KKR vs MI, 70th match at Kolkata, IPL, May 22 2011 - Ball by Ball Commentary

A nightmare for Balaji, Mumbai have won and deprived Kolkata of a place in the top two. Gambhir is livid, Whatmore is stunned in the dugout, and add to that about 70,000 odd people here. It was all Kolkata till the end of the 19th over. And then you have three streaky boundaries, a crunchy drive past cover and Rayudu's stunner off the final ball. Ecstatic scenes in the Mumbai camp. We haven't had too many close games this IPL, good to see one to end the league phase. These two teams will meet again in the second play-off, while Chennai and Bangalore face off in the first.

Rayudu: "I was pretty relaxed, and I knew he [Balaji] was under pressure. I was just blank, anywhere he bowls I thought I could hit a boundary. It was unbelievable. We have to carry this momentum forward. We peaked at the right moment. We thought 175 was a huge score but given the batting we have, we could finish it off."

Franklin, a subject of much debate on the feedback forum at the start of this game, made the difference, along with Rayudu to break Mumbai's three-match losing streak. We'll get you the details from the presentation in just a bit. Gather your breath in the meantime.

Venkat: "So, the same teams are going to face each other in the Playoffs again. Who wants revenge?!"

Zahir: "Reminded me of Hussey's inning in World T20 ... he pulled off an amazing inning and scored 20+ against then inform Ajmal"

Gambhir: "It happens in cricket. Bala tried his best, we've got to meet them again in three days time. This is what happens in T20 cricket, it's just one of those bad days. Sometimes you have to bowl to your field, sometimes you have to bowl smartly. Bala will come back strongly"

Tendulkar: "it was a wonderful match. Our team batted well, great finish by Rayudu and Franklin. It was important to regain our momentum. Anything is possible in this game, it's a tricky game, if the bowler doesn't get it right and the batsman is lucky, that's what can happen. Sending Harbhajan one down worked, he made 30 runs and it helped us. KKR will come back hard."

Franklin is the Man of the Match: "We were lucky to get some edges, nd Rayudu finished off superbly. They gave some room in the end and it gave us an opportunity to free up. It was important for us to get some momentum."

That's all we have from here, a thrilling end to the league phase that had otherwise not been so thrilling. See you again for the play-offs in a couple of days. Goodbye.

Rayudu the man to face, a boundary needed off one ball. What drama, it's become a thriller in a space of five deliveries. Gambhir's just had a chat with Balaji. He's running in now. Third man is up

5 off 2 now, one hit will do it

9 off 3.

13 off four now. Goswami will be nervous, how costly will that needless direct hit prove?

Balaji to bowl the final over, 21 needed, is it too much?

Lee is bowling out here

They're still in it are Mumbai but it'll take some onslaught to clinch this

Mumbai Indians under serious pressure, that cartwheeling stumps was a sight to watch.

Balaji to bow now