Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals Ball by Ball Commentary

FOUR! Bang! Kolkata win by 3 wickets! Superb shot. Back of a length, around off, Nitish Rana goes deep inside the crease and whacks it over backward point. Kagiso Rabada, in the deep, dives across to his left but it beats his attempt and finds the fence.

Mix-up but no harm done! A bit short and on middle, Nitish works it gently to the leg side and initially looks for a run. Lockie Ferguson responds but is sent back after that. The fielder misses his shy at the bowler's end.

Lockie Ferguson is the new man in.

OUT! Bowled! Avesh Khan has another. His season is getting better and better. A bit short in length around off, Southee stays back to heave it over the leg side but gets a thick inside edge onto the stumps. 50 wickets in T20s for Avesh Khan and he has a smile on his face. Kolkata need 2 runs to win.

Pitches it up and around off, Rana pushes it gently to the right of mid off for one.

Direct hit would have been close. Fuller and on off, Southee drills it to mid off and rushes for a single. Rabada misses his shy at the bowler's end. 3 needed more.

In the air... Safe! Short in length, around off, Southee top-edges his attempted pull to deep square leg. It falls safely, away from the diving attempt of the fielder in the deep and they take two.

Slower one, on a length around off, Tim drags it off the inner half to mid-wicket.

Around off, on a length, Southee closes the face of his bat and pushes it to mid-wicket.

Avesh Khan (2-0-9-2) comes back to bowl.

Sharp delivery, outside off, Rana pushes and misses. Fine over from Anrich Nortje. 3 from it. 6 needed more for a win.

Tim Southee is the new man in.

OUT! Narine is gone! A needless shot but this is how he bats! Back of a length, outside off, Sunil Narine camps back to smack it through the line but it takes the top edge and flies to extra cover. Axar Patel is underneath it. End of a match-winning knock, possibly.

PANT IN PAIN! Sharp delivery, that's quick. Nortje bowls it with a cross-seam and lands it on a length close to off, Rana tries to cut but misses. It goes to Pant and moves towards his right. He tries to collect it but misses. That brushes his fingertips and deflects away. They cross for a bye. Physio comes out.

Wide! An attempted slower one by Anrich. It goes wrong though. Too wide outside off and Rana makes a leave.

Full toss on middle, Narine goes back and hits it to the left of the mid-wicket fielder. They cross for a run.

Another miss! Slower one, on a length and outside off, Narine is very early with the swing of his bat and misses.

Swing and a miss! Anrich Nortje fires across a yorker-length delivery outside off, Narine tries to make contact but misses.

Strategic Time-Out! Well, the game was evenly poised before the 16th over but it has now drifted towards Kolkata and they need just 9 runs from 24 balls now! Kagiso Rabada lost his radar in the previous over and Sunil Narine has taken full toll of it! A gem of an innings from him and well supported by Nitish Rana. Anrich Nortje comes to bowl the 17th over for Delhi.

Slower one probably, shortish and outside off, Narine hits it firmly to covers where the fielder makes a half-stop only. A single to end the over, 21 from it and only 9 needed more.

SIX! Sunil Narine has muscled this one as well. Again the length is on the shorter side, Narine loves it there and spanks it over mid-wicket. One no ball has put off Rabada here.

FOUR! Narine is driving Kolkata home here with his bat. This one is right from the meat of the bat. Slightly short and on middle, Narine clears his front leg and clobbers it over square leg for a boundary.

SIX! Not from the middle of the bat but it has gone the distance. Short and on middle, Narine hangs back to pull but it takes the top edge and flies over fine leg. Lands flush on the rope it seems.

Hammered down the ground! Full toss on middle, Narine smashes it over the bowler's head and collects two.

A low full toss outside off, Rana pushes it through covers for a single. Rabada has overstepped. It's a no ball. Free Hit to follow...

Sharp delivery at 135 clicks, a bit short and around leg, Rana defends it back towards the bowler.

Kagiso Rabada (2-1-7-1) is back into the attack.

Fuller and outside off, slower in pace, Rana drives it through cover-point for a run. 2 runs and a wicket from the over, 30 needed off 30 balls, exciting stuff!

Shortish around middle, Narine stays back and guides it to third man for a single.

Sunil Narine is the new man in.

OUT! SOUND OF TIMBER! Dinesh Karthik runs out of luck. A sequence of dot balls and there is a wicket for Avesh Khan. The slower one does the trick. It's a bit on the shorter side, around off at 126 kph, Karthik stays back inside the crease and tries to run it down to third man. The ball though arrives late, takes the inner portion of his bat and disturbs the stumps behind. This game takes another twist. 32 needed off 32 balls, 5 wickets in the bank for Kolkata.

Khan darts it in, on a fuller length around middle, Karthik shows the full face of the bat and digs it out back to the bowler.

Play and a miss! Short in length, around off, DK stands back and tries to help his pull shot on the leg side but misses.

Karthik almost drags it on! The luck is surely with him at the moment. Avesh bowls it on a length around off, Karthik tries to defend but it takes the bottom edge and goes very closely past the sticks.

Avesh Khan (1-0-7-1) is back into the attack.

Shorter one, around off, DK pulls it in front of square leg for a run. 20 from the over and in the context of this game, it's fatal for Delhi. 32 needed off 36 balls.

FOUR! DK, the master of edges! Gets another boundary for Kolkata. This over has released all the pressure. Quicker one, fired wide outside off, Karthik got back to cut but it took the outside edge and ran away to the third man fence.

Flatter and on middle, short in length, Nitish goes back and helps it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

SIX! Rana is targeting Yadav here. Quicker, flatter and fuller on off, Nitish Rana sits down on one knee and smokes it over wide long on for another maximum. 38 needed off 39 balls now.

SIX! This will help in bringing down the asking rate that has climbed up in the last few overs. Rana uses his feet to a full ball outside off and launches it behind the bowler's head for a maximum.

Flatter one, short and around off, Rana goes deep inside the crease and cuts it past backward point for two.

Lalit Yadav (2-0-15-1) comes back into the attack.

Back of a length, on off at 135.7 kph, Karthik is on his toes as he punches it to covers. Two dots to end the over, 52 needed off 42 balls.

Again it's short and sharp around off, at 141 clicks, Karthik pushes inside the line and misses.

FOUR! Lucky boundary, that helps in calming down the nerves. Short in length and outside off, Karthik flashes his blade at it and edges it down to third man for a boundary.

Good placement from DK!  Pitches it up and around off, Karthik drives it past the left side of mid off and collects a couple of runs.

Fuller and around off, angling in, DK gets forward and defends it back to the bowler.

Back of a length, around leg, Rana tucks it behind square leg for a single.

Another excellent over for Delhi! Loopy ball, around off. Dinesh Karthik blocks it off the front foot. End of Ashwin's fantastic spell, 1/24 in his 4 overs. 59 runs needed from 48 balls.

Tossed up, around middle and leg. Dinesh Karthik flicks it but finds the mid-wicket fielder.

Flatter and quicker, outside off. Nitish Rana eases it down the ground for a single.

Floated, outside off. Dinesh Karthik presses forward and pushes it to cover-point for a run. He gets off the mark straightaway!

Kolkata are in a spot of bother. In comes Dinesh Karthik.

OUT! CAUGHT! Eoin Morgan's poor run of form continues and Ravichandran Ashwin is ecstatic! What a bowler! This one is bowled a shade flatter and shorter around off, the ball lands and straightens as Morgan rocks back to punch it through the line. It takes the outside edge and Lalit Yadav makes no mistake at first slip. Ashwin is running in celebration!

Tossed up, around off. Eoin Morgan stays back to cut but he gets a bottom edge and the ball goes to point.

Eoin Morgan is the new batsman. 61 needed off 54 balls.

OUT! CAUGHT! A wicket maiden! Rabada has brought Delhi back into this game! What a fine, fine over from him! He serves a slower ball, into the pitch. Gill looks to heave it away but it goes off the top edge and the ball loops up in the air towards long on. Shreyas Iyer settles under it there and gulps it down.

Five dots in a row! Good-length ball, on off. Shubman Gill taps it to backward point and looks for a run but is sent back by Rana.

Excellent bowling! A yorker, around off. Gill digs it out back to the bowler.

Good-length ball, angling in from middle. Gill tucks it to mid-wicket.

Slower and fuller, outside off. Shubman Gill looks to drive but he gets deceived and works it to mid off in the end.

Back of a length, around off. Shubman Gill taps it to backward point.

Kagiso Rabada is inserted into the attack now.

A dot to end! Outside off, this is played to point off the outside portion of the bat. 61 needed more at the halfway mark.

Two more! Slightly shorter in length again and outside off, this is cut through point. Another couple.

Slower through the air and on off, blocked to the off side.

Under-edge saves Rana! Quicker through the air, Rana tries to play the reverse sweep but gets an under-edge onto the pads. An appeal but turned down.

Two! Shorter and outside off, this one grips off the surface. Spins away. Rana slashes and does so really hard. It goes off the top edge but since he slashed hard, it goes over point for two.

Tossed up outside off, this is hit through covers for one.

Strategic Time-Out! Kolkata would be the happier of the two sides going into this break even though they have lost two wickets. Shubman Gill has held one end and he has played really well so far. However, he needs to bat deeper into the innings as the wicket is not easy to bat on, especially for new batters coming in. Delhi will have to keep picking up wickets if they are to win this game. They have already spent 6 overs combined of Axar and Ashwin and will have to use their bowling choices smartly.

FOUR! That releases the pressure if there was any! On the pads, Rana goes down on one knee and sweeps it behind square on the leg side. Boundary. The last ball spoils the over. 66 needed in 66.

Angled into the pads, this is worked through square leg for one.

On middle, this is worked through mid-wicket for one.

Gill comes down the track and pushes it down to long off for one. He came down to hit the big shot but did not get to the pitch of it.

Now plays the paddle sweep, it is more like a paddle scoop towards fine leg for one.

Rana looks to play the reverse sweep. This is bowled very slow and down the leg side. Rana misses.

Tries to play the reverse sweep, hits it to the man at point. Just 2 from the over, Delhi need many more of these quiet overs to build the scoreboard pressure.

Again! Gives it air and lands it on off, it is kept out.

Angles it into the off pole line, defended.

On middle, this is worked towards square leg for one.

Floats it up on off, Rana blocks.

This one stays low! Shorter and outside off, it does not bounce a lot. Gill guides it towards point for one.

Loopy ball, on leg. Shubman Gill flicks it through mid-wicket for a run. 8 from the over, 76 needed off 78 balls.

Floated, around off. Shubman Gill pushes it back to the bowler.

SIX! Just over the long on fielder! Tossed up, on off. Shubman Gill looks to slog-sweep but it goes off the toe end of the bat and in the air towards long on. Steven Smith there jumps to take the catch but the ball probably brushes his fingers and goes over the rope.

A tad short, outside off. Shubman Gill cuts hard but finds the point fielder.

Flatter ball, on off. Shubman Gill pushes it back to the bowler.

Tossed up, on middle. Nitish Rana works it to long on for a run.

Ravichandran Ashwin is back on.

Sliding down the leg side, Rana tries to flick but misses. It goes off his pads to short fine leg and they pinch a leg bye. Kolkata are 44/2 at the end of the Powerplay, 84 needed off 84 balls!

Nitish Rana walks out to bat.

OUT! CAUGHT! Avesh Khan is ecstatic. This is another big wicket for Delhi as Rahul Tripathi is an attacking batsman. Clever bowling by Khan. He lets out a slower one on a length outside off, at 123.7 kph. Rahul fails to read the variation and is early into his shot. He chips it tamely to the left of mid off and Steven Smith moves across swiftly to complete the catch. Delhi need to keep taking wickets to stay in the hunt.

Short and around off, again Shubman Gill walks down the track and pulls it powerfully over mid-wicket. Only a run this time.

Back of a length, around off, Rahul Tripathi punches it on the up to deep cover for one. His intent has been very positive!

A low full toss outside off, Gill pushes it in the gap at covers for a single.

FOUR! What a shot! Fancy footwork from Shubman Gill. He runs down the track, the length is short and around off, Gill powers it over mid-wicket for a fantastic boundary.

Avesh Khan comes into the attack.

On middle and leg, Rahul Tripathi tucks it through square leg and returns for the second run. Good calling by Gill.

Flatter and shorter outside off, Rahul plays it late but finds point.

SIX! Wow, that's some way to open your account. Lalit Yadav is on the shorter side around off, Rahul Tripathi goes on the back foot and hammers his pull shot over mid-wicket. He knocked the stitches out of this one!

Rahul Tripathi is the new man in.

OUT! BOWLED! Lalit Yadav strikes. He fires it in from wide of the crease, a touch short and on middle at 97 clicks, Venkatesh Iyer hangs back inside the crease and tries to whip it across the line. He misses and possibly the ball deflects off his pads to the stumps. A big wicket for Delhi as Iyer has been in scintillating form of late. 100 needed off 93 balls.

Flatter and quicker on off, Shubman Gill hits it firmly down to long on for a run.

Nearly drags it on! Lalit Yadav digs it in short around off, Venkatesh Iyer tries to pull but it takes the inner edge and goes through his legs. It's wide of short fine leg and they cross.

Lalit Yadav comes to bowl now.

Iyer uses his feet. Comes down the track to a full ball and strokes it towards long off for one. 4 from the over!

Full and around off, Gill eases it down to long off to rotate the strike.

Full and on off, defended back to the bowler off the front foot.

Flatter and a touch shorter on off, Venkatesh Iyer hangs back and heaves it down to deep mid-wicket for one.

A big shot attempted by Iyer but he has not connected. Fuller and quicker outside off, Venkatesh Iyer tries to play the slog-sweep but misses and is hit on the pads. The impact was outside off.

Flighted one, full and around off, Shubman walks down the track and drives it through mid off for a single.

Fullish and just outside off, Venkatesh Iyer again attempts for the reverse sweep but misses. He is hit on the pads, a stifled appeal from Pant but nothing doing.

Loopy and around off, Iyer skips down the track and flicks it through mid-wicket for a brace.

Wide! Skidding down the leg side, Iyer tries to work it around but misses.

Swing and a miss! Tossed up, around off and spinning away, Venkatesh Iyer tries to play the reverse-batted shot over point but fails to connect.

Walks down the track and eases it to the left side of the mid off fielder for a single.

Uppish but safe! Floated and full around middle and off, Venkatesh Iyer probably looked to go over covers but checks his shot at the last moment. He chips it down towards long off for a single.

Fuller and on off, Shubman Gill closes the face of the bat and works it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Ravichandran Ashwin comes into the attack now.

Quicker one, full and on off, Iyer drives it to mid off. 16 without loss at the end of the second over.

Arm ball, around middle, Shubman Gill nudges it off his pads to mid-wicket for a single.

Flat and full again, once more Gill strokes it to covers.

Quicker and fuller on off, pushed to covers.

SIX! Boom! Shubman Gill has shown great intent in the second half of the season. Fuller one, on middle and off, Shubman Gill advances down the track and towers it behind the bowler's head for a biggie.

Fires it full and on off, Gill drives it back to the bowler.

Axar Patel to bowl from the other end.

Swing and a miss! Nortje bowls the slower one, on a length around middle at 127 clicks, Venkatesh Iyer dances down the track to heave it over the leg side but misses. It flies over the stumps to the keeper.

FOUR! Venkatesh Iyer is fighting fire with fire. Anrich Nortje goes shortish, around middle at 141 kph, Iyer goes back and pulls it in front of square leg for a boundary.

FOUR! Venkatesh Iyer pierces the gap on this occasion. Anrich Nortje pitches it up and around off, at 147.6 kph, Iyer stands tall inside the crease and drills his drive through covers.

Two dots! On a length, around off, punched from the crease to covers.

Angling away from the batsman, on a length and outside off at 139 kph, Venkatesh Iyer drives but finds the fielder at extra cover.

Slightly short, around off at 143 kph, Shubman Gill stands back and plays it down with soft hands towards mid on. He steals a run to open his account.

OUT! RUN OUT! And Delhi finish without hitting a single six in their innings! Slower ball, outside off. Kagiso Rabada looks to slog but he misses. The batters look to sneak in a bye but Dinesh Karthik is alert behind the sticks as he has a shy at his end. Avesh Khan is short of his crease and he sacrifices his wicket on the last ball of the innings. Delhi end with 127/9.

Slower ball, on a length, around middle. Avesh Khan hits it in front of square on the leg side for a run.

FOUR! DROPPED! Shubman Gill has dropped a sitter at deep mid-wicket. Length ball, around off. Avesh Khan heaves it uppishly towards deep mid-wicket. Shubman Gill there, settles under it but he makes a mess of it and the ball goes into the fence.

Avesh Khan walks out to bat!

Play and a miss! Length ball, outside off. Avesh Khan swings hard but he misses.

OUT! RUN OUT! Oh, no! Delhi's skipper has to walk back now! Full ball, around off. Rishabh Pant drags it to deep mid-wicket. He charges for the second run. Karun Nair (sub) is there in the deep who runs across and throws it back to Dinesh Karthik who whips the bails off in a flash. Rishabh Pant is well short of his crease in the replays and he departs.

Pant is a goner! An appeal for a run out is taken upstairs but Pant seems short.

Wide! Southee spills this one down leg. Pant shuffles across late to whip it but he leaves it in the end. Wide called by the umpire.

Kagiso Rabada walks out to bat now.

OUT! TAKEN! Ravichandran Ashwin departs! A slower ball, on a length, outside off. Ravichandran Ashwin looks to pull but he miscues it in the air towards deep square leg. Nitish Rana runs forward and takes an easy catch. A heated conversation between Southee and Ashwin. Verbal volleys thrown. Dinesh Karthik intervenes and calms down Ashwin. Maybe, the talk was regarding that extra run which Delhi took on the last ball after it deflected off Pant's body.

A yorker, around off. Rishabh Pant digs it out to point. The batsmen cross as the fielder has a shy at the bowler's end. It deflects off Pant's body and they collect another run.

Full ball, on off. Rishabh Pant drills it to long on and Ravichandran Ashwin looks to take another run. The throw comes in to Venkatesh Iyer but he fails to collect it cleanly and Ashwin survives.

Length ball, on off, Ravichandran Ashwin lofts it to long on, on the bounce. Ben Cutting (sub) comes running in and keeps it to one.

Full-length ball, on leg. Rishabh Pant drags it to deep mid-wicket for a run. Rishabh Pant has now surpassed Virender Sehwag to become the leading run-scorer for Delhi in the Indian T20 League.

A yorker, around off. Rishabh Pant digs it out back to the bowler.

FOUR! A juicy full toss, on off, Rishabh Pant drills it to the right of long off. Ben Cutting (sub for Lockie Ferguson) fumbles and concedes a boundary.

Full-length ball, on middle. Rishabh Pant drags his heave wide of long on for a single.

FOUR! Finally, he gets hold of this one! Full ball, outside off. Rishabh Pant clears his front leg and carves it over extra cover for a boundary.

Slower ball, on a length, outside off. Ravichandran Ashwin punches it to deep cover for a run.

A yorker-length ball, on off. Rishabh Pant digs it out to the right of Tim Southee who runs and keeps it to one.

Full ball, outside off. Pant gets low and looks to reverse-paddle Southee over short third man but he fails to get any bat on it.

Good-length ball, on leg. Ravichandran Ashwin turns it to deep square leg for one.

Tim Southee is back!

Is there an edge? Karthik and Varun are pretty confident with their appeal but the umpire turns it down. They convince their skipper to take the review and Morgan does so.

NOT OUT! Flatter and quicker, outside off. Pant stays back to cut but he misses. Varun Chakravarthy and Dinesh Karthik think that Pant has nicked it and they ask Morgan to take the review! The UltraEdge shows that there was no bat involved and Rishabh Pant is safe. Kolkata lose their review.

Flatter ball, on off. Ravichandran Ashwin stays back and works it to long on for a run.

Tossed up, on off. Rishabh Pant plays the reverse sweep but he finds the deep point fielder. A single taken.

Leg bye! Delhi bring up their 100! Flatter ball, on leg. Ashwin misses his nudge and the ball rolls away. They sneak in a leg bye!

Off the edge but only a run! Pant comes down the track but Varun shortens the length. Pant still swings but the ball spins away a touch. It goes off the outside edge towards short third man for one.

What happened there? Looked funny but that could have been dangerous. Tossed up, outside off. Rishabh Pant looks to smash it across the line but only manages to get it away off the toe end of the bat. It drops near the popping crease and rolls behind. Dinesh Karthik walks forward a bit as Pant swings his bat behind to stop the ball from going to the stumps. DK has a narrow escape as Pant's bat missed the grill of Karthik's helmet by a whisker. Both the players see the funny side of that. All good!

Bowling change. Varun Chakravarthy has replaced Narine from this end. 3-0-19-2 are his figures thus far.

FOUR! A welcome boundary for Delhi, courtesy of some clever batting from Ashwin. Back of a length, around off. Ashwin stays back and just runs it down late. Tim Southee at short third man dives to his left but the ball goes past him and into the fence.

Full ball, outside off. Rishabh Pant drags it to long on for a single.

Ashwin is off the mark! Good-length ball, on off. Ashwin taps it to sweeper cover for a run.

OUT! CAUGHT! Another one bites the dust! Delhi are in deep trouble now! Full ball, around middle and leg. Axar Patel looks to whip it on the leg side but he hits it straight to Lockie Ferguson at mid-wicket who takes a good catch, diving across to his left. Venkatesh Iyer has two wickets now, impressing with the ball as well.

Ravichandran Ashwin walks out to bat now!

Wide! Too wide and full, outside off. Axar leaves it alone. Wided!

Well bowled! A yorker-length ball, on off. Axar Patel digs it out back to the bowler.

Wide! Venkatesh Iyer sprays it down leg. Axar Patel lets it be. Wide called by the umpire.

Full ball, around off. Pant gets low and whips it to deep square leg for just a single.

Make that 5 dots! Just a run and a wicket from Narine's last! End of a brilliant spell from him. 4-0-18-2 are his figures. On off, quicker, this is pushed to covers.

Make that 4 dots in a row! Outside off, Patel guides it to point.

On the pads, Patel works it towards mid-wicket for no runs.

Axar Patel is the new man in.

OUT! LBW! That was as plumb as it gets! Lalit Yadav was in fact walking off even before the finger was raised. Brilliant from Narine. The last one spun away, this time he lands it on off and gets it to skid on straight from there. Yadav looks to work it on the leg side but misses and then gets hit on the pads. An appeal and the finger is raised. Half the side back in the hut for Delhi even before the 15th over is completed.

That is a beauty! Yadav had no idea where this one was spinning! It lands on off and then spins away. Yadav looks to defend but is beaten.

Tossed up outside off, it is dragged through mid-wicket for one.

Strategic Time-Out! This has been a good comeback from Kolkata's bowlers. Just when Rishabh Pant and Steven Smith were looking to up the ante, Morgan gave the ball to Lockie Ferguson and he got the breakthrough by castling Smith. Venkatesh Iyer has bowled well too and it will be interesting to see how Morgan uses his bowlers at the fag end of the innings. Sunil Narine comes back to bowl his last over now.

Good length and on off, Yadav solidly defends it. So that is a tremendous comeback after going for a boundary earlier on in the over.

Lalit Yadav walks out to bat.

OUT! TAKEN! The dangerous Hetmyer walks back without hurting Kolkata! So what seemed like a risky move on the very first ball of this over has turned out to be a masterstroke. We all saw in Delhi's last game how Hetmyer can hit it long but he does not last for long in the middle this time. This was there to be hit though. On a length and outside off, at 127.4 kph, Hetmyer slaps it down the ground but does not get the desired elevation and holes out to Southee there.

Just the one again! A low full toss on the pads, Pant swings, he gets an inside edge onto the pads. The ball rolls on the leg side. A single taken.

Just the one! On the pads, this is worked through square leg for one.

Pant wants two but it is only one. Fuller and on middle, Pant swings, it goes more off the inner half towards deep mid-wicket. The fielder runs in quickly and keeps it down to one.

FOUR! Just over! Welcome boundary! Not sure if this is the right move. He did bowl a good first over but a second over was always going to be a risk and it has not started well. Full and outside off, Pant looks to go over covers and bags a boundary. Can this break the shackles for Delhi?

Bowls the wide yorker, Pant jams it through covers for one. Back-to-back excellent overs for Kolkata.

Just the one this time! Outside off, this is guided through backward point for one.

Goes fuller and on off, Hetmyer drives it nicely but to covers.

Two more and Hetmyer is off the mark! Outside off, he guides it through point for a couple of runs.

Shimron Hetmyer is the new man in.

OUT! TIMBER! The well-set Steven Smith is now a goner! The seam-up ball does the trick for Ferguson. Brilliant. The last one was really slow and this one is nice and fast. It is on a length and angling into the batsman. Smith swings across the line but gets an inside edge onto the leg pole. Timely wicket as Delhi would have wanted to up the ante now. Ferguson gets his second. He has been really good so far.

Smith is down! That might have hurt! Smith looks to play the paddle scoop by shuffling right outside off. Ferguson bowls a clever slower dipping full toss. It goes off the under-edge and then hits Smith near the box. He takes a moment for himself and rightly so. Seems fine now.

Lockie Ferguson (1-0-6-1) is back on.

He does, just the 4 runs from the over. A low full toss on middle, this is whipped through mid-wicket for one. Morgan will be delighted with that effort.

3 from 5 now! Seam-up delivery angled into the pads, Pant swings but misses. It hits the pad and rolls on the leg side for one. Leg bye. Can Venkatesh Iyer end it well?

Just the two from the first 4 balls! Another slower one outside off, Smith gently strokes it through covers for one.

Abhishek Nayar, from the Kolkata camp, is up for a chat! Shares that they are happy with the start and the talk during the break was to restrict Delhi under 150 on this sluggish track. Mentions that it's a new season and they were trying to play a different brand of cricket. Regarding their choice to play Tim Southee ahead of Shakib Al Hasan, Nayar replies that Sharjah being a smaller ground, playing with three spinners would not have been a good idea plus with Russell not playing, they wanted an extra seamer.

Really good from Iyer! This is a yorker-length ball outside off, it is guided to point. Another dot.

Goes fuller again and just outside off, this is guided to point for only one.

Big confusion but safe! A good slower one to begin with. Pant does not pick it, he is way too early into the swing of his bat, it goes off the inner half towards short fine leg. Narine makes a tumbling stop. Smith is halfway down the track but is sent back. Narine realized late where he needed to throw it and hence, Smith makes it back in.

Venkatesh Iyer comes into the attack.

That is really good from Narine! On middle, Pant works it towards mid-wicket. The batters run the first one quickly. Narine too rushes towards the ball and keeps it to one. 21 runs after the break, Delhi showing better intent.

Yet another single! On middle, this is worked to square leg. A run is taken. Smith thought of a second but it was not on.

Angled into the middle pole, Pant works it through mid-wicket and takes one.

Now takes one as he works it through mid-wicket for one. Good batting.

FOUR! Finds the gap! Smith is getting a move on now. Slightly fuller this time and on middle, Smith plays the sweep, he hits it hard and wide of deep mid-wicket for another boundary. His third in the last 8 balls of the inninngs.

Flatter and on off, Pant pushes it down with the angle to long on for one.

Nicely tossed up, outside off. Steven Smith reaches out and taps it to backward point. A dot ball to finish a 12-run over.

A tad short, outside off. Rishabh Pant hangs back and cuts it to sweeper cover for a run.

Good running again, from these two! Floated, around leg. Rishabh Pant turns it wide of the deep mid-wicket fielder for a couple of runs.

Tossed up, on middle, Steven Smith whips it off his pads to deep mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries! Flatter ball, outside off. Steven Smith rocks back and cuts it past point for a boundary. It seems that the message is clear to Smith, Delhi want him to score quickly.

FOUR! Nicely done! Varun strays on the pads. Smith tickles it towards fine leg for a boundary. The fielder at short fine dives to stop the ball but it beats him.

Strategic Time-Out! Really good from Kolkata so far! They have got two vital wickets and have not let Delhi score freely too. However, Delhi do have the depth in their batting so Kolkata will know they need to keep taking wickets. Delhi, on the other hand, need a partnership, also, they will want Smith to up the ante as he has been in the middle for a while now. They are in a tricky situation here and it will be interesting to see how they go about things.

Play and a miss! Narine serves a quicker ball, on a length, outside off. Rishabh Pant rocks back to cut but he misses.

Floated, around middle and leg. Steven Smith works it to deep mid-wicket for a single. Pant runs to take one more but is sent back by Smith.

Narine sees Smith advancing down the track, he drags his length back and serves a flatter ball, outside off. Smith tries to block it out but misses. He is struck on the pads, his second line of defense.

Tossed up, around off, Rishabh Pant looks to sweep but he miscues it behind square for a single.

50 up for Delhi! Flatter and around middle, Smith eases this one to long on for a run.

Excellent running! Tossed up, around middle. Steven Smith stays back and turns it wide of long on for a couple of runs.

Flatter and quicker, around middle, Steven Smith slogs it over mid-wicket. It goes on one bounce to the fielder again. 5 runs off the over!

Nicely tossed up, outside off. Rishabh Pant gets down on one knee but mistimes his heave to long on, on the bounce. A single taken.

Flighted ball, down leg. Smith works it behind square to rotate the strike.

Varun errs in length and serves a full toss, on middle. Rishabh Pant works it to long on for one.

Flatter ball, on middle. Smith flicks it to deep square leg for an easy single.

Tossed up, around off. Steven Smith presses forward and defends it to covers.

Quicker ball, on off. Pant defends it out watchfully off the back foot. Excellent over from Sunil Narine!

Flatter and quicker, around off. Rishabh Pant stays back and blocks it out back to the bowler.

Loopy ball, on a length, around middle. Steven Smith whips it to the leg side to collect a run.

Flatter ball, on off. Rishabh Pant pushes it to covers for a single. He gets off the mark!

Rishabh Pant walks out to bat now!

OUT! BOWLED! Drift and turn, what a special delivery! The mystery spinner strikes straightaway! Huge wicket this for Kolkata as they get to see the back of Iyer early. Floated, outside off, turning in sharply. Iyer gets deceived by the turn and plays a nothing shot in the end. The ball sneaks through and crashes onto the stumps. Shreyas has a confused look on his face, he got comprehensively beaten there, was neither fully forward nor back enough to deal with that gem of a delivery.

Narine starts with a flatter ball, on off. Steven Smith hangs back and works it to long on for a run.

Flighted and outside off, Shreyas hits it firmly through the line but finds the point fielder. At the end of the Powerplay, Delhi are 39/1.

Quicker this time, a bit short and around leg at 100.4 kph, Smith pushes it to long on for a run.

The line drifts to outside off, Shreyas gets forward with an angled bat and pushes it towards cover-point for a run.

Loopy and on off, fuller in length again, Shreyas defends it to the off side.

Full and floated on off, Shreyas presses forward and pushes it to covers.

Wide! Wrong line from Varun Chakravarthy. A touch short but down the leg side, Iyer tries to pull but misses.

Tossed up, around off, Smith knocks it down to long on and takes a single.

Shreyas Iyer walks out to bat. Also, Varun Chakravarthy comes to bowl now.

OUT! Caught at point! Lockie Ferguson takes down the big fish. The Kiwi dishes out another short delivery, it's outside off at 141.9 kph, Dhawan throws his bat at it as he attempts to cut it through the line. He does that well but fails to keep it down. Venkatesh Iyer stretches his hands out to his left and takes an easy catch. A big blow to Delhi as their in-form batsman departs.

Play and a miss! Pacy delivery. A touch short and outside off at 144 kph, Dhawan stands back to hammer it through the line but misses.

Lockie switches 'round the wicket for the left-hander. Delivers it short and outside off, Dhawan cuts but finds the point fielder.

On a length, around off, Smith walks across and works it behind square leg for a single.

FOUR! Stylish! Ferguson angles in a length ball around off, Smith leans across a bit and whips it over mid-wicket for a boundary.

Fuller in length and outside off, Dhawan goes hard at it and inside-edges it towards mid-wicket. They cross for a quick run.

Lockie Ferguson comes into the attack now.

Short in length, wide outside off, Dhawan flat-bats it through backward point for a single.

Review time! Tim Southee thinks that he has got his man here so he has asked Eoin Morgan to opt for a review as Shikhar Dhawan has been struck on his pads.

NOT OUT! Southee angles it in, on a length around middle, Dhawan stays back to work it across the line but misses. He is rapped on the pads, they appeal but the finger stays down. Morgan has a word with his players before taking the review. UltraEdge takes some time to load. It comes on eventually. No bat involved. Ball Tracker shows that it's clipping the top of the leg stump. Umpire's call.

FOUR! Dhawan is looking in fine touch! He advances down the track to a length ball around off and spanks it past the cover fielder for a boundary. That went to the fence in a flash.

Fuller in length, around off, Smith flicks it firmly to deep square leg for a single.

Identical to the last delivery, short and a tad wide outside off, Dhawan cuts it to deep point for a single.

Play and a miss! Slightly short and outside off, Dhawan stays back to cut but fails to connect.

Beaten on the drive! Excellent delivery from Sandeep. Lands it full and outside off, enticing the drive from Smith but it straightens to beat the outside edge. 10 from the over!

Swing and a miss! There is no need for Smith to do this. On a length and outside off, Smith attempts for a cross-batted heave but fails to connect.

Smart batting. Two boundaries and now a single for Dhawan. Shortish and outside off, Dhawan plays it down towards point for a single.

FOUR! More runs, this one is a bit whippy from Dhawan. It's overpitched and around middle, Dhawan latches onto it and smacks it to the deep square leg fence.

FOUR! Easy pickings! Operating from 'round the wicket angle, Warrier cannot afford to get too straight with his line. It's full and on middle, Dhawan uses the angle to his advantage and flicks it easily through mid-wicket.

On a good length, around off, Smith tucks it through square leg and picks up a single.

Southee switches to 'round the wicket and angles in a length ball on off, Dhawan defends it from the crease.

Good stop! On a length around off, Dhawan shimmies down the track and smashes it down to mid off. The fielder there is alert and makes a fine stop.

EDGY FOUR! Southee angles across a delivery around off, on a fuller length, Dhawan tries to force it through the line but it takes the outer edge and runs wide of short third man for a boundary.

Tap and run. Around off, on a length, Smith drops it down with soft hands to cover-point and pinches a single.

Another delivery, full, around middle, Smith helps it off his pads but finds the mid-wicket fielder.

Southee starts by angling in a full ball around off, Smith walks across and nudges it to the right of mid on for a couple of runs.

Tim Southee will bowl from the other end.

Fuller and around leg, Dhawan bunts it down towards mid on. Smith looks for a run but it's a big no from Dhawan. 5 coming from the opening over!

FOUR! Dhawan is off the mark. Sandeep Warrier serves a friendly full toss on middle, Dhawan is not going to miss out on that. He picks it up, uses his wrists well and places his shot behind square leg for a boundary, first of the match.

Sandeep Warrier goes fuller this time, it's on middle and Dhawan drives it back to the bowler.

Short again, this time outside off, Dhawan rocks back to cut but fails to middle his shot. It takes the bottom half of the blade and rolls behind point. The slip fielder rushes ahead to pick up the ball.

Back of a length, around leg, Dhawan tries to work it around but misses. It takes his thigh pad and falls near the pitch. Smith eyes a leg bye but is sent back.

Trademark shuffle across the stumps from Steven Smith. He works a fuller delivery behind square leg and opens his account with a single.

We are all set for the game to begin! The players of Kolkata have made their way out to the middle. Shikhar Dhawan has a new opening partner in Steven Smith for this fixture and both of them are at the crease! Sandeep Warrier will start with the ball for Kolkata. Here we go...

Sunil Narine, the mystery spinner, comes up for a quick chat. Says that they need to deal with pressure much better and close out the games smartly. Feels that the team which will bowl well today will win the game as it is a smaller ground. Tells that he and Varun Chakravarthy have a chat before and also during the game regarding the batters and how they should bowl to them.

Delhi (Playing XI) - Steven Smith (In for Prithvi Shaw), Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (C/WK), Shimron Hetmyer, Lalit Yadav, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Avesh Khan.

Kolkata (Playing XI) - Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Rahul Tripathi, Eoin Morgan (C), Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik (WK), Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Varun Chakaravarthy, Tim Southee (In for Andre Russell), Sandeep Warrier (In for Prasidh Krishna).

Rishabh Pant, the skipper of Delhi, says that they were looking to bat first anyway as they don't know how the pitch will behave. He feels the wicket is slow and 150-160 should be a good score. Adds they want to take one game at a time and he hopes they can do well. Mentions they want to win this one and ensure qualification. Informs that Prithvi Shaw is injured and Steven Smith will replace him in the XI.

Eoin Morgan, the captain of Kolkata, says he is not sure how the wicket will play, it does not look like a belter and hence, he wants to bowl. Shares that he was playing golf yesterday and celebrated Brendon McCullum's birthday. Tells that as a team they are very focused on playing one game at a time. Mentions that they have played some good cricket in the second phase and he hopes this continues and they can slowly move up the ladder. Informs they have two changes, Andre Russel misses out and Prasidh Krishna also is out, Tim Southee and Sandeep Warrier replace them.

Toss - Rishabh Pant and Eoin Morgan are in the middle. The latter flips the coin, Pant calls incorrectly and KOLKATA ELECT TO BOWL!

Pitch report - Matthew Hayden is near the surface. The Aussie starts by saying that the wicket has been usually slow and the batters have struggled. Adds that the surface does not have a lot of grass and the bowlers opt for cross-seam deliveries which cause problems for the batsmen. Hayden feels that as a batting team you need to make the most of the Powerplay.

Update - Tim Southee is all set to make his Indian T20 League debut for Kolkata. The Kiwi has previously represented Chennai, Rajasthan, Mumbai and Bangalore.

Kagiso Rabada comes up for a quick chat! The speedster starts by saying that they are in the best possible space and playing well as a team. Adds that they are looking to continue with this winning run as far as possible. On his role, Rabada replies that he is mentally prepared to do anything and nothing is taken for granted in this team. Tells that he is ready to bowl and ready to adapt to any situation. Regarding Anrich Nortje, Rabada tells that he plays with him for South Africa as well and they always talk about the game and share a good bond. On facing Kolkata, KG replies that they are a dangerous side and looking in some good form, and reckons that it's not going to be an easy game. Further says that Delhi will have to keep doing things that they have been doing so far.

Update - Andre Russell is expected to miss this match after suffering a hamstring injury. Big blow to Kolkata in both the departments. Ben Cutting appears to be the likeliest replacement for the big West Indian.

Over the years, Kolkata used to dominate this fixture and it's evident in the head-to-head battle as well. But Delhi have started to respond now and have won 5 out of their last six games against Kolkata. On current form, Delhi can be counted as favourites but Kolkata have the ability to take them down. Who will win this bout?

A warm welcome to everyone for the coverage. It's going to be a tasty Tuesday with two games lined up. We're here for Match 41 between Delhi and Kolkata with the former having one leg in the playoffs and the latter still caught in the middle muddle. Both teams have been in great form since resumption and we can expect a close game in Sharjah.

... MATCH DAY ...