IPL 2014 Highlights: Manish Pandey's 94 Fires Kolkata Knight Riders to Second IPL Crown

Kolkata Knight Riders became the second team after Chennai Super Kings, to win the Indian Premier League title twice. (Scorecard | Commentary | IPL 2014 Match Recaps | Best of IPL pics)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manish Pandey (KKR) is the Man of the Match. Robin Uthappa (KKR) wins the Orange Cup. Mohit Sharma (CSK) wins the Purple Cap. Glenn Maxwell (KXIP) wins the Most Valuable Player of the IPL 7.Akshar Patel (KXIP) wins the Emerging Player of the Tournament. Chennai Super Kings win the Fair Play Award.

 

That's the end of the IPL final.

 

The Knight Riders are over the top here. Here are some reactions from their jubilant players:

 

Shakib Al Hasan, who was part of the victorious side in 2012 says, "Two titles in three years; this can't get any better."

 

Robin Uthappa, who finished as the highest scorer in IPL 7 said: "This is surreal. The party's going to start now and it won't stop for a few days."

 

Yusuf Pathan, who became the first man to win three IPL titles (once for Rajasthan Royals and twice for KKR) says: "I am happy for myself and my family. I played a poor shot and got out; could have ended the game two overs earlier.

 

Manish Pandey, whose 94 steered the Knight Riders chase down 200 said "It was great to score in the final. It's an amazing feeling."

 

Kolkata Knight Riders win by three wickets. Manish Pandey smashed 94 off 50 balls as Kolkata Knight Riders became the second time after Chennai Super Kings to win the IPL twice. Set 200 to win, KKR lost the in-form Robin Uthappa early but Pandey steered the chase with cameos from Gautam Gambhir and Yusuf Pathan. This is the ninth successive win for the Knight Riders, an IPL record. Yusuf is now the only man to have won three IPL titles.

 

23:22 IST: WICKET! Johnson struck to remove the dangerous Suryakumar Yadav as KXIP closed in on their maiden title. KKR need 13 but they only have tailenders to bank on.

 

23:15 IST: WICKET! Big blow for the Knight Riders. Pandey has perished for 94 off 50 balls as KKR reach 179/6 off 17 overs; they need 21 off 18 balls.

 

23:12 IST: WICKET! Ryan ten Doeschate falls to Singh but KKR are the favourites to win this one. It all depends on how Pandey bats from here; he is hitting boundaries and sixes at will.

 

23:04 IST: WICKET! What a moment for George Bailey to show his brilliance on the field. KKR were looking at another solid stand before Bailey's direct hit caught Shakib short of his ground. KKR 156/4 off 15.3 overs.

 

23:02 IST: KKR are right in the chase, having reached 151/3 off 15 overs. They need 49 off the last 30 balls and they are looking good with Pandey and Shakib in fine form.

 

22:54 IST: Karanveer Singh removed Yusuf Pathan for 36 off 22 balls to bring KXIP back into the game but Pandey slammed next ball for six to before pulling him away for four to announce his intentions; he will stop at nothing. KKR 142/3 off 14 overs.

 

22:50 IST: Pandey is well settled now and Yusuf Pathan is shaping up to play another special knock; he blasted Balaji for two sixes as KKR reached 128/2 with seven overs to go.

 

22:40 IST: What a knock from Pandey; he slams Awana for four and six to bring up his fifth IPL fifty as KKR reach 99/2 in 10.2 overs.

 

22:35 IST: Karanveer Singh gave Yusuf the flight and he slammed two sixes successively. KKR reach 87/2 off 9 overs and they are well on course here.

 

22:23 IST: WICKET! Gambhir tried to hit Karanveer Singh out of the park but holed out in the deep as KKR slipped to 59/2 off 6.1 overs. Yusuf Pathan joins Manish Pandey in the middle.

 

22:04 IST: Gambhir is doggedly determined and despite the dismissal of his star batsman won't be cowed down. He drives Johnson for two boundaries as KKR reach 30/1 off 3 overs.

 

21:59 IST: Gambhir drove Balaji for a sweetly timed boundary. KKR reached 19/1 after two overs, chasing a massive 200 to win their second IPL final.

 

21:52 IST: WICKET! Mitchell Johnson strikes off the fourth ball of the innings; gets rid of Robin Uthappa for 5. KKR 6/1 off 0.4 over as Manish Pandey joins Gautam Gambhir in the middle.

 

Sunil Gavaskar, who was appointed interim BCCI president (IPL) was under SC order not to do commentary. In an interview with the broadcaster, the former India captain says: A lot of youngsters have overshadowed the experienced players. I can't thank players & fans enough for restoring the common man's faith in cricket.

 

Kings XI Punjab have scored 199/4 off 20 overs. After Sehwag in the second qualifier, it was Saha (115 not out from 55 balls) who turned it on in the final, slamming his maiden hundred off only 49 balls. KXIP had managed only 58/2 off 10 overs after Sehwag and Bailey had departed cheaply but Vohra (67) and Saha took on the likes of Morkel, Narine, Chawla, Shakib and Yadav to post a massive total on the board.

 

21:23 IST: WICKET! What an anti-climax. After fireworks from two young Indians, Maxwell fell for a first-ball duck as Chawla gets his second wicket of the innings. KXIP 170/4 off 18 overs.

 

21:19 IST: WICKET! Vohra mistimed it off Chawla, who also almost dropped a catch off his own bowling. But he somehow manages to hold on as Vohra falls for 67. KXIP 159/3 off 17.1 overs

 

21:17 IST: Saha blasts Yadav for two fours and a six as KXIP take 19 off the pacer's third over. They reach 159/3 off 17 overs.

 

21:11 IST: What an eventful over from Sunil Narine; he drops Saha off his own bowling and then lured Vohra out of the crease, who was comfortably stumped but replays showed that Uthappa had collected the ball in front of the stumps. Hence, the verdict was not out and a no-balll. Vohra celebrated by hitting a boundary off the next ball; nine came from the over. KXIP 140/2 off 16 overs.

 

21:05 IST: This is brazen from Vohra and Saha as they take 20 runs from Morkel's third over. Both of them struck a six each off the Proteas pacer as KXIP reached 131/2 off 15 overs.

 

20:58 IST: There are two dangerous hitters waiting in the dugout but Saha and Vohra are turning it on and how. Saha cracked Narine for a six and two fours to bring up his fourth IPL fifty and third this season while Vohra slammed the West Indian to the fence to bring up his maiden fifty in the IPL. KXIP race off to 111/2 off 14 overs.

 

20:50 IST: Saha is in destructive mode now; slams Chawla for two successive sixes as KXIP up the ante; about time too. KXIP reach 82/2 off 12 overs with some big hitters to come down the line.

 

20:45 IST: After that expensive first over from Chawla, KKR's spinners have kept things very, very tight. Time is running out for Maxwell and Miller to plunder some runs but Saha cracks a short ball from Shakib for a huge six. KXIP are only 67/2 after 11 overs.

 

20:35 IST: Gambhir is trying to bottle up the Kings XI with his spinners, after a great over from Narine, he brought Shakib on, who gave away only four runs. However, leggie Piyush Chawla got taken away for 14 runs as Saha cracked a four and Vohra blasted a six. KXIP 50/2 off 8 overs.

 

20:25 IST: WICKET! And another big one as Sunil Narine strikes off his first ball to remove Bailey for 1. This is a poor start for KXIP, who have sent Saha ahead of Maxwell. KXIP 30/2 off 5.1 overs.

 

20:18 IST: WICKET! Sehwag tried to pull Umesh Yadav but he mistimed it as Gambhir took an easy catch at mid-off. This is a big blow for the Kings XI. An interesting move as George Bailey walks in ahead of Saha at No.3 KXIP 24/1 after 4 overs.

 

20:14 IST: Vohra has been in fine touch this season and two crisply timed shots, including a boundary off Morkel prove that. He could play a big role here tonight. KXIP 21/0 after 3 overs.

 

20:10 IST: Umesh Yadav started off well, bowling the first five balls for only two runs; he produced good pace but Sehwag dispatched the last one to the fence as KXIP reached 15/0 off 2 overs.

 

20:07 IST: It was a streaky start for the Kings XI. Morne Morkel bowled a tight line around the batsmen's off-stump and Manan Vohra edged one through slips for a boundary. Virender Sehwag faced only the first ball, which produced a leg-bye. KXIP 9/0 after 1 over.

 

19:38 IST: Here are the playing XIs:

 

KKR: RV Uthappa (WK), G Gambhir (Captain), MK Pandey, Shakib Al Hasan, YK Pathan, RN ten Doeschate, SA Yadav, PP Chawla, SP Narine, M Morkel, UT Yadav


KXIP: V Sehwag, M Vohra, WP Saha (WK), GJ Maxwell, DA Miller, GJ Bailey (Captain), AR Patel, MG Johnson, L Balaji, Karanveer Singh, P Awana

 

19:35 IST: Kolkata Knight Riders decide to bowl vs Kings XI Punjab in the IPL final. While KKR remained unchanged from their last game, the Kings XI have dropped Sandeep Sharma and added L Balaji tonight.

 

19:30 IST: Yusuf Pathan, L Balaji and Sanjay Bangar can make history tonight. Either of Yusuf or Balaji will become the first man to win three IPL trophies while Bangar, coach of KXIP could be the first Indian coach to win an IPL crown.

 

19:00 IST: All IPL finals are high-profile but this one could take the cake and there are several reasons why. If KKR win tonight, they will create a new tournament record of nine successive wins and they will also become the second team after Chennai Super Kings to win the title twice. Kings XI Punjab will of course target their maiden crown.

Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab have brought down other competing teams with menacing intent though the course of IPL 7. Both teams have played cricket of a very high standard and have made it to the final on the back of some exceptional performances. Their strategies have clicked, their skills have worked and their fans have cheered every ball bowled, shot hit in each of their matches. (IPL 2014 Final: KKR vs KXIP preview)

 

Approaching Milestones tonight

- Robin Uthappa (655 at an average of 46.78 in 15 matches) needs 79 runs to establish a record for the highest run-aggregate in an IPL season. The record is held by Chris Gayle (Bangalore) - 733 (ave.61.08) in 15 matches in 2012.

- In case KKR win tonight, they will be the second team after Chennai Super Kings to bag two IPL titles.

Here are all the IPL winners over the years

 

2008: Rajasthan Royals

2009: Deccan Chargers

2010: Chennai Super Kings

2011: Chennai Super Kings

2012: Kolkata Knight Riders

2013: Mumbai Indians

- In case of a win, Kolkata, having won eight games in succession, would be the first team to register nine wins in a row in the IPL. At present, the record for most consecutive wins in the IPL is shared by Mohali and Kolkata.

- David Miller (12 catches) needs two catches to emulate Dwayne Bravo's fielding record of 14 catches in 2013

While Punjab have never made it to the IPL final - their previous best being semis in 2008, Kolkata have had a taste of triumph when they won IPL 2012. (Recap in pics: KKR players' victory parade | SRK does somersault after IPL win)

Kolkata had defeated Chennai in the 2012 final. While Chennai under Dhoni were - and continue to be - traditional giants, Punjab is a team on the rise and have shown unbelievable spirit this year. While Glenn Maxwell and David Miller bludgeoned their way consistently, the return to form of Virender Sehwag (smashed 122 off 58 in knockout match vs CSK) augers well for his side. (Also read: 'Killer' Miller left speechless after Sehwag's fearless batting)

Sehwag repute for lashing out has been known for long but the determination with which he batted against Chennai on Friday showed that he is in no mood to go easy on bowlers. (Critics hurt me, was motivated to hit back: Sehwag)

In what is being billed as a batsman vs bowlers contest, Kolkata though can be confident against Punjab batsmen as they have one of the best bowling lineups. Led by spinner Sunil Narine who chose to feature in the final rather than report back home for West Indies' tour to New Zealand, KKR managed to keep a check on Punjab batsmen in the first qualifier. (Recap: Qualifier 1 - Scorecard | Match in pics | Match report)

While bowling coach Wasim Akram has said that KKR have climbed Mount Everest to reach the final, the ultimate fight remains. (Top-five battles to watch out for in IPL 2014 final)