4.6 overs (1 Run) A single to end another good over for Kolkata! On the pads, this is whipped down to fine leg for one.
4.5 overs (0 Run) On middle, Iyer works it to mid-wicket.
4.4 overs (4 Runs) FOUR! Another excellent shot! Very clever! Short and on middle, Iyer hangs back and guides it over short third man for another boundary. Picking his spots really well.
4.3 overs (0 Run) Iyer comes down the track but Josh shortens the length. It is slapped to mid off.
4.2 overs (4 Runs) FOUR! Just wide! Outside off and on a length. Iyer guides it past short third man and this one races away again. Kolkata are off to a flier here.
4.1 overs (1 Run) Shorter and on middle, this is worked through square leg for one.
Josh Hazlewood comes into the attack now. He replaces Deepak Chahar.
3.6 overs (1 Run) A single to end but Curran has been way too expensive in his first two! On off, this is played towards cover for one.
3.5 overs (6 Runs) SIX! Rahul Tripathi pounces on the Free Hit! That is right in the slot and it is taken full toll of! Full and outside off, it is lofted high and over the cover fence for a biggie.
3.5 overs (1 Run) NO BALL! That is indeed above the shoulder and it is the second bouncer in the over. Rahul Tripathi survives. A good short one and on middle, Tripathi looks to play the upper cut, it goes off the bottom towards Dhoni who leaps, stretches one hand up, he lobs it up and then takes it on the second attempt. Rahul starts walking back but he has been asked to wait. It is taken upstairs as the umpires feel it is the second bouncer of the over and indeed it is. Free Hit coming up.
Is that out? The umpire is having a look at the No Ball. Just a little check. The catch was clear, no doubt about that. The TV umpire says the front foot is fine. So maybe, the problem is the second bouncer of the over. The ball can be seen going above Tripathi's head and the umpire signals a No Ball. Tripathi survives.
3.4 overs (1 Run) Iyer skips down the track and then works it through mid-wicket for one.
3.3 overs (1 Run) Well bowled! Sees Rahul come down the track and bangs it short. Tripathi is hurried into the pull, it goes off the splice towards mid off for one.
3.2 overs (4 Runs) FOUR! Lovely shot! Good length and on off, this is timed through covers. Tripathi beats the diving mid off fielder and this one races away to the fence.
3.1 overs (0 Run) A slower one outside off, Tripathi looks to go over covers but misses.
2.6 overs (4 Runs) FOUR! He can't as the last ball is guided away! Really nicely played! Deft touch! Outside off, Iyer opens the face of the bat and guides it past short third man. This one races away to the fence.
2.5 overs (0 Run) And again! A defensive push to this ball on off, he wants a run but is sent back. Can Chahar end the over well?
2.4 overs (0 Run) Good length and on off, defended. So after the fall of the wicket, Iyer has taken a cautious approach.
Faf du Plessis is going off. He has injured his finger on the last ball and he is going out to get some treatment. Chennai will hope that he is fine.
2.3 overs (1 Run) Quick run! On middle, this is worked to mid on. They go for a run. The fielder has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. Had he hit, it would have been another run out.
2.2 overs (1 Run) Has that been put down? It was a tough chance, Faf du Plessis put in a really good effort. A slower one on the pads, Iyer looks to flick but is early in the shot. It goes off the leading edge towards mid on. Faf runs in and dives forward but he could only manage to get his fingertips on it. A single taken. Faf du Plessis is in a little pain, he might have jammed his fingers into the ground.
2.1 overs (1 Run) Angled into the pads, this is worked through square leg for one.
1.6 overs (1 Run) Length ball around off, Tripathi guides it to short third man for a single. Jadeja has a shy at the bowler's end but misses.
1.5 overs (4 Runs) FOUR! Excellently played by Tripathi! Shortish ball around middle, Tripathi dances down the track and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a boundary.
1.4 overs (1 Run) Good-length ball on the pads, Iyer flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.
1.3 overs (0 Run) PLAY AND A MISS! Sam Curran rolls his fingers and bowls it outside off, Iyer dances down the track and looks to flick but misses.
1.2 overs (1 Run) Good shot! Fullish ball outside off, Tripathi drives but finds the cover fielder. A single taken.
1.1 overs (1 Run) On a length outside off, Iyer punches it to point.
1.1 overs (1 Run) WIDE! Curran starts with a wayward delivery down the leg side, Iyer looks to flick but misses. Wided.
Rahul Tripathi walks out at number 3 for Kolkata. Also, Sam Curran comes into the attack now to bowl from the other end.
0.6 over (0 Run) OUT! RUN OUT! This time nothing can save Gill! A huge mix-up! Also, brilliant from Rayudu! Early wicket for Chennai and the good start for Kolkata has been cut short. This is angled into the pads, Gill works it towards mid-wicket. He sets off. Iyer takes a start but then sends his partner back. Rayudu at mid-wicket gets to the ball quickly. He needed to hit the stumps as there was nobody to collect the ball. He does so and the dive also does not save Gill.
Review time! Shubman Gill decides to take it upstairs for an lbw. The on-field decision is out. The UltraEdge shows the bat is absent. The Ball Tracker shows the ball is missing the wickets. The decision has to be overturned and the final decision is not out.
0.5 over (0 Run) NOT OUT! That is going over! A good review from Gill, he took it straightaway! This is angled into the pads, Gill looks to flick but misses to get hit high on the pads. An appeal, a loud one from the bowler and the finger is raised. Gill reviews and the Ball Tracker shows it is going over. Gill survives.
0.4 over (4 Runs) FOUR! Lovely! Yes, it is another gift, it is way too full but still has to be put away. Outside off, Gill creams it through covers for a boundary.
0.3 over (4 Runs) FOUR! Thumped away! One sighter was all Gill needed! He skips down the track and makes into a half volley, it is hit hard past mid off for the first boundary of the game. These two are oozing with confidence and this shot just shows that.
0.2 over (1 Run) Iyer is underway too! A good confident stride forward to this length delivery around off, it is pushed through covers for one.
0.1 over (1 Run) Kolkata and Gill are underway! Chahar angles it into the pads, looks to shape it away but no swing on this one, it is worked through square leg for one.
The game is set to begin. Chennai players are seen to be in a huddle, before they spread out to their respective fielding positions. Followed by Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer who come out to open for Kolkata. Deepak Chahar to start with the ball.
Chennai (Playing XI) - Faf du Plessis, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran (In for Dwayne Bravo), MS Dhoni (WK/C), Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood.
Kolkata (Unchanged Playing XI) - Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, Eoin Morgan (C), Dinesh Karthik (WK), Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Lockie Ferguson, Varun Chakravarthy, Prasidh Krishna.
MS Dhoni, the skipper of Chennai, is up for a chat. He says, they have one change. Bravo makes way for Sam Curran. Adds, the support staff is really important to make sure the players get the rest required. Also, in the Indian T20 League the side has to keep shuffling and try various combinations, does not mean a player has not performed in a game and hence makes his way out.
Eoin Morgan, the skipper of Kolkata, is up for a chat. He starts by informing they are unchanged, they have started well in the second phase of the tournament, it is a new day though and he feels the same XI is good enough. Adds there was more pace last year on the wicket and he believes this will get slower in this heat as the game progresses.
TOSS – Eoin Morgan strides to the middle along with MS Dhoni for the toss. MS Dhoni flips the coin and it lands in favour of Kolkata. KOLKATA WILL BAT FIRST.
PITCH REPORT - Ajit Agarkar says the wicket looks good, however, this year, it seems to be sticking in the surface a lot more and it might be a little more tackier in the afternoon game and team winning the toss may want to bat first. Ends by saying, it is not a 200 wicket, 160 should be a good score.
Also, just so you missed it, the Indian Women's Team has broken the winning streak of the Australians in ODIs. It was their first loss after 26 games. The streak began against India and it was India who ended it.
Chennai, on the other hand, had a poor season in 2020 here in UAE but this time, they have made a terrific start, winning 2-in-2 and are looking a side which is at top of their game at the moment. Their batting is doing well and their bowling has kept getting better and better as each game has progressed. It favours Chennai at the moment but the way Kolkata have been playing, it promises to be an exciting contest.
Kolkata had a poor first leg but they have looked a different unit this time around. They have played cricket their coach, Brendon McCullum wanted them to play, that is aggressive cricket and it has worked wonders. Venkatesh Iyer - the new star in the block, has looked at ease and has played wonderfully while everything is coming together for them at the right time.
Two teams who have had a super start to the second leg of the Indian T20 League come face to face in match 38. Yes, you guessed it right, it is Chennai vs Kolkata. Both teams have won both their games in the second leg so far and while Chennai will be fighting to regain the top spot in the points table, Kolkata will be looking to consolidate their position inside the top four. With that, allow us to welcome you to our coverage for the clash between Chennai and Kolkata.
... MATCH DAY ...
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