Cricket Scorecard

We are all set for CSK's reply to commence.

... THE RUN CHASE ...

Right then, the game is finely balanced with both sides backing themselves at this stage. On a surface that has offered grip and turn, KKR will rely on their quality spin attack and might even consider introducing a fourth option in Anukul Roy or Mayank Markande as the impact player. For CSK, the key will be to capitalise on the Powerplay, the phase where batting looked most comfortable when KKR were batting.

Manish Pandey is in for a chat. He says that maybe he could have got 10 runs more from his side, but reckons that Russell and Rinku did well to get the boundaries, and they do have the bowlers to defend it. Adds that his idea was to just stay there till the end. Mentions that the pacers are doing well and the spinners are doing the job in the middle phase as well, and hopefully, it will be a good game.

After choosing to bat first, the Knight Riders lost Rahmanullah Gurbaz early, but brisk knocks from Sunil Narine and Ajinkya Rahane helped them post 67 runs in the Powerplay. However, the middle overs saw CSK’s spin trio take control, exploiting the conditions well to stem the flow of runs and build pressure. Rahane, dropped on 15, couldn’t capitalise on the chance and fell soon after. Andre Russell provided a much-needed injection of impetus, especially with Manish Pandey struggling for f

Excellent final over from CSK to close out an innings that ebbed and flowed throughout. The Powerplay belonged to KKR before CSK clawed their way back during the middle overs through spin. KKR then upped the ante with 64 runs in the five overs leading up to the final over, but with just 6 coming off the last, CSK managed to limit them under 180.

Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, What an over! Just six singles off it and KKR fail to reach the 180-run mark! Full and straight now, quicker too, Manish Pandey hangs back and makes room to power it away but can't get under it. The ball goes straight to mid off and it will be just a single. KKR finish with 179/6 on the board!

Matheesha Pathirana to Ramandeep Singh, 1 run.

Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, Full toss on the pads, a bit slower and deceiving the batter. Pandey helps it down to fine leg for one more. Matheesha Pathirana finishing off strongly here for CSK.

Matheesha Pathirana to Ramandeep Singh, Can we call that a dropped catch? Very, very difficult to snaffle that one.

Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, Another full and straight one, tailing into the leg pole, Pandey makes room but fails to get under it and drills it straight to mid off for only a run.

Matheesha Pathirana to Ramandeep Singh, Slingy delivery, bowled full and outside off, just tailing in, Ramandeep Singh goes way deep in his crease and hammers it along the turf to long on for a single.

Noor Ahmad to Manish Pandey, Fuller in length, sliding on from middle and leg, Pandey plays it back to the bowler.

Noor Ahmad to Manish Pandey, ! Right in the gap! A bit too short from Noor, bowling it slightly outside off as well. Manish Pandey has enough room to free the arms and pulls it in between long on and deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Noor Ahmad to Manish Pandey, Wide! Quick and full, spilled well down the leg side for a wide.

Noor Ahmad to Ramandeep Singh, 1 run.

Ramandeep Singh is in next.

Taken on the second attempt by Ayush Mhatre! Has he managed to keep his foot away from the fence? Yes, the replays confirm that he has successfully done so.

Noor Ahmad to Rinku Singh, ! CAUGHT! Excellent judgment in the deep from the youngster! A long hop from Noor Ahmad, on middle and leg, there to be put away. Rinku Singh hangs back and then pulls it flat towards deep backward square leg. Ayush Mhatre over there takes the catch to his right but it nearly pops out before Ayush manages to regain his composure and snatch it on the second attempt, all whilst keeping his balance to stay inside the ropes as well.

Noor Ahmad to Rinku Singh, Close but not close enough!

Noor Ahmad to Rinku Singh, ! Top shot! Floated up around off and angling in, Rinku Singh sets up for the reverse sweep early and nails it over short third for a boundary.

Matheesha Pathirana to Rinku Singh, Oh, that's slipped out of the hand, but the batter is taken by surprise as well. Slower one, looking for the yorker, but turns out to be a chest height full toss that dips on the batter. Rinku Singh just dabs it through backward point for a single.

Matheesha Pathirana to Rinku Singh, A wide yorker now, flirting with the tramline and Rinku leaves it alone. No wide called, but Rinku does review it. The third umpire is called in and replays show that some part of the ball is within the guideline and it will be a dot ball.

Matheesha Pathirana to Rinku Singh, ! Streaky! Full toss on off, slanting across, Rinku Singh does open the face of the blade but ends up gliding it more off the outside edge and past the keeper into the third man fence.

Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, Full and wide outside off, there to be hit, Pandey creams the drive straight to extra cover though. Just a single.

Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, ! Dismissive from Pandey!

Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, Banged into the deck, Pandey makes room and hits it flat over the bowler's head for a couple of runs.

Rinku Singh walks out to bat.

Noor Ahmad to Andre Russell, ! CAUGHT! Noor Ahmad gets the last laugh and sends Andre Russell packing.

Noor Ahmad to Andre Russell, ! BANG! Bowled flatter and on off, a bit fuller too, Andre Russell manages to swing across the line and swats it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie. He is on a roll here!

Noor Ahmad to Andre Russell, No run.

Noor Ahmad to Andre Russell, ! Uh, oh! Devon Conway has been completely undone by the spin there. Full and around off, Russell stays deep and slices it away and over wide long off. The ball pitches and curves away from the incoming fielder who gets bamboozled and concedes a boundary.

Noor Ahmad to Andre Russell, BEATEN! Nagging length, on off, sliding across the right-hander, Russell looks to block but is well beaten.

Noor Ahmad to Manish Pandey, Leg bye.

Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, Gets it full enough this time, outside off, Pandey can only dig it out in front of point for a single. A couple of productive overs for KKR after the break!

Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, Full and straight, not quite in the blockhole, Manish Pandey clears the front leg and drills it straight back past the bowler. The fielder from long on tidies up to his left and keeps it down to two runs.

Matheesha Pathirana to Andre Russell, Leg bye.

Matheesha Pathirana to Andre Russell, ! Gets a hold of that one as well! Slower one, bowled a bit short and well outside off. Russell tries to make room but adjusts well to reach and power the ball over covers for a boundary.

Matheesha Pathirana to Andre Russell, ! As flat as it can get! Another slower one, a bit into the pitch and over middle, Russell picks it up, waits well and pulls it flat in front of square leg for a biggie.

STRATEGIC BREAK! CSK have done well to pull things back after being put under pressure in the Powerplay. Led largely by their spin trio, the last 9 overs have gone for just 57 runs. KKR will hope to build on the momentum from the previous 15-run over and finish strong on a surface that has offered grip and turn. MS Dhoni still has the option of turning to three overs of spin from the final five, should he choose to use them.

Matheesha Pathirana to Andre Russell, Well bowled!

Ravindra Jadeja to Manish Pandey, An arm ball now, around off and darting back in, Pandey hops back and jams it out behind point.

Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell, ! Oh, Russell has shifted gears and how!

Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell, 1 run.

Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell, ! A valiant effort in the deep from Noor Ahmad but it will be a boundary. This is bowled a bit short and angled into the batter, Russell hangs back and manages to swing it away through the leg side. Noor runs around to his right from deep mid-wickwt and dives in but the replays show that hos hand was in contact with the ropes when he pulled the ball back in.

Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell, ! Edged away! Another flat delivery, around off and middle, Andre Russell swings hard across the line but gets an outside edge over the slip fielder and the ball rolls away into the deep third fence.

Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell, Quicker one, darted in towards the off stump line, Russell blocks it off.

Matheesha Pathirana to Andre Russell, Another yorker on middle leg, Andre Russell clears his front leg and drills this one down the ground to long on for a single.

Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, 1 run.

Matheesha Pathirana to Andre Russell, Another yorker on leg, Andre Russell somehow manages to bring his bat down in time. The ball goes into the leg side and batters run a single.

Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, Pinpoint yorker on leg, Manish Pandey manages to dig it out as he flicks it deep mid-wicket for a single.

Matheesha Pathirana to Andre Russell, 1 run.

Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, 1 run.

Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell, Short and turning away, from the right hander, outside off, in the channel of uncertainty, Andre Russell pokes at it and gets beaten on the outside edge.

Andre Russell is in next.

Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell, No run.

Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell, No run.

Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell, Full on middle, Andre Russell blocks it back to the bowler.

Ravindra Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane, ! c Devon Conway b Ravindra Jadeja.

Ravindra Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane, 2 runs.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Manish Pandey, Just short! Overpitched, on middle, Manish Pandey goes for the lofted drive but doesn't get it off the middle of the bat as the ball lands just short of Ayush Mhatre at long on, who dived in front but couldn't get there. Two runs taken.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Manish Pandey, Full on middle, Manish Pandey blocks it off the front foot, back to the bowler.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Ajinkya Rahane, Leg bye.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Ajinkya Rahane, No run.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Manish Pandey, Short length carrom ball on middle, Manish Pandey pushes it into the leg side and takes a quick single as MS Dhoni cuts it off.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Manish Pandey, Short on off, Manish Pandey pushes it back to the bowler. That was the carrom ball from Ravichandran Ashwin!

Ravindra Jadeja to Manish Pandey, Full on off, Manish Pandey pushes it off the front foot to point and sets off for a quick single.

Ravindra Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane, 1 run.

Ravindra Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane, Spin for Ravindra Jadeja as Ajinkya Rahane is beaten all ends up on that one! A touch full, turning away on off, Ajinkya Rahane looks to play the flick as the ball turns sharply and goes past his outside edge.

Ravindra Jadeja to Manish Pandey, Full on off, Manish Pandey drives this off the front foot to long off for a single.

Ravindra Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane, Overpitched on middle, Ajinkya Rahane flicks it along the ground to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Ravindra Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane, ! Clean as a whistle!

Noor Ahmad to Ajinkya Rahane, Short and just outside off, Ajinkya Rahane cuts it in front of square to deep extra cover. Single taken.

Noor Ahmad to Manish Pandey, Full on middle, Manish Pandey plays the lofted shot which goes on the bounce to long on. Single taken.

Noor Ahmad to Manish Pandey, 2 runs.

Noor Ahmad to Ajinkya Rahane, Full on middle, Ajinkya Rahane flicks it to long on for a single.

Noor Ahmad to Manish Pandey, A touch shorter length googly, just outside off, Manish Pandey stays back and cuts it towards deep extra cover for a single.

Noor Ahmad to Ajinkya Rahane, Short length googly on off, Ajinkya Rahane pushes it to the right of the bowler and takes a quick single.

Strategic Break! Pretty even-stevens after the first 9 overs, one would reckon. However, KKR did get off to a fine start, losing just one wicket in the Powerplay and they scored close to 70 runs as well. That one over from Noor Ahmad has halted KKr's progress and now the CSK spinners will look to pounce and suffocate the KKR batters. A lot rides on Ajinkya Rahane if KKR are to navigate through this phase and be in a position of promise. Let's see how thenext few overs play out.

Ravindra Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane, Short on middle, Ajinkya Rahane works it off the back foot towards deep square leg for a single to keep the strike.

Ravindra Jadeja to Manish Pandey, 1 run.

Ravindra Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane, 1 run.

Ravindra Jadeja to Manish Pandey, Short on leg stump, Manish Pandey works it behind square to deep backward square leg for a single.

Ravindra Jadeja to Manish Pandey, A touch short on off, Manish Pandey is quick to shift his weight on the back foot and play the cut shot, which goes to the left of deep extra cover. Two runs taken.

Ravindra Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane, Full on off, Ajinkya Rahane drives this off the front foot to deep extra cover for a single.

Manish Pandey walks in to bat at number 5.

Noor Ahmad to Ajinkya Rahane, Slower through the air, fuller, googly, on middle, Ajinkya Rahane flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Noor Ahmad to Manish Pandey, Full and outside off, Manish Pandey leans into the cover drive and as the ball takes the outside edge and rolls towards short third man. Single taken.

Noor Ahmad to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, ! CAUGHT! Noor Ahmad is on a role!

Noor Ahmad to Ajinkya Rahane, Short length googly well outside off, Ajinkya Rahane cuts it off the back foot to deep extra cover for a single.

Noor Ahmad to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Full on middle. Angkrish Raghuvanshi plays the paddle sweep to the right of short fine leg for a single.

Angkrish Raghuvanshi is the new batter in.

Noor Ahmad to Sunil Narine, ! STUMPED! Narine has committed a bit of a brain fade here.

Noor Ahmad to have a bowl now.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Ajinkya Rahane, Full on off, Ajinkya Rahane plays the push drive to point. Dot ball. Just two runs of that over!

Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine, Very full, at the toes, clipped through mid-wicket for a single.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine, Pushed across the left-hander, on a nagging length, Sunil Narine lets it be thinking it is a wide but the umpire is happy with it.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine, No run.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Ajinkya Rahane, On middle and leg, a bit quicker, Ajinkya Rahane glances it towards deep fine leg for one.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Ajinkya Rahane, Beaten! This keeps straight and does not turn, around off, on a nagging length, Ajinkya Rahane defends inside the line and gets beaten on the outside edge.

Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, Another well-executed yorker, on off, Ajinkya Rahane digs it out in front of cover for a run. 17 runs off the final over of the Powerplay. At the end of 6 overs, KKR are 67/1.

Anshul Kamboj to Sunil Narine, Nails the yorker, on middle, Sunil Narine jams it out on the off side and crosses over.

Anshul Kamboj to Sunil Narine, ! Easy pickings! 15 runs off the over already. On the pads, too straight from Anshul Kamboj, Sunil Narine just helps it off the pads towards deep fine leg for four more.

Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, 1 run.

Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, ! Good use of the feet!

Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, ! Innovative and mighty effective! On a length, outside off, Ajinkya Rahane walks across his stumps and executes the scoop to perfection. Clears the deep fine leg fence for a six.

Anshul Kamboj to continue...

Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine, No run.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine, No run.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine, Six!

Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine, No run.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine, ! Two in two for Sunil Narine! Fractionally short, enough for Sunil Narine though as he waits on the back foot and pulls it over square leg for four more.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine, ! Ravichandran Ashwin is greeted with a boundary!

Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, ! Matheesha Pathirana shells a steepler!

Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, An agricultural heave from Ajinkya Rahane, something you do not associate with the KKR skipper but he gets away with it. Near the tramline on off, on a short of a good length, Rahane swings and looks to drag it away on the leg side but misses.

Anshul Kamboj to Sunil Narine, 1 run.

Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, On off, on a nagging length, nudged away to deep square leg for a single by Ajinkya.

Anshul Kamboj to Sunil Narine, Kamboj goes full this time, on middle and leg, Sunil Narine gets his front leg out of the way and tries to access the leg side. Gets an inside edge onto the pads and Sunil gets called through by Rahane for a quick single as the ball rolls away on the off side.

Anshul Kamboj to Sunil Narine, ! Streaky but they all count! Anshul Kamboj bashes the hard length, over middle, Sunil Narine lifts his front leg and swivels a bit for the pull. Gets a top edge that flies over the keeper for a boundary.

Khaleel Ahmed to Ajinkya Rahane, ! More height than distance but Ajinkya Rahane does enough to find the fence! On a length, on middle, Ajinkya Rahane plays the pick-up shot with no one in the deep square of the wicket on the leg side. The ball lands in the vacant deep square leg region and trickles into the fence.

Khaleel Ahmed to Ajinkya Rahane, Takes pace off slightly and makes the batter reach for it. Ajinkya Rahane cuts it straight to backward point.

Khaleel Ahmed to Ajinkya Rahane, ! Up and over! Khaleel Ahmed switches to over the wicket and delivers it a bit too full, on middle and leg, Ajinkya Rahane just extends his hands into the shot and whips it over wide mid on for a boundary.

Khaleel Ahmed to Ajinkya Rahane, On off, on a length, pushed off the front foot to cover.

Khaleel Ahmed to Sunil Narine, A loud shout for LBW!

Khaleel Ahmed to Sunil Narine, On middle and leg, on a length, Sunil Narine clears his front leg and swings to get it away on the leg side. Gets it off the toe end towards mid on.

Khaleel Ahmed to Sunil Narine, Wide! Sprayed down leg from around the wicket, on the fuller side, Sunil Narine misses the tickle.

Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, At the hips, on a short of a length, Ajinkya Rahane helps it down towards deep fine leg where Matheesha Pathirana sprints and slides to his right to cut it off. Two runs taken.

KKR skipper, Ajinkya Rahane, walks out to bat. Talking about skippers, big news is coming in from the Indian national team as Rohit Sharma, the current Indian Test captain, has announced his retirement from Test cricket!

Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, On a back of a length, on off, Ajinkya Rahane rides the bounce and stabs it down the deck.

Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, ! Edged away! Seaming away, on a good length, around off, Ajinkya Rahane plants his front foot ahed and tries to cover the line by presenting a straight bat. Gets an outside edge that races past first slip to his right for a boundary.

Anshul Kamboj to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, ! TAKEN! Anshul Kamboj wins the battle against Rahmanullah Gurbaz!

Anshul Kamboj to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, In the channel on off, on a good length, Rahmanullah Gurbaz skips down the track and flashes at the delivery but misses.

Anshul Kamboj to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, ! BANG! That has gone many a mile! Anshul Kamboj starts with a length delivery, on off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz gets it in his arc and swings across the line. Deposits it way back into the stands over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Who will bowl from the other end? It will be Anshul Kamboj.

Khaleel Ahmed to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, On a hard length, on off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz gets on top of the bounce and punches it to the left of extra cover for a single.

Khaleel Ahmed to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Trifecta of plays and misses! On a back of a length, angling across the batter, Gurbaz pokes at the delivery and sees the ball zip past the outside edge.

Khaleel Ahmed to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Top nut! Pitched up, leaving the right-hander, Rahmanullah Gurbaz is rooted to the crease and tries to play it down the ground with a straight bat. Gets beaten on the outside edge.

Khaleel Ahmed to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Big swing and a miss! Going across the right-hander, on a good length, Rahmanullah Gurbaz puts the dancing shoes on and swings for the hills but connects with thin air.

Khaleel Ahmed to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Drags the length back and tightens the line, does Khaleel, on a short of a length, on off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz hangs back to defend. Ekes out an inside edge onto the pads.

Khaleel Ahmed to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, ! Rahmanullah Gurbaz and KKR are on their way! Khaleel Ahmed steams in from over the wicket and serves it at 133.8 kph, on off, a hint of shape back in, on a length, Gurbaz presses forward and times the drive through covers for a boundary.

Done and dusted with the pre-match proceedings and it is now time to play. The bell is rung by the KKR co-owner Juhi Chawla and Dwayne Bravo as the umpires and the players of CSK make their way out to the middle. It will be the pairing of Sunil Narine and Rahmanullah Gurbaz to open the innings for KKR. Khaleel Ahmed has the new ball in hand and is raring to go. Let's play...

Just a few minutes to go before the match begins. However, the Indian National Anthem will be played first and the two teams line up around the boundary ropes.

Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI) - Sunil Narine, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ajinkya Rahane (C), Manish Pandey (In for Venkatesh Iyer), Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Moeen Ali, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy.

Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI) - Ayush Mhatre, Devon Conway (In for Sam Curran), Urvil Patel (In for Shaik Rasheed), Ravindra Jadeja, Dewald Brevis, MS Dhoni (C/WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana.

Impact subs nominated by CSK - Shivam Dube, Deepak Hooda, Jamie Overton, Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Ramakrishna Ghosh.

Impact subs nominated by KKR - Anrich Nortje, Mayank Markande, Harshit Rana, Anukul Roy and Luvnith Sisodia.

Ajinkya Rahane, the skipper of Kolkata Knight Riders, says that they will bat first. Adds that it looks like a very good wicket, and they have won batting first in the last two games as well. Mentions that it is all about taking one game at a time and giving their best, and the guys are looking forward to this game. On losing close games, Rahane says that it happens in this format, and they managed to win a close game last time around. Informs that they have one change with Venkatesh Iyer missin

The captain of the Chennai Super Kings, MS Dhoni, says that this venue feels like a home ground for him as he has played a lot of cricket here during his formative years. Mentions that with the season nearing its end, it becomes important for the team to reflect on what hasn’t gone well and use the remaining games to find answers and build clarity for the next year.

TOSS - Kolkata Knight Riders win the flip of the coin and they will BAT first.

We are all set for CSK's reply to commence.

... THE RUN CHASE ...

Right then, the game is finely balanced with both sides backing themselves at this stage. On a surface that has offered grip and turn, KKR will rely on their quality spin attack and might even consider introducing a fourth option in Anukul Roy or Mayank Markande as the impact player. For CSK, the key will be to capitalise on the Powerplay, the phase where batting looked most comfortable when KKR were batting.

Manish Pandey is in for a chat. He says that maybe he could have got 10 runs more from his side, but reckons that Russell and Rinku did well to get the boundaries, and they do have the bowlers to defend it. Adds that his idea was to just stay there till the end. Mentions that the pacers are doing well and the spinners are doing the job in the middle phase as well, and hopefully, it will be a good game.

After choosing to bat first, the Knight Riders lost Rahmanullah Gurbaz early, but brisk knocks from Sunil Narine and Ajinkya Rahane helped them post 67 runs in the Powerplay. However, the middle overs saw CSK’s spin trio take control, exploiting the conditions well to stem the flow of runs and build pressure. Rahane, dropped on 15, couldn’t capitalise on the chance and fell soon after. Andre Russell provided a much-needed injection of impetus, especially with Manish Pandey struggling for f

Excellent final over from CSK to close out an innings that ebbed and flowed throughout. The Powerplay belonged to KKR before CSK clawed their way back during the middle overs through spin. KKR then upped the ante with 64 runs in the five overs leading up to the final over, but with just 6 coming off the last, CSK managed to limit them under 180.

Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, What an over! Just six singles off it and KKR fail to reach the 180-run mark! Full and straight now, quicker too, Manish Pandey hangs back and makes room to power it away but can't get under it. The ball goes straight to mid off and it will be just a single. KKR finish with 179/6 on the board!

Matheesha Pathirana to Ramandeep Singh, 1 run.

Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, Full toss on the pads, a bit slower and deceiving the batter. Pandey helps it down to fine leg for one more. Matheesha Pathirana finishing off strongly here for CSK.

Matheesha Pathirana to Ramandeep Singh, Can we call that a dropped catch? Very, very difficult to snaffle that one.

Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, Another full and straight one, tailing into the leg pole, Pandey makes room but fails to get under it and drills it straight to mid off for only a run.

Matheesha Pathirana to Ramandeep Singh, Slingy delivery, bowled full and outside off, just tailing in, Ramandeep Singh goes way deep in his crease and hammers it along the turf to long on for a single.

Noor Ahmad to Manish Pandey, Fuller in length, sliding on from middle and leg, Pandey plays it back to the bowler.

Noor Ahmad to Manish Pandey, ! Right in the gap! A bit too short from Noor, bowling it slightly outside off as well. Manish Pandey has enough room to free the arms and pulls it in between long on and deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Noor Ahmad to Manish Pandey, Wide! Quick and full, spilled well down the leg side for a wide.

Noor Ahmad to Ramandeep Singh, 1 run.

Ramandeep Singh is in next.

Taken on the second attempt by Ayush Mhatre! Has he managed to keep his foot away from the fence? Yes, the replays confirm that he has successfully done so.

Noor Ahmad to Rinku Singh, ! CAUGHT! Excellent judgment in the deep from the youngster! A long hop from Noor Ahmad, on middle and leg, there to be put away. Rinku Singh hangs back and then pulls it flat towards deep backward square leg. Ayush Mhatre over there takes the catch to his right but it nearly pops out before Ayush manages to regain his composure and snatch it on the second attempt, all whilst keeping his balance to stay inside the ropes as well.

Noor Ahmad to Rinku Singh, Close but not close enough!

Noor Ahmad to Rinku Singh, ! Top shot! Floated up around off and angling in, Rinku Singh sets up for the reverse sweep early and nails it over short third for a boundary.

Matheesha Pathirana to Rinku Singh, Oh, that's slipped out of the hand, but the batter is taken by surprise as well. Slower one, looking for the yorker, but turns out to be a chest height full toss that dips on the batter. Rinku Singh just dabs it through backward point for a single.

Matheesha Pathirana to Rinku Singh, A wide yorker now, flirting with the tramline and Rinku leaves it alone. No wide called, but Rinku does review it. The third umpire is called in and replays show that some part of the ball is within the guideline and it will be a dot ball.

Matheesha Pathirana to Rinku Singh, ! Streaky! Full toss on off, slanting across, Rinku Singh does open the face of the blade but ends up gliding it more off the outside edge and past the keeper into the third man fence.

Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, Full and wide outside off, there to be hit, Pandey creams the drive straight to extra cover though. Just a single.

Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, ! Dismissive from Pandey!

Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, Banged into the deck, Pandey makes room and hits it flat over the bowler's head for a couple of runs.

Rinku Singh walks out to bat.

Noor Ahmad to Andre Russell, ! CAUGHT! Noor Ahmad gets the last laugh and sends Andre Russell packing.

Noor Ahmad to Andre Russell, ! BANG! Bowled flatter and on off, a bit fuller too, Andre Russell manages to swing across the line and swats it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie. He is on a roll here!

Noor Ahmad to Andre Russell, No run.

Noor Ahmad to Andre Russell, ! Uh, oh! Devon Conway has been completely undone by the spin there. Full and around off, Russell stays deep and slices it away and over wide long off. The ball pitches and curves away from the incoming fielder who gets bamboozled and concedes a boundary.

Noor Ahmad to Andre Russell, BEATEN! Nagging length, on off, sliding across the right-hander, Russell looks to block but is well beaten.

Noor Ahmad to Manish Pandey, Leg bye.

Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, Gets it full enough this time, outside off, Pandey can only dig it out in front of point for a single. A couple of productive overs for KKR after the break!

Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, Full and straight, not quite in the blockhole, Manish Pandey clears the front leg and drills it straight back past the bowler. The fielder from long on tidies up to his left and keeps it down to two runs.

Matheesha Pathirana to Andre Russell, Leg bye.

Matheesha Pathirana to Andre Russell, ! Gets a hold of that one as well! Slower one, bowled a bit short and well outside off. Russell tries to make room but adjusts well to reach and power the ball over covers for a boundary.

Matheesha Pathirana to Andre Russell, ! As flat as it can get! Another slower one, a bit into the pitch and over middle, Russell picks it up, waits well and pulls it flat in front of square leg for a biggie.

STRATEGIC BREAK! CSK have done well to pull things back after being put under pressure in the Powerplay. Led largely by their spin trio, the last 9 overs have gone for just 57 runs. KKR will hope to build on the momentum from the previous 15-run over and finish strong on a surface that has offered grip and turn. MS Dhoni still has the option of turning to three overs of spin from the final five, should he choose to use them.

Matheesha Pathirana to Andre Russell, Well bowled!

Ravindra Jadeja to Manish Pandey, An arm ball now, around off and darting back in, Pandey hops back and jams it out behind point.

Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell, ! Oh, Russell has shifted gears and how!

Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell, 1 run.

Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell, ! A valiant effort in the deep from Noor Ahmad but it will be a boundary. This is bowled a bit short and angled into the batter, Russell hangs back and manages to swing it away through the leg side. Noor runs around to his right from deep mid-wickwt and dives in but the replays show that hos hand was in contact with the ropes when he pulled the ball back in.

Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell, ! Edged away! Another flat delivery, around off and middle, Andre Russell swings hard across the line but gets an outside edge over the slip fielder and the ball rolls away into the deep third fence.

Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell, Quicker one, darted in towards the off stump line, Russell blocks it off.

Matheesha Pathirana to Andre Russell, Another yorker on middle leg, Andre Russell clears his front leg and drills this one down the ground to long on for a single.

Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, 1 run.

Matheesha Pathirana to Andre Russell, Another yorker on leg, Andre Russell somehow manages to bring his bat down in time. The ball goes into the leg side and batters run a single.

Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, Pinpoint yorker on leg, Manish Pandey manages to dig it out as he flicks it deep mid-wicket for a single.

Matheesha Pathirana to Andre Russell, 1 run.

Matheesha Pathirana to Manish Pandey, 1 run.

Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell, Short and turning away, from the right hander, outside off, in the channel of uncertainty, Andre Russell pokes at it and gets beaten on the outside edge.

Andre Russell is in next.

Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell, No run.

Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell, No run.

Ravindra Jadeja to Andre Russell, Full on middle, Andre Russell blocks it back to the bowler.

Ravindra Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane, ! c Devon Conway b Ravindra Jadeja.

Ravindra Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane, 2 runs.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Manish Pandey, Just short! Overpitched, on middle, Manish Pandey goes for the lofted drive but doesn't get it off the middle of the bat as the ball lands just short of Ayush Mhatre at long on, who dived in front but couldn't get there. Two runs taken.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Manish Pandey, Full on middle, Manish Pandey blocks it off the front foot, back to the bowler.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Ajinkya Rahane, Leg bye.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Ajinkya Rahane, No run.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Manish Pandey, Short length carrom ball on middle, Manish Pandey pushes it into the leg side and takes a quick single as MS Dhoni cuts it off.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Manish Pandey, Short on off, Manish Pandey pushes it back to the bowler. That was the carrom ball from Ravichandran Ashwin!

Ravindra Jadeja to Manish Pandey, Full on off, Manish Pandey pushes it off the front foot to point and sets off for a quick single.

Ravindra Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane, 1 run.

Ravindra Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane, Spin for Ravindra Jadeja as Ajinkya Rahane is beaten all ends up on that one! A touch full, turning away on off, Ajinkya Rahane looks to play the flick as the ball turns sharply and goes past his outside edge.

Ravindra Jadeja to Manish Pandey, Full on off, Manish Pandey drives this off the front foot to long off for a single.

Ravindra Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane, Overpitched on middle, Ajinkya Rahane flicks it along the ground to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Ravindra Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane, ! Clean as a whistle!

Noor Ahmad to Ajinkya Rahane, Short and just outside off, Ajinkya Rahane cuts it in front of square to deep extra cover. Single taken.

Noor Ahmad to Manish Pandey, Full on middle, Manish Pandey plays the lofted shot which goes on the bounce to long on. Single taken.

Noor Ahmad to Manish Pandey, 2 runs.

Noor Ahmad to Ajinkya Rahane, Full on middle, Ajinkya Rahane flicks it to long on for a single.

Noor Ahmad to Manish Pandey, A touch shorter length googly, just outside off, Manish Pandey stays back and cuts it towards deep extra cover for a single.

Noor Ahmad to Ajinkya Rahane, Short length googly on off, Ajinkya Rahane pushes it to the right of the bowler and takes a quick single.

Strategic Break! Pretty even-stevens after the first 9 overs, one would reckon. However, KKR did get off to a fine start, losing just one wicket in the Powerplay and they scored close to 70 runs as well. That one over from Noor Ahmad has halted KKr's progress and now the CSK spinners will look to pounce and suffocate the KKR batters. A lot rides on Ajinkya Rahane if KKR are to navigate through this phase and be in a position of promise. Let's see how thenext few overs play out.

Ravindra Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane, Short on middle, Ajinkya Rahane works it off the back foot towards deep square leg for a single to keep the strike.

Ravindra Jadeja to Manish Pandey, 1 run.

Ravindra Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane, 1 run.

Ravindra Jadeja to Manish Pandey, Short on leg stump, Manish Pandey works it behind square to deep backward square leg for a single.

Ravindra Jadeja to Manish Pandey, A touch short on off, Manish Pandey is quick to shift his weight on the back foot and play the cut shot, which goes to the left of deep extra cover. Two runs taken.

Ravindra Jadeja to Ajinkya Rahane, Full on off, Ajinkya Rahane drives this off the front foot to deep extra cover for a single.

Manish Pandey walks in to bat at number 5.

Noor Ahmad to Ajinkya Rahane, Slower through the air, fuller, googly, on middle, Ajinkya Rahane flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Noor Ahmad to Manish Pandey, Full and outside off, Manish Pandey leans into the cover drive and as the ball takes the outside edge and rolls towards short third man. Single taken.

Noor Ahmad to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, ! CAUGHT! Noor Ahmad is on a role!

Noor Ahmad to Ajinkya Rahane, Short length googly well outside off, Ajinkya Rahane cuts it off the back foot to deep extra cover for a single.

Noor Ahmad to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Full on middle. Angkrish Raghuvanshi plays the paddle sweep to the right of short fine leg for a single.

Angkrish Raghuvanshi is the new batter in.

Noor Ahmad to Sunil Narine, ! STUMPED! Narine has committed a bit of a brain fade here.

Noor Ahmad to have a bowl now.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Ajinkya Rahane, Full on off, Ajinkya Rahane plays the push drive to point. Dot ball. Just two runs of that over!

Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine, Very full, at the toes, clipped through mid-wicket for a single.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine, Pushed across the left-hander, on a nagging length, Sunil Narine lets it be thinking it is a wide but the umpire is happy with it.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine, No run.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Ajinkya Rahane, On middle and leg, a bit quicker, Ajinkya Rahane glances it towards deep fine leg for one.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Ajinkya Rahane, Beaten! This keeps straight and does not turn, around off, on a nagging length, Ajinkya Rahane defends inside the line and gets beaten on the outside edge.

Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, Another well-executed yorker, on off, Ajinkya Rahane digs it out in front of cover for a run. 17 runs off the final over of the Powerplay. At the end of 6 overs, KKR are 67/1.

Anshul Kamboj to Sunil Narine, Nails the yorker, on middle, Sunil Narine jams it out on the off side and crosses over.

Anshul Kamboj to Sunil Narine, ! Easy pickings! 15 runs off the over already. On the pads, too straight from Anshul Kamboj, Sunil Narine just helps it off the pads towards deep fine leg for four more.

Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, 1 run.

Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, ! Good use of the feet!

Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, ! Innovative and mighty effective! On a length, outside off, Ajinkya Rahane walks across his stumps and executes the scoop to perfection. Clears the deep fine leg fence for a six.

Anshul Kamboj to continue...

Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine, No run.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine, No run.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine, Six!

Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine, No run.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine, ! Two in two for Sunil Narine! Fractionally short, enough for Sunil Narine though as he waits on the back foot and pulls it over square leg for four more.

Ravichandran Ashwin to Sunil Narine, ! Ravichandran Ashwin is greeted with a boundary!

Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, ! Matheesha Pathirana shells a steepler!

Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, An agricultural heave from Ajinkya Rahane, something you do not associate with the KKR skipper but he gets away with it. Near the tramline on off, on a short of a good length, Rahane swings and looks to drag it away on the leg side but misses.

Anshul Kamboj to Sunil Narine, 1 run.

Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, On off, on a nagging length, nudged away to deep square leg for a single by Ajinkya.

Anshul Kamboj to Sunil Narine, Kamboj goes full this time, on middle and leg, Sunil Narine gets his front leg out of the way and tries to access the leg side. Gets an inside edge onto the pads and Sunil gets called through by Rahane for a quick single as the ball rolls away on the off side.

Anshul Kamboj to Sunil Narine, ! Streaky but they all count! Anshul Kamboj bashes the hard length, over middle, Sunil Narine lifts his front leg and swivels a bit for the pull. Gets a top edge that flies over the keeper for a boundary.

Khaleel Ahmed to Ajinkya Rahane, ! More height than distance but Ajinkya Rahane does enough to find the fence! On a length, on middle, Ajinkya Rahane plays the pick-up shot with no one in the deep square of the wicket on the leg side. The ball lands in the vacant deep square leg region and trickles into the fence.

Khaleel Ahmed to Ajinkya Rahane, Takes pace off slightly and makes the batter reach for it. Ajinkya Rahane cuts it straight to backward point.

Khaleel Ahmed to Ajinkya Rahane, ! Up and over! Khaleel Ahmed switches to over the wicket and delivers it a bit too full, on middle and leg, Ajinkya Rahane just extends his hands into the shot and whips it over wide mid on for a boundary.

Khaleel Ahmed to Ajinkya Rahane, On off, on a length, pushed off the front foot to cover.

Khaleel Ahmed to Sunil Narine, A loud shout for LBW!

Khaleel Ahmed to Sunil Narine, On middle and leg, on a length, Sunil Narine clears his front leg and swings to get it away on the leg side. Gets it off the toe end towards mid on.

Khaleel Ahmed to Sunil Narine, Wide! Sprayed down leg from around the wicket, on the fuller side, Sunil Narine misses the tickle.

Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, At the hips, on a short of a length, Ajinkya Rahane helps it down towards deep fine leg where Matheesha Pathirana sprints and slides to his right to cut it off. Two runs taken.

KKR skipper, Ajinkya Rahane, walks out to bat. Talking about skippers, big news is coming in from the Indian national team as Rohit Sharma, the current Indian Test captain, has announced his retirement from Test cricket!

Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, On a back of a length, on off, Ajinkya Rahane rides the bounce and stabs it down the deck.

Anshul Kamboj to Ajinkya Rahane, ! Edged away! Seaming away, on a good length, around off, Ajinkya Rahane plants his front foot ahed and tries to cover the line by presenting a straight bat. Gets an outside edge that races past first slip to his right for a boundary.

Anshul Kamboj to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, ! TAKEN! Anshul Kamboj wins the battle against Rahmanullah Gurbaz!

Anshul Kamboj to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, In the channel on off, on a good length, Rahmanullah Gurbaz skips down the track and flashes at the delivery but misses.

Anshul Kamboj to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, ! BANG! That has gone many a mile! Anshul Kamboj starts with a length delivery, on off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz gets it in his arc and swings across the line. Deposits it way back into the stands over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Who will bowl from the other end? It will be Anshul Kamboj.

Khaleel Ahmed to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, On a hard length, on off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz gets on top of the bounce and punches it to the left of extra cover for a single.

Khaleel Ahmed to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Trifecta of plays and misses! On a back of a length, angling across the batter, Gurbaz pokes at the delivery and sees the ball zip past the outside edge.

Khaleel Ahmed to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Top nut! Pitched up, leaving the right-hander, Rahmanullah Gurbaz is rooted to the crease and tries to play it down the ground with a straight bat. Gets beaten on the outside edge.

Khaleel Ahmed to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Big swing and a miss! Going across the right-hander, on a good length, Rahmanullah Gurbaz puts the dancing shoes on and swings for the hills but connects with thin air.

Khaleel Ahmed to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Drags the length back and tightens the line, does Khaleel, on a short of a length, on off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz hangs back to defend. Ekes out an inside edge onto the pads.

Khaleel Ahmed to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, ! Rahmanullah Gurbaz and KKR are on their way! Khaleel Ahmed steams in from over the wicket and serves it at 133.8 kph, on off, a hint of shape back in, on a length, Gurbaz presses forward and times the drive through covers for a boundary.

Done and dusted with the pre-match proceedings and it is now time to play. The bell is rung by the KKR co-owner Juhi Chawla and Dwayne Bravo as the umpires and the players of CSK make their way out to the middle. It will be the pairing of Sunil Narine and Rahmanullah Gurbaz to open the innings for KKR. Khaleel Ahmed has the new ball in hand and is raring to go. Let's play...

Just a few minutes to go before the match begins. However, the Indian National Anthem will be played first and the two teams line up around the boundary ropes.

Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI) - Sunil Narine, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ajinkya Rahane (C), Manish Pandey (In for Venkatesh Iyer), Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Moeen Ali, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy.

Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI) - Ayush Mhatre, Devon Conway (In for Sam Curran), Urvil Patel (In for Shaik Rasheed), Ravindra Jadeja, Dewald Brevis, MS Dhoni (C/WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana.

Impact subs nominated by CSK - Shivam Dube, Deepak Hooda, Jamie Overton, Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Ramakrishna Ghosh.

Impact subs nominated by KKR - Anrich Nortje, Mayank Markande, Harshit Rana, Anukul Roy and Luvnith Sisodia.

Ajinkya Rahane, the skipper of Kolkata Knight Riders, says that they will bat first. Adds that it looks like a very good wicket, and they have won batting first in the last two games as well. Mentions that it is all about taking one game at a time and giving their best, and the guys are looking forward to this game. On losing close games, Rahane says that it happens in this format, and they managed to win a close game last time around. Informs that they have one change with Venkatesh Iyer missin

The captain of the Chennai Super Kings, MS Dhoni, says that this venue feels like a home ground for him as he has played a lot of cricket here during his formative years. Mentions that with the season nearing its end, it becomes important for the team to reflect on what hasn’t gone well and use the remaining games to find answers and build clarity for the next year.

TOSS - Kolkata Knight Riders win the flip of the coin and they will BAT first.