just over long-on! This game is not over yet. Narine showing what he has got. On a good length on the stumps, and just lofted with the least of efforts
That's it from us from the first of the two matches today. There was considerable time lost due to a floodlight failure at the start of KKR's innings, but I'm not sure if all four remaining overs would have been possible before rain interrupted play. Meanwhile, LSG, against DC, are off to a stable start in Lucknow as the action continues this evening. But for here, it's goodnight and goodbye from Raghav, Thilak, Sreshth and me, Himanshu!
Arshdeep Singh is the Player of the Match
7.51pm Okay, we are done: PBKS beat KKR by seven runs on DLS method. The rain is yet to stop after that interruption, and the umpires decided that was it. KKR fall short despite some late blows by Russell; and they will ruin those two wickets they lost in the last two overs. It was always going to be difficult once they were 29 for 3 in the fifth over, and KKR will want to relook at their top six in the absence of Shreyas Iyer and Shakib Al Hasan. On the contrary, PBKS' win was set up by contributions from their entire top seven. Hang around for the presentations.
Vikram: "I am 20 kms away from stadium. Its raining heavily. Chances of play resuming are very bleak." --- Exactly the post we were missing all this while
7.45pm The umpires are walking on the boundary rope, with umbrellas firmly placed overhead. They enter the KKR dressing room, and have a chat with their captain Rana. They even shook hands with one of the KKR staff members. Is that sign that we are done?
So what if rain has stopped the action here? You can always hop over from Mohali to Lucknow - don't ask me in how much time - as LSG host DC in both teams' season opener. DC have chosen to field after winning the toss.
7.40pm It is still raining steadily in Mohali, with covers in place pretty much all around. The ground looks entirely empty - there is not a soul there - with resumption getting further delayed.
Aditya: "Absolute chaos, this is what I've missed for the past couple of months!" --- And I'm sure this season hasn't disappointed you in just two days of action
TSB: "What blasphemy is this?! Shardul Thakur averages 10 with the bat after 140 T20 games?" --- To be honest, I had never realised this until now. Pretty shocking, yeah
7.18pm It has got much heavier, and rain stops play. As per DLS, KKR are seven runs behind. Two wickets in the last two overs for PBKS, and that must have made all the difference. The pitch and the outfield are quickly covered at the ground. The rain is hammering down, and I don't expect play to resume very soon.
fires a yorker length ball on off, which is driven to long-on
Lokesh Kumar: "Lord is here"
full ball on off, and driven to extra cover's right
Narine
ramped to point! Another bouncer from Arsh earns him a wicket. The bounce was a bit too much for Iyer to handle. Arsh banged it in short around off, with Iyer almost leaping a little to get on top of it. But he ended up half-ramping it - and without any control - to point
Divyank Singh: "Perfect time for Southee cameo"
full ball angling into middle. Whipped to deep backward square
Around the wicket to Thakur
sliced on the bounce to deep point. Full and wide-ish of off, as Iyer opens the bat face to loft
56 off 30. Arsh back.
ridiculous! Effortless. Too good. Looked like he never really wanted to hit it that far, yet that shortish ball angling away towards off travelled over deep square leg as Thakur pulled almost with disdain
Thakur in
finds deep midwicket! Could be exactly the wrong time for KKR, given there is rain around. Curran went short again, except that this one was an offcutter, which rose sharply after pitching middle and leg, while also angling across. Russell swat-pulled but only off the higher side of the bat
ramps between point and short third! Not very Russell-like, though. Short delivery, almost cramping him for room while rising on middle. He sways away a bit, and lofts it late
low full toss, and heaved away over wide long-on! Perhaps Curran tried the yorker; anyway, it didn't work. Russell got his front leg out of the way while standing deep in the crease, and flung at that
Just two off the first two balls
full ball on off, and flicked to deep midwicket
Rain remains steady in Mohali. And Curran will reload after not bowling this one despite running in.
swats this short and wide ball outside off to deep point
Curran replaces Chahar
Rain falling. KKR behind on DLS. Time-out. Where will the momentum swing? KKR need 74 from 36.
The ground staff are all set with the covers outside the boundary. KKR are 10 runs behind on DLS par
Time-out
slower ball, and a full length on fifth stump. Swatted without timing to long-on
Droplets of rain visible
another yorker, and bowled on fifth stump. Russell slashes and misses
Shreyam Dhakal: "This is turning out to be a close game" --- Two no-balls turning it around...
now bowls a good yorker just outside off. Jammed down to long-off
Another free hit
drilled over the bowler's head! Why bowl that full, close-to-the-arc length at this stage, and if it's a free hit? That was full and on the stumps, and Iyer rammed that back with the full face of the bat. This is a no-ball too, and it's a late call
Free hit
good length ball outside off, and hacked to deep point. Russell slips after completing the single. And it is a no-ball
dropped by short fine running back! Prabhsimran the fielder. Ellis isn't happy, but it didn't look very easy too. It was a slower ball and short on off, and Russell pulled and got a top edge
clubbed over mid-off! Stands deep in the crease at this length delivery, which is ending outside off. Russell opened the bat face, and sliced that back forcefully
good length ball, angling in late into middle and off after pitching on off. Stabbed to point
Ellis back. KKR need 92 from 42.
1W |
1W | 1W |
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh | |
Toss | Kolkata Knight Riders, elected to field first |
Series | |
Season | 2023 |
Player Of The Match | |
Match days | 01 April 2023 - daynight (20-over match) |
PBKS Player Replacement | Impact player: Rishi Dhawan in, Bhanuka Rajapaksa out (2nd innings, 0.1 ov) |
KKR Player Replacement | Impact player: Venkatesh Iyer in, Varun Chakravarthy out (2nd innings, 1.6 ov) |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee | |
Points | Punjab Kings 2, Kolkata Knight Riders 0 |
Over 16 • KKR 146/7