it's all over. Umesh does it. Oh my. Gambhir's emotions have changed in a ball. All smiles. Another slower delivery from perera but some may say, he was too full. Umesh clears his front foot and heaves the ball over long-on. Massive. Umesh did not bother running, knew how far he hit that. Dhoni not too happy. But that is the format's design. Another loss for Supergiants. Another win for KKR while chasing.
Supergiants vs KKR, 20th match at Pune, Apr 24 2016 - Ball by Ball Commentary
KKR won by 2 wickets (with 3 balls remaining)
11.20pm What a thrilling finish that was. After 39.2 overs, it was Umesh who had to do it for his side. In the end, 160 was just not enough. Supergiants bowlers did quite well to make it hard on a strong KKR line-up. As was evident, KKR felt the pressure too. There was plenty of turn but Supergiants couldn't take two more wickets. KKR go to the top of the table. Supergiants languishing at No. 7.
Suryakumar Yadav is the Man of the Match: "I was told by my captain, that I have to express myself. Carrying my form from the last game. Did not finish the game but happy that it came in a winning cause. First 8 overs would have been crucial because later it was difficult for the batsmen to capitalise. Winning against this challenging side on this wicket, it shows good signs."
Gautam Gambhir: "Very important because me and Robin did not perform. Suryakumar, the way he batted, unbelievable. Manish was a big blow, to push someone like Surya was a big gamble. He gives us a lot of options. We didn't bowl really well. in the last 3-4 overs, we could be ,more professional. I thought they'd end up getting 145. We need to pick up our bowling socks. Overall, more positives than the negatives."
MS Dhoni: Difficult to hit the spinners. When i got time, I told the spinners not to bowl up to the batsmen. Still five were hit. 30 runs were scored. No excuses for us. It's not about what should have happened. It's about how you execute your plans in the field. That is when you relish it and what it takes to win games in the pressure, We are definitely lacking it, especially the bowling unit. Someone like an Ashwin, he is new and he will feel the pressure. You can advise individuals, but when you have the ball, nothing can be done for you. Overall plenty of areas where we have to improve.
Sunil Narine. Umesh on strike though. Short third man very fine for the edge.
taken. Steven Smith makes up for it immediately. Great catch. Absolutely no need for Chawla to be the hero. He goes for an unnecessary heave and holes out to long-on. Good change in pace from Perera. Gambhir has his head in hands.
good length on middle, worked to wide long-on and Smith fumbles. Steven Smith. They get back for two. Wow. An immediate apology from Smith.
All comes down to this. Who are going to keep their composure? 7 off 6. Thisara to bowl. Wicket? Chawla on strike.
picked up from leg to deep midwicket. On the bounce, but just the one
another sloppy piece of fielding. Not easy but that should have been stopped. Full on middle, driven straight back at Morkel who gets low to half-stop it. The fumble gives the pair one.
down leg and wide, Dhoni is not at all happy, a vexed expression on his face. Not great from Morkel
Here is Umesh Yadav. Nerves? Can KKR get bowled out? Dhoni meticulously setting his field
across-the-line heave. Satish goes. RP Singh is ecstatic in the dugout. Full and straight, Sathish attempts a flick but plays all over it. The middle and leg stumps are rattled. So are KKR.
offcutter on middle, Chawla works wide of the bowler for one. Morkel makes a desperate dive at midwicket
good length on off, dabbed to short third man. That is all they need, suddenly
Satish swings it in KKR's favour. Has it swung decisively? A slower ball on off, Satish presents the full face of the bat and clears long-on. Big blow
Albie Morkel
very sloppy from Tiwary. Full and wide outside off, Chawla scythes a cut over point. Tiwary runs around from deep third man, gets to it, gets low, gets a hand on it but doesn't stop it. The ball trickles across for four. Huge boundary
Chawla comes in. R Ashwin may be given the next over.
Mahir Saggar: "Is there an actual reason why chasing has been so overwhelmingly successful this IPL so far, or is it just sheer insane coincidence?"
there it is. Humongous wicket. Another slower ball, back of the hand. Russell waits for the ball to come to him but waits too long. Mis-times his big heave and it travels to Faf at long-on, who will not drop such opportunities. Does that make Pune favourites?
A wicket changes things
rup: "Rps have really bowled well enough to defend 160, got crutial breakthroughs at right time, don't know where this game of cricket is heading?"
full, wide, slower ball outside off. Squeezed to deep point
decent delivery. Very full, on leg. Russell taken aback slightly by the line but flicks nicely to deep midwicket
another legcutter outside off, Sathish attempts a lofted drive but a thick outside edge falls short of Dhoni, ricochets off his pad to short third man. Clever bowling
legcutter to start, Sathish looking for one to get Rus back on strike. Pats it back to the bowler instead
Big call. Thisara
much better length. Short on off, with a hint of spin. Driven back to the bowler who gets across and stops it with a dive
still too full and that will be six on most days. Clears his front foot and hammers it over long-on. Did not get all of it but enough to clear the fielder. Big over
strays down leg and through Dhoni's legs. Two plus a wide. Nine off one legal ball. Pune now under pressure
Over the wicket
nop, can't bowl there. Very deliberate efforts to prevent bowling that length previously but errs on this occasion. And pays for it. Russell lays into the lofted drive over long-off. 98-metre hit. Wonderful timing
Over 20 • KKR 162/8