length, turns into him and he tucks this away to long leg
KKR won by 5 wickets (with 5 balls remaining)
12.05pm What a match this was, and it's a shame that this defeat pushes RCB further down in the points table. It was a pleasure bringing you this game, and there's a double-header in just a few hours, so do pop back over to ESPNcricinfo to keep yourself glued to the entertainment. Varun Shetty's report will land over soon, and for the moment, on behalf of scorer Thilak Gowda and my fellow-commentator Hemant Brar, this is Debayan Sen bidding you goodnight for the moment
Andre Russell is the player of the match: "I am always confident. When I went out, DK was saying we need to watch a few balls. I was watching on the telly, and I wasn't thinking too much. We needed to get 68 from 28 balls, and that doesn't happen everyday. We just had to put our bodies on the line. That's the nature of T20 cricket. One over changes and the momentum changes. That's why I never give up. Once I am there, I know anything's possible. First I was thinking let's bring it deep, and I just went for it. I surprise myself hitting the ball in the stands still (in the grounds in Australia). (On low full tosses) It's just hand-eye coordination. Low full tosses aren't easy to hit, and I just do short-hand jabs, because you cannot extend your arms. I cannot explain it, I can only show it in the middle [laughs]."
Dinesh Karthik: "(On conversation with Russell) I think you don't talk too much. He goes out there, and he's happy and gives his best for the team. The ball was gripping, especially with the ball turning away from you. As much as Andre has been batting well, we need to look at our bowling better. We are planning right, but we need to execute better. The way Lynny batted was good to see."
The presentation coming up, and in the meantime, just a quick lowdown on the complete roster of the names you can read up about on ESPN India over the next couple of days. Here's announcing all the winners of the ESPN India Awards for 2018
11.44pm: What a match, and who would have thought KKR would win with five balls to spare when Dinesh Karthik got out? But that is the beauty of Andre Russell. He has just hit an absolutely gobsmacking innings of 48 not out from 13 balls. Just took the game away from RCB in that 19th over. RCB's winless streak for this season stretches to five, and they would have thought they would get there today
Virat Kohli: "The last four overs, the way we bowled, we deserve to lose. If you bowl with not enough bravery in the crunch overs, then you will always struggle against power-hitters like Russell. We cracked a bit under pressure, and that's the only story. Had we got 20-25 more, maybe it would have helped. But if you can't defend 75 in the last four overs, then I don't know if you can defend 100. We just didn't have enough composure. We have a bit of a chat about what went wrong, but apart from that, there's nothing much you can say. It's been a disappointing season, but we have to believe we can turn things around."
Chris Lynn: "I think 215-220 was probably par on this wicket, and when you drop AB-Virat a couple of times, it can be expensive. We had Dre Russ in the shed. You have to drive that luck, and I have to take that little bit of momentum into the next game. (On Russell) It's just unbelievable what he does."
Here's Negi
Do I dare tell you the win probability percentage now?
length, and he smacks this straight back over the bowler. Scores are level!
dhaval shah: "Can we borrow rabada for last over? Need 6 pin point yorkers, the only way to stop Dre Russ storm."
Back to over the wicket
short, and he gets under this and guides it over short fine leg and down to the fence for four. ARE YOU SERIOUS?
The impact of these shots, before that previous ball, win probability had already gone up to 57%
full toss, and he swings this over deep midwicket. WHOA!
Round the wicket
short, wide, and he slaps this hard. It's gone high, but wide enough to beat the backward point fielder
Southee shifts to around the wicket, and then goes back to over
length, and he picks it up and goes over long leg. What a shot! Just clears his leg and then swings freely. This is a pitch which gives full premium for such attempts
Russell back on strike. This is probably the game right here. If Russell can get a few big hits in, it could be game over. Win probability for KKR = 12%
length, and he picks it up and gets it down to long on
Southee now
Prashanth: "While it pains me to see RCB lose and Kohli's sad face, this is karma for not picking your best T20 bowler (Sundar) for five games. Come on, Russ! Make RCB suffer! "
length, and he drives this down the ground to long on
Gill for the first time
short, wide, and he slaps this hard but gets it to backward point
length, outside off, and gone way beyond the tramlines. Wide called!
Jay: "Somebody please walk this Siraj guy out the door please. Pay KKR or someone else to take him. Somebody please take him away from RCB"
The beast has woken up
length, outside off, and he has deposited this deep over long off
slower ball, and he gets hold of it, and swings this over long on. Slapped, almost like a double-handed forehand crosscourt!
Stoinis will bowl this over out
Hardik: "Oh you stupid Siraj..."
Second ball that he has bowled over the waist. Anil Chaudhary points that out to Virat Kohli, and that means Siraj cannot bowl out here
full toss, and will be called a no ball, and he has hit this out of the ground. Way over midwicket!
short, and will be called wide, as Russell tries to have a poke at it, but cannot reach it
Two dot balls, and the pressure just keeps mounting
length, outside off, moving away, and Russell misses out on an attempted thumping drive again
Harsha: "This brings back the nightmares from SRH match.. 3 overs 53 has been chased down.. Hope KKR doesnt do it again. Want to see RCB win"
full, wide, and he looks for a free swing down the ground, but misses again
Baskar: "I know what happens next. Siraj will be given the ball instead of Stoinis, and Dre Russ will go berserk. RCB lose, yet again. End of story."
What do you know, it is Siraj!
full, and he goes towards midwicket, but cannot beat the man stationed there this time. Chahal waits for it, and takes it nice and low to his right, and then sets off on a celebratory sprint! DK thumps his pads in annoyance, but he had to up the ante
Navjot S Bhatia: "Law of averages would suggest Russel should fail today..! But its Russel.. he plays with the laws..!!"
length, and he whips this one towards midwicket, and just clears the fence. Good shot!
praveen nvs: "@Raunak - No.. DK is following the steps of uber cool Dhoni and playing a captain's innings here..a snail-paced innings similar to the one played by MSD in CSK's last match."
length, and he goes inside out, and it just takes a bit of mid-off's fingers and goes to the fence
short, and he goes back and swats this away, but cannot beat Moeen Ali at cover
Southee speaks with Kohli and Saini and gets the outfielders a little wider
Deb: "Please get your best bowler now while the beast is new to the crease"
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
1W |
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore | |
Toss | Kolkata Knight Riders, elected to field first |
Series | |
Season | 2019 |
Player Of The Match | |
Hours of play (local time) | 20.00 start, First Session 20.00-21.30, Interval 21.30-21.50, Second Session 21.50- 23.20 |
Match days | 05 April 2019 - night (20-over match) |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee | |
Points | Kolkata Knight Riders 2, Royal Challengers Bangalore 0 |
Over 20 • KKR 206/5
KKR won by 5 wickets (with 5 balls remaining)