KKR vs Guj Lions, 23rd match at Kolkata, Apr 21 2017 - Ball by Ball Commentary

So Mumbai maintain their position on top of the table, followed by Knight Riders. Lions have four points from six games, the same as Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab. But they need to do something about that net run rate of -0.769. a few more convincing wins will be required, but for now, they will rejoice their first win in three games. That is all we have for tonight. Thank you for joining us. Double-header tomorrow, so plenty of action to look forward to. Join us then. Cheers!

"It was an important game for us and we bowled pretty well," says Suresh Raina, Lions captain and Man of the Match. "We came back pretty strongly. Then, me, Baz and Jaddu had a good partnership. It was important to play proper cricketing shots, there was no need to play cross-batted shots. Basil is a very good prospect for Gujarat. Faulkner was also great, got Gautam Gambhir out, overall, it was a great team effort. It was important for me to be out there and keep calm when wickets fell. I think batting looks good, we can still improve our bowling. we have been giving away lots of runs in the first six overs. If we are looking to finish on top, we need to minimise mistakes"

Benan: "Cricket is an amazing leveller. Narine hits 42 runs and gives 42 runs!"

Kshitiz Kharban: "Another instance which proved the importance of full time keeper. Uthappa drops Raina early in the innings and Raina never looked back. "

Meanwhile, for football fans our sister website ESPN.in brings an on-the-spot report capturing the mood in Aizawl as the hosts prepare to take on Mohun Bagan in a match that might decide the I-League winner.

11.45pm Lions have breached the fortress that is the Eden Gardens. The rain break did do its bit to upset the momentum after a razing opening partnership, but you can never count out that IPL monster Suresh Raina, can you? There was that middle-overs rut when Lions lost wickets and it is so easy to fall away from such situations. But Raina held his nerve and continued to produce clean strikes. Narine made a crucial contribution with the bat, but could not back it up with the ball. His four went for 42, and Shakib was expensive in his first IPL game of the season as well.

"I thought we batted really well, bu they are a dangerous side," says Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir. "I thought the total was enough, especially with the attack we have, but the way Finchy and McCullum batted, they removed the entire pressure from the middle order. The wicket was still a bit sticky in the first innings, but Lions are a batting-heavy side. We still have a lot of positives to take from the match. We need to give credit to the opposition at times. It;s always that someone like Raina keeps getting runs, not against us, obviously. At the start of the tournament, we would have taken four out of six."

Dileep Thumati: "An Indian player pushing an Australian player for third run, times have changed certainly."

84 is Raina's second-highest score when chasing in IPL. Highest is 87 against KXIP in 2014 qualifiers.

Raina's highest score for Gujarat Lions, going past 75 he made against Sunrisers last year.

Mid-off has dropped back to long-off after that boundary.

Strategic timeout. Still anybody's game with 33 off 24. Lions have Raina and Jadeja at the crease, and remember, there is still Faulkner to come. The world knows about his finishing prowess.

Dhvanit Dave: "Narine believes in Karma. Scored 42 and conceded 42. Account settled. "

Final over for Narine.