That's a wrap to this nerve-wracking game. Super Saturday is also going to be full of excitement. Two games coming your way - Mumbai vs Delhi at 2 pm local (10 am GMT) followed by the clash between Rajasthan and Chennai at 6 pm local (2 pm GMT). We look forward to your company for all the action. Cheers!
KL Rahul, the skipper of Punjab, is also the PLAYER OF THE MATCH! He says that they are used to close finishes and he will take the two points. Adds that they played this game smartly and they realized early that it was a decent wicket. Mentions that they went slightly defensive with the ball, as it was coming onto the bat nicely. Tells that he would want to finish the games and feels that this win will give them a lot of confidence. On Harpreet Brar's exclusion, KL replies that these things kill him as a skipper and he says that they kept him out with a heavy heart as Gayle was out of the bubble and they needed to chop things up. On Shahrukh Khan, Rahul says that he has worked really hard with the coaches and in the nets and he is somebody who can finish games. Hopes that he can continue the same. Shares that the talk in the dressing room has been to not worry about the results and there is no point in putting unnecessary pressure on themselves.
The hero of the evening, Shahrukh Khan is in for a chat! He says that it was important that there was a set batsman when he walked in so that he could go from ball one and it worked out for them in the end. On his winning shot, Khan replies that he thought that he hit it well and thought it would go past the ropes. Feels that he was brave enough to play that shot. Tells that when he goes in such situations, he just looks to pick the gaps well. Mentions that they needed 3 wins on the trot and they have started off well here. Hopes that they will carry forward this into the next game too.
Eoin Morgan, the Kolkata skipper, says that they did not field too well and they put catches down and it has cost them. Adds that they fought hard and batted well too and had a par score on this deck. On the catch of KL Rahul that was ruled not out, Eoin says that he thought it was out in real-time but the third umpire had a look at that in slow motion and he had the final call. Adds that it would have been nice to get that wicket. Tells that it was not an easy pitch to start on and Rana played very well and cashed in when necessary, but towards the end, they failed to capitalize on the platform that was set. On Venkatesh Iyer, Morgan says that his attitude is fantastic and he plays very fearlessly with the bat and takes responsibility with the ball too. States that they have played some great cricket in the second half of the tournament and they will fight hard in the remaining games.
Presentation time...
Earlier in the evening, Kolkata put up a decent batting show on a slowish surface. Venkatesh Iyer was once again the chief contributor with the bat for them and their batting innings revolved around him. Kolkata didn't manage to get a big finish and that in a way stopped them from having 15-20 runs extra on the board. In this close finish, those runs could have proved to be handy.
There were plenty of moments in this game but one worth mentioning is the catch of KL Rahul that was claimed by Rahul Tripathi but was not given by the third umpire in the 19th over. Tripathi felt he had his fingers wrapped under the ball but the third umpire thought otherwise. The match was evenly poised then and had Punjab lost Rahul, it could have put the cat among the pigeons. The Punjab skipper fetched a boundary on the last ball of that over to bring down the equation to 5 runs. After that, there was another moment when Rahul departed on the second ball of the final over with Punjab needing 4 to win. Tension was high in the Punjab camp but Shahrukh Khan emerged as the hero for Preity Zinta's team and sent one over the fence for the winning runs. Even that winning moment was full of drama as Rahul Tripathi fumbled a catch to parry the ball over the line. What a game! What a finish!
This match was full of drama! Not for the faint-hearted. It was the same script for Punjab in the chase but this one had a happy ending. Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul combined at the top for the umpteenth time for them to lay a strong platform. Agarwal departed but KL was determined to carry on. He had seen his team choke in the past and took full responsibility in this crunch game. KL needed partners and got one able one in Aiden Markram. Together they stitched 45 runs to keep the chase steady but when things started to look in control, the South African fell to Sunil Narine. Punjab have struggled in closing the games but with the experience of KL Rahul in the middle, they were upbeat. The skipper didn't disappoint as he navigated through those nervous moments to take Punjab on the brink of victory.
Phew! What a thrilling end to this game! A telling blow from the bat of Shahrukh Khan to take down Shahrukh Khan-owned Kolkata! Punjab nearly choked in another chase. They have made a habit of making simple situations tricky. This victory for Punjab means Delhi have confirmed their spot in the playoffs. But it's jam-packed below them. Now there are three teams with 10 points on the table, fighting for a spot in the playoffs. The league stage of this season is heading towards a mouth-watering finish.
PUNJAB KINGS
168/5 (19.3)
67 (55)
40 (27)
2/24 (4)
1/30 (2.3)
Over 20
1
W
6
Shahrukh Khan*
22 (9)
Fabian Allen
0 (0)
Venkatesh Iyer
1/30 (2.3)
PBKS
168/5
6
19.3
Venkatesh Iyer to Shahrukh Khan ,DROPPED AND SIX! Oh wow! What a way to get the win for Punjab. It was very close between these two but KL Rahul's team has edged forward in this clash. It could have been another wicket but the fumble from the fielder in the deep means that Kolkata end up on the losing side. This is bowled slightly shorter, around off, Shahrukh Khan pumps this one hard towards the deep mid-wicket region, Rahul Tripathi in the deep, runs across to his left, takes the catch too but fumbles and drops the ball over the ropes. PUNJAB WIN BY 5 WICKETS!
Fabian Allen is in next.
W
19.2
Venkatesh Iyer to KL Rahul ,OUT! TAKEN! What have you done, Rahul? He loses his wicket at the absolute wrong time and Punjab's fate is still on a hinge. KL put in all the hard yards but he is unable to close the game out for his team. Around off and middle, on a length, not a lot of pace to work with for KL, who moves to the leg side and lofts this one towards long off. Shivam Mavi pouches this one safely in the deep. 4 needed from 4 balls!
1
19.1
Venkatesh Iyer to Shahrukh Khan ,Outside off, on a length, Khan looks to slap it away but gets the toe-end of the bat to short third man for one. 4 needed from 5 now.
Who will bowl the final over? All the frontline bowlers of Kolkata have completed their spells. Will it be Venkatesh Iyer or Nitish Rana? It's Venkatesh Iyer.
Over 19
4
0
0
1
1
4
KL Rahul*
67 (54)
Shahrukh Khan
15 (7)
Shivam Mavi
1/31 (4)
PBKS
161/4
4
18.6
Shivam Mavi to KL Rahul ,FOUR! Not how Mavi would have wanted to end the over and now, Punjab are very close to the finish line. A juicy full toss, around off, KL Rahul smacks this one over point and the ball bounces once, before going past the ropes. Just 5 more needed from the last 6 balls!
1
18.5
Shivam Mavi to Shahrukh Khan ,Full this time, on off, jammed out through the mid off region for one.
1
18.4
Shivam Mavi to KL Rahul ,A full toss, around off, KL eases this one down to long on for a single.