdutt Padikkal, Good length ball on off and middle from around the wicket, defended to the off side. 

Prasidh Krishna to Devdutt Padikkal, Padikkal is happy to take the singles. Fullish on off, knocked towards deep square leg for one. 

Prasidh Krishna to Aaron Finch, Shortish ball on top of the stumps, Finch punches it off his back foot, through cover and the batters exchange ends. 

Prasidh Krishna to Aaron Finch, ! OF THE PARK! Fullish ball around off, Finch stands still and lofts that over wide long on for a maximum.

Prasidh Krishna to Devdutt Padikkal, Good length ball on middle, tucked to backward square leg for a single. 

Prasidh Krishna to Aaron Finch, Good length ball on top of off, Finch comes down the track, hops and taps it behind square on the leg side and takes one.

Prasidh Krishna to Devdutt Padikkal, Full on middle, Padikkal closes the face of his bat and flicks it to deep square leg for a single. 

Who will bowl from the other end? Prasidh Krishna it is.

Pat Cummins to Aaron Finch, A couple to finish. Fullish on off, turned to the leg side for two. 8 runs off the first over for Bangalore, a good start for them. 

Pat Cummins to Aaron Finch, Short, quick ball, Finch comes walking down again, but allows the short ball through. Good response from Cummins there, saw him coming down and bangs it short. 

Pat Cummins to Devdutt Padikkal, Fullish on middle from round the wicket, glanced to square leg for a single. 

Pat Cummins to Aaron Finch, Full on middle and leg, defensively nudged to mid off. Finch calls for a quick single and gets it. 

Pat Cummins to Aaron Finch, ! Aaron Finch and Bangalore are underway. Finch comes down the track and lofts the full ball over mid-wicket for a boundary. 

Pat Cummins to Aaron Finch, Cummins begins with a full ball on middle and leg, flicked to mid on. 

The umpires make their way out to the middle. The Kolkata players make their way out and take their respective positions on the field. Following them are Bangalore's openers, Aaron Finch and Devdutt Padikkal. Pat Cummins to start with the ball for Kolkata. Let's play...

Pat Cummins is up for a chat. Says that the support staff deserve full credit for putting up this tournament. There is no pressure for the players, just to focus on their game. Cummins feels that as bowlers they have finished off games amazingly. On the batting front, he feels that a couple of games could not be finished off well.

Pitch Report - Kevin Pietersen is in the middle for the Pitch Report. He says that there is not much of shine that one would expect. It is very dark, he says. It is very Chinnaswamy-like reckons KP. He further feels that spinners benefited from bowling slower balls and that both teams would have made a note of that. States that it is important to respect the wicket.

Virat Kohli, Bangalore's skipper, says that the surface is getting slower and slower. States that the more players play on it, run around the pitch, the more it slows down. Says that it is important to continue doing what they have been doing well. Adds that Morris' entry has been a big boost. States that it is important to get a good start and that the intent has to be there. On the changes, Kohli informs that Mohammed Siraj comes in for Gurkeerat Singh Mann.

Bangalore (Playing XI) - Devdutt Padikkal, Aaron Finch, Virat Kohli (C), AB de Villiers (WK), Shivam Dube, Chris Morris, Washington Sundar, Isuru Udana, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj (IN PLACE OF GURKEERAT SINGH MANN), Yuzvendra Chahal.

TOSS - It is time for the spin of the coin. It lands in favour of Bangalore and they elect to bat!

Kolkata (Playing XI) - Rahul Tripathi, Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Tom Banton (IN PLACE OF SUNIL NARINE), Eoin Morgan, Andre Russell, Dinesh Karthik (WK/C), Pat Cummins, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Prasidh Krishna, Varun Chakravarthy.  

Dinesh Karthik, Kolkata's captain, says that he has no problems bowling first. Says that in the last game, they pulled off a rabbit out of the hat. States that it was going Punjab's way but Kolkata managed to pull it back. On the changes, Karthik says that Banton comes in for Narine. 

The news from Sharjah is that Tom Banton is getting his cap for Kolkata. Well, that's one change we can confirm.

Kohli vs Karthik! Bangalore and Kolkata, two batting giants lock horns shortly. It is at the battleground of sixes - Sharjah! Where 200 is a given....or is it? Well, in the last couple of matches here, we have had just one inning where a side went over 200. Mumbai had kept Hyderabad to under 180 to win by a comfortable margin. Delhi managed to win by 46 runs after posting 184 in their last game at this ground. Hmm....what awaits us now? Let's see as we bring you the toss and team updates in a wh