Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants, IPL, 2023 Full score card

SIX! Just over! Yash Thakur bowls a low full toss and outside off, Rinku Singh walks across and powers it towards long on. Ravi Bishnoi leaps near the ropes but the ball eludes him and crosses the fence. Lucknow win by 1 run and have secured a place in the playoffs!

FOUR! That should do it for Lucknow! Keeps it full and outside off, Rinku Singh creams this one to the right of long off and collects a boundary

SIX! SHOT! Yash Thakur goes with pace and honing in at the stumps, Rinku Singh gets it in his slot and slogs it over deep mid-wicket for a maximum. Kolkata now need 12 runs from the last two balls.

WIDE! Loses the radar and bowls a full toss, way outside off, Rinku Singh leaves the ball alone and the umpire signlas a wide.

Executes the yorker ot perfection, on off, Rinku Singh digs this one out to deep mid-wicket and refuses the single.

Sharp bumper! Pace on and banged in short on off, Rinku Singh gets hurried as he tried to pull and misses.

WIDE! Looks to go full but beyond the tramline on off, Rinku Singh lets it go for a wide.

Goes full and at the batter, Vaibhav Arora gets bat to ball and knocks it down to long on. Brings Rinku Singh back on strike with a single.

Off cutter this time and on a short length, outside off, Rinku Singh gets decided by the slowness of the delivery as he goes for the pull. He fails to connect but wants to sneak in a single. Quinton de Kock is up to the task and denies the single.

SIX! Rinku Singh is turning it on here! Naveen-ul-Haq tries to go full but ends up bowling it in the slot, around leg, Rinku Singh does not miss out as he swats this one over deep backward square leg for six more runs. The crowd are thrilled to bis as they start to believe now.

Keeps it shorter and on middle and leg, Rinku Singh pulls this slower delivery in front of deep backward square leg. Has to hurry for the second run but makes his ground eventually.

FOUR! Make that three fours in a row! Slower and into the wicket, outside off, Rinku Singh waits for the ball to arrive and ramps it over short third man for yet another boundary. Kolkata are right back into the game.

FOUR! Consecutive boundaries for Rinku Singh! Goes full does Naveen-ul-Haq and outside off, Rinku Singh puts the dancing shoes on once again and creams it wide of deep cover for four more runs.

FOUR! Streaky but they all count! On a short length and outside off, Rinku Singh dances down the track and goes for the pull. Gets an outside edge that flies past short third man for a boundary.

Vaibhav Arora strides out to the center.

OUT! RUN OUT! It is going from bad to worse for Kolkata! Yash Thakur keeps it full and outside off, Sunil Narine squeezes this one towards backward point. The fielder there does not manage to deny the single and performs a half stop. The batters look for a second run but there isn't any. Naveen-ul-Haq gets up quickly and fires an accurate throw at the batter's end. Quinton de Kock does the rest and catches Sunil Narine short of his crease. Kolkata slip further and Lucknow are now only 3 wickets away.

WIDE! Sprays a full delivery, well beyond the tramline on off, Sunil Narine lets the ball pass for a wide.

Goes full and near the tramline on off, Sunil Narine thinks its a wide and lets it go. The umpire doesn't think so and it is a fair delivery.

Sunil Narine is the new batter out in the middle.

OUT! CAUGHT! Another one bites the dust! Yash Thakur rolls his fingers over the ball and bowls it short at the batter, Shardul Thakur hangs back and goes for the pull. The ball climbs on him and he skies this one high in the air towards deep square leg. Prerak Mankad stationed there settles under the skier and takes the catch. Yash Thakur has his second wicket of the game and Kolkata are now 6 wickets down.

Fuller and wide on off, Rinku Singh carves it to deep backward point for a single.

SIX! BOOM! Rinku Singh goes big! Yash Thakur goes into the wicket and outside off, Rinku Singh picks the change of pace and pulls it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

A loud shout for LBW but turned down! Comes from 'round the wicket and goes full at the stumps, Shardul Thakur misses the flick and gets trapped in front of the stumps. A confident appeal by Yash Thakur but the umpire is unmoved. Krunal Pandya goes for the review and the UltraEdge shows no bat but Ball Tracking shows that the ball is pitching outside leg. The on-field decision stands and Lucknow lose their review.

Drifts onto the pads on a fuller length, Rinku Singh places this slower delivery in the vacant mid-wicket region and collects a couple of runs. A great over by Naveen-ul-Haq, only 5 runs off it.

Nicely bowled! Pace off again and short, outside off, Rinku Singh waits to cut but does not connect this time.

Keeps it slower and short, near the tramline on off, Shardul Thakur has to reach out and pushes this one towards extra cover for one more run. Lucknow won't mind these singles.

Slower and shorter, on middle and leg, Rinku Singh swats this one to deep square leg for a single.

On a good length and outside off, Shardul Thakur goes for the drive away from the body. Gets a thickish outside edge and the ball drops just short of the diving Ravi Bishnoi at short third man. They cross for a single.

Back of a length and outside off, Shardul Thakur reaches out and goes for a cut. Gets an under edge and the ball goes on the bounce towards the keeper.

Floated, full and on off, Shardul Thakur gets forward and drives it towards extra cover. Scampers across for a quick single to open his account. Ravi Bishnoi ends with figures of 2 for 23 from his four overs.

Tosses this one up, full and around off, Shardul Thakur takes a big stride forward and watchfully keeps this one ou.

Strategic break! Kolkata looked to be cruising to a win at one stage but their inning has completely collapsed as they have now lost half their side. All their hopes will now be pinned on Rinku Singh who has shown in the past that is capable of pulling off the impossible. Lucknow have clawed back into this tie and will need to keep their composure to get over the finish line and qualify for the playoffs. Shardul Thakur makes his way out to the crease.

OUT! CASTLED! Ravi Bishnoi has the last laugh! Six and Out for Andre Russell! Pulls his length back a touch and bowls a googly, on off stump, Andre Russell gets down on one knee and has a mighty heave across the line. He connects with thin air and sees the ball knock back the off stump. Ravi Bishnoi is pumped and so are his teammates. Russell trudges off and Kolkata are now 5 wickets down.

SIX! BANG! Ravi Bishnoi misses his length and bowls it in the slot, around off, Andre Russell frees his arms and smokes it back over the bowler's head for a maximum.

Googly, short and turning in on leg, Andre Russell clears his front leg to heave this one away but misses.

Bowls it short and on off, Andre Russell looks to cut this one but gets cramped for room. Can only push this one to the left of the bowler for a dot.

FOUR! Cut away! Slightly shorter and on off, Rinku Singh gets the width he needs and latches onto the cut shot. Hits it wide of deep point for a much-needed boundary.

Rolls his fingers over the ball and bangs it in short, outside off, Rinku Singh waits for the ball to arrive and tries to upper cut but misses.

Touch fuller and on off, Andre Russell clears his front leg and hoicks it to wide long on for a single.

Goes short and outside off, Andre Russell slashes hard at the delivery but connects with thin air.

Pace on this time and on a good length, around off, Andre Russell pushes this one straight to cover-point.

Bowls a cutter on a length, outside off, Rinku Singh dabs this one to backward point and takes a quick single.

Bangs this in short as well and in line with the stumps. Andre Russell opts to duck under this one and let it go through to the keeper.

Bowls this short and outside the off stump. Andre Russell pulls this towards the mid on fielder.

Andre Russell walks out to bat.

OUT! CAUGHT! Some juggling act from Ravi Bishnoi but eventually holds onto the ball and Rahmanullah Gurbaz's stay at the wicket comes to an end! Yash Thakur has an uncanny habit of taking crucial wickets and this could be just as important. He bowls this slightly full and outside the off stump. Rahmanullah Gurbaz looks to go big but ends up slicing this towards deep point. Ravi Bishnoi comes running in from the deep and gets low to take the catch. The ball pops out but he manages to keep his composure and hold on to the cherry. Kolkata lose their fourth wicket and now it is on their finishers to get them over the line.

Bangs this in short and going down leg. Rahmanullah Gurbaz looks to pull this away and somehow gets it over the short fine leg fielder. They take a couple of runs as the ball is pulled back in front of the ropes.

Yash Thakur bowls this on a good length and just outside the off pole. Rahmanullah Gurbaz gets well outside the line of the stumps and looks to play this leg side but misses. The ball rolls into the off side off the pads and they look for a leg bye. Another over throw gives them an extra run.

Yash Thakur starts from 'round the wicket to the left-hander and bowls this short, just outside off. Rinku Singh pulls this towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Lucknow's Impact Player Yash Thakur comes into the attack now.

DROPPED! Ravi Bishnoi misses a big chance! Rinku Singh gets a lifeline and how costly will this prove for Lucknow? Ravi Bishnoi tosses this full and in line with the stumps. Rinku Singh drills this back towards the bowler. Ravi Bishnoi gets down low but is unable to hold on and the batters take a run as the ball goes towards the mid-wicket region.

Goes full once again and outside off. Rinku Singh pushes this to cover and sets off for one. Krunal Pandya takes aim at the non-striker's end and concedes an extra run on the overthrow.

Bowls this short and into the pads. Rahmanullah Gurbaz hits this aerially towards long on for a run. Brings up the 100 for Kolkata.

A fraction short this time and outside off. Rinku Singh cuts this towards deep point for a single.

FOUR! Rinku Singh releases some pressure here! Ravi Bishnoi flights this full and just outside the off pole. Rinku Singh drills this towards straightish long off for four runs.

Ravi Bishnoi fires this full and outside the off stump. Rinku Singh knocks this straight to the cover fielder.

Goes back to bowling short and into the pads. Rinku Singh flicks this towards deep square leg for one and will keep strike.

Flights this full and on an off-stump line. Rinku Singh dabs this towards point and looks for a single but is sent back by his partner.

Bowls this short and going down leg. Rinku Singh looks to whip this away but misses and gets hit on the pads.

Tosses this full and onto the pads. Rahmanullah Gurbaz tucks this through backward square leg for single.

WIDE! Fires this one down leg on a fuller length. Rahmanullah Gurbaz misses his flick and the umpire calls this wide.

Continues to bowl short and outside the off stump. Rinku Singh slaps this towards deep point for a run.

Krishnappa Gowtham bowls this short and outside the off pole. Rinku Singh rocks back and cuts this towards deep cover for a couple of runs.

A googly this time outside the off pole. Rinku Singh pushes at it and gets the ball off the outside part of his bat towards short third man. They rush for a run and that will be six singles in the over.

Loops this one full and outside the off pole. Rahmanullah Gurbaz tonks this towards the wide long off fielder and they take yet another single.

A low full toss bowled in line with the stumps. Rinku Singh clips this towards deep mid-wicket for another run.

Bowls this short and on a leg stump line. Rahmanullah Gurbaz flicks this uppishly towards deep square leg for a single.

Loops this one full and onto the pads. Rinku Singh eases this down to long on and takes one to get off the mark.

Ravi Bishnoi bowls this short and outside off. Rahmanullah Gurbaz cuts this towards deep cover-point for one.

OUT! TIMBER! Krunal Pandya gets a wicket on the last ball of his spell! It is the big wicket of Jason Roy and he is fuming! This is bowled a tad bit short and in line with the stumps. Jason Roy looks to work this leg side but misses and sees his middle stump pegged back. Krunal Pandya looks absolutely thrilled as he gets Lucknow the third wicket. Jason Roy keeps mumbling as he leaves the field and Kolkata are stumbling a bit after a quick start. Rinku Singh is the new man in.

Slightly short this time and just outside off. Rahmanullah Gurbaz flicks this towards deep mid-wicket for a run.

Bowls this full and going down leg. Jason Roy looks to make room and sweep this but misses. The ball rolls off the pads towards short third man for a leg bye.

Loops this one full and in line with the stumps. Rahmanullah Gurbaz flicks this towards deep square leg for a run.

Tosses this one full and outside the off pole. Rahmanullah Gurbaz dabs this towards cover.

Krunal Pandya bowls this really full and at the pads. Rahmanullah Gurbaz digs this out back to the bowler's right.

Shortens his length and bowls it on off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz rocks back and punches it to long on. Opens his account with a single.

Goes with the googly, full on off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz reads it well and solidly keeps this one out.

Fuller this time and on middle, Rahmanullah Gurbaz gets on the front foot and defends it down the wicket.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz finally walks out to the crease.

OUT! TAKEN! Ravi Bishnoi comes into the attack and strikes in his very first over! Bowls a googly, short and outside off, Nitish Rana goes back in his crease and tries to drag this one from outside off. The ball grips in the surface and Rana ends up closing the bat face early. Gets a leading edge and the ball lobs to cover where Krunal Pandya completes an easy catch. Ravi Bishnoi now has 100 T20 wickets.

Another googly, outside off, Nitish Rana shapes to cut but the ball keeps low and mishits it to extra cover.

Starts with a googly, short and outside off, Nitish Rana goes for the cut but misses.

FOUR! Sweeps and sweeps well does Jason Roy! Bowls a full delivery, on middle and leg, Jason Roy gets down in a flash and sweeps it wide of deep square leg for a boundary.

Full and on middle, Nitish Rana works this one to mid-wicket and gets to the other end.

Nicely bowled! Floats this one up, full and turning away, on off, Nitish Rana looks to push this one down the ground but gets beaten by the away turn.

Goes full on leg, Jason Roy gets down and sweeps it to deep backward square leg for a run.

Bowls it short around leg, Jason Roy crouches and pulls it towards deep mid-wicket. Nicholas Pooran there sprints to his right and keeps it to two with a diving stop.

Angled in around off, on a fuller length, Nitish Rana pushes this one to deep cover and takes a single.

Another one on the pads on a short length, Nitish Rana turns this one to short fine leg and keeps the strike with one.

FOUR! Easy pickings! Krunal Pandya misses his line and drifts down leg, Nitish Rana gets inside the line and helps this short delivery to the fine leg fence for his first boundary.

Slower and shorter, turning away, on off, Jason Roy waits and runs it down to short third man for a single.

Keeps it fuller and outside off, Nitish Rana drives this one to deep cover for one more run.

Bowls it slightly fuller, on off, Jason Roy reverse paddles it to short third man for a single.

Flatter and on middle and leg, Jason Roy looks to whip this one on the leg side but misses and gets rapped on the back leg.

Strategic break! Kolkata are off to a flier as they looked to go after the Lucknow bowlers from the word go. They did lose a wicket before the Powerplay ended but are well in front of the required rate. Lucknow need to take a few more quick wickets to wrench back some control or this game could go out of their hands very quickly.

Floats this one, full on off, Nitish Rana gets forward and keeps this one out on the off side.

Nitish Rana, the skipper of Kolkata walks out to the middle at number 3.

OUT! CAUGHT! Krishnappa Gowtham strikes and removes Venkatesh Iyer! Persists with short length and bowls it around off, Venkatesh Iyer goes on the back foot and looks to punch it on the off side. The ball stops in the surface and Iyer gets deceived by the slowness of the delivery. Ends up playing his shot early and chips a low catch to extra cover. Ravi Bishnoi stationed there does the rest and Lucknow have a much-needed breakthrough.

Keeps it short and on middle and leg, Jason Roy goes back in his crease and pulls it to deep square leg for one more run.

Drifts onto the pads on a short length, Jason Roy gets down and paddles it straight to short fine leg for a dot.

Slower and shorter, on off, Venkatesh Iyer opens the bat face and guides it to point for a single.

Short and just outside off, Venkatesh Iyer goes for the pull but mistimes it to square leg for a dot.

Bowls this on a shortish length and at the pads. Jason Roy knocks this to the fielder at mid on.

Floats this one onto the pads on a fuller length. Venkatesh Iyer flicks this towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Goes back to bowling short and in line with the stumps. Jason Roy pushes this to long off for a single.

Four! Lucky boundary but the Kolkata batters are swinging at everything! Krunal Pandya tosses this full and outside the off pole. Jason Roy goes for the slog sweep but gets an outside edge that trickles towards third man for yet another boundary.

FOUR! More runs for Kolkata and this has been a rollicking start by the hosts! This is short and at the stumps. Jason Roy backs away and cuts this towards deep cover-point for four more runs.

FOUR! Jason Roy with a bit of innovation here! Krunal Pandya bowls this full and at the pads. Jason Roy reverse sweeps this to deep point for four runs.

Short and outside the off pole. Jason Roy goes for the pull shot and skies this towards deep square leg. The fielder does not judge this at all and they get a single.

WIDE! Bowls this full and well down leg side. Jason Roy goes for the sweep but misses and the umpire calls this wide.

Continues to bowl short and at the stumps. Venkatesh Iyer shuffled down the wicket and pushes this down to long on for one more.

Short this time and angled into the stumps. Venkatesh Iyer goes on the back foot and knocks this towards wide long off for a couple of runs.

Halt! Seems like Venkatesh Iyer has pulled his back and is in some pain. Iyer is back on his feet after receiving the treatment and we are good to go now.

Full and outside the off pole this time. Venkatesh Iyer goes for the sweep shit again but misses. Seems to have done something to his bat while playing the shot as he has gone down on the floor.

FOUR! Venkatesh Iyer gets this one away to the fence! Krishnappa Gowtham tosses this full and at the pads. Venkatesh Iyer sweeps this to deep backward square leg for four runs.

Krishnappa Gowtham bowls this short and outside off. Venkatesh Iyer goes deep in the crease and punches this to the cover fielder.

Krishnappa Gowtham is introduced into the attack.

Flights this one full and just outside the off pole. Jason Roy looks to slog sweep this and swings his blade hard but does no connect. The ball just misses the stumps.

Attacks the stumps on a fuller length. Jason Roy blocks this back towards the bowler.

Short this time and outside the off pole. Venkatesh Iyer pulls this towards deep square leg for a run.

Loops this one full and in line with the stumps. Venkatesh Iyer looks to heave this into the leg side but mistimes this to mid-wicket.

Short this time and angled into the batter. Jason Roy makes room and knocks this towards long off for one.

FOUR! Krunal Pandya gets the same treatment the other bowlers have been getting! This is tossed up full and outside off. Jason Roy sweeps this towards deep backward square leg for four runs.

Naveen-ul-Haq bowls this full and angles this into the stumps. Jason Roy flicks this towards long on for an easy run and will keep strike.

Halt! Naveen-ul-Haq has taken a blow to his left hand and needs medical attention. We are all set for the game to resume now.

Continues to bowl on a good length and outside off. Jason Roy drills this towards cover but finds the fielder this time.

FOUR! Naveen-ul-Haq bowls this on a good length and in line with the stumps. Jason Roy shuffles down the wicket as he makes room and slaps this to deep cover point for four more runs.

SIX! Jason Roy has made that look so easy! Naveen-ul-Haq bowls full and just outside off. Jason Roy clears his front foot out of the way and creams this straight back past the bowler for six runs.

FOUR! Jason Roy joins the party and gets his first boundary! This is back of a length and outside off. Jason Roy pulls this towards deep mid-wicket for four runs.

Naveen-ul-Haq bowls this on a good length and wide outside off. Jason Roy leans into the shot and punches this to the point fielder.

FOUR! Kolkata are off to a flier! Mohsin Khan bowls this onto the pads on a good length. Easy pickings for Venkatesh Iyer as he flicks this to the right of short fine leg for four runs to deep backward square leg. 15 runs in the first over.

SIX! Varun Chakaravarthy is making is intent clear early to the Lucknow bowlers! Mohsin Khan bowls this short and outside off. Venkatesh Iyer charges down the wicket and pulls this over deep square leg for six runs.

Goes full this time and at the pads. Venkatesh Iyer clips this towards the mid on fielder.

FOUR! Venkatesh Iyer opens his account with a cracking boundary! Mohsin Khan bowls this slightly short and outside off. Venkatesh Iyer stands tall and punches this towards deep point for four runs.

On a good length this time and outside the off pole, Jason Roy guides this down to third man for a single.

Mohsin Khan begins with a back-of-a-length delivery bowled in line with the stumps. Jason Roy looks to pull this away but misses.

FOUR! A good finish to the inning and these are useful runs for the visitors! This is bowled on a length and outside the off stump. Krishnappa Gowtham hits this on the up and dispatches it to the deep cover fence for four runs.

SIX! Krishnappa Gowtham gets one away over the boundary and this will take the score above the 170-run mark! Short and outside the off pole. Krishnappa Gowtham pulls this over deep mid-wicket for six runs.

A slower ball bowled full and outside off. Krishnappa Gowtham looks to open the face of the bat and work this towards third man but misses.

Goes full and outside off. Naveen-ul-Haq gets across to the off side and looks to paddle but misses. The ball rolls off the pads and they steal a leg bye.

Low full toss around leg from 'round the wicket, Krishnappa Gowtham knocks it down to long on for a single.

Andre Russell bowls this full and in line with the stumps. Naveen-ul-Haq looks to go leg side but gets a leading edge over the bowler's head for a single.

Andre Russell will bowl the final over.

Bowls this back of a length and outside the off pole. Naveen-ul-Haq fends this awkwardly towards cover-point and they take a run.

Naveen-ul-Haq walks out to the middle.

OUT! BOWLED! Shardul Thakur has two wickets in one over and Lucknow are falling apart in the death overs! This is bowled on a good length and outside the off stump. Ravi Bishnoi looks to swing his blade across the line but misses and the ball hits the off pole. Lucknow are now eight wickets down and dont seem to have enough on the board.

Nails the yorker at the stumps. Ravi Bishnoi digs this out towards deep mid-wicket for couple of runs.

WIDE! Bowls this short and wide outside off. Ravi Bishnoi looks to swing wildly but misses. The umpire calls this wide.

Ravi Bishnoi comes out to bat.

OUT! CAUGHT! It looks like Shardul Thakur will have the last laugh! He continues to bowl full and outside the off pole as he takes it a touch wider. Nicholas Pooran looks to go aerial on the off side once again but does not get the full meat of the bat. The ball is sliced high towards the fielder at deep backward point and Venkatesh Iyer makes the catch look easy. Lucknow are seven wickets down now and the dangerous Nicholas Pooran has to depart.

SIX! This is even better from Nicholas Pooran! Shardul Thakur goes full and outside the off pole. Nicholas Pooran has to get under this as he creams this over deep backward point for six more runs.

SIX! That is FIFTY for Nicholas Pooran and he is keeping his side well in the hunt! Shardul Thakur bowls this short and outside off. Nicholas Pooran cuts this over deep backward point for six runs.

Krishnappa Gowtham is the new man in.

OUT! CAUGHT! Won't be third time lucky for Ayush Badoni! Sunil Narine continues to flight the ball full and outside the off pole. Ayush Badoni looks to slog sweep this one but gets a top edge this time. The ball goes hight towards deep mid-wicket where Shardul Thakur settles under the ball to take a good catch. The partnership comes to an end for Lucknow and they are now six wickets down.

SIX! Ayush Badoni has decided to up the ante! Sunil Narine floats this full and outside off. Ayush Badoni flat bats this over long on for a maximum.

FOUR! Ayush Badoni finally shows some intent here! Sunil Narine floats this full and on an off-stump line. Ayush Badoni lofts this towards deep mid-wicket for four runs.

Loops this one full and just outside off. Nicholas Pooran dabs this towards the cover with soft hands and sets off for a run.

Tosses this full and outside off. Ayush Badoni thumps this down to long off for another single.

WIDE! Bowls this full and well outside the off pole. Ayush Badoni leaves this one alone and the umpire says this will be wide.

Sunil Narine bowls this slightly short and going down leg. Nicholas Pooran paddles this towards short fine leg and takes a run.

Goes wide outside off once again on a fuller length. Nicholas Pooran knocks this towards deep backward point for a single.

WIDE! Another short ball directed at the batter. Nicholas Pooran looks to pull this one away but misses and it will be the third wide in the over.

FOUR! Streaky boundary but much-needed for Lucknow! This is bowled on a yorker length but wide outside off. Nicholas Pooran gets bat to this and slices this towards third man for four runs.

WIDE! Bowls this short and wide outside the off pole. Nicholas Pooran looks to reach for it and slap it away but misses. The umpire indicates wide once again but Nitish Rana decides to review this. Replays seem to show that the ball is close to the bat but the third umpire reckons that the onfield decision can stay.

A slower ball bowled full and outside the off pole. Nicholas Pooran attempts a switch hit but does not connect.

Wide! Bowls a full toss well beyond the tram line on the off side. Nicholas Pooran leaves this one alone and the umpire calls this wide.

Bangs this in short and outside the off pole. Ayush Badoni mistimes his pull shot towards deep mid-wicket for one more.

Comes 'round the wicket and bowls this full and wide outside off. Nicholas Pooran drills this towards deep cover-point for a single.

Vaibhav Arora bowls this full and angles it into the stumps from outside off. Ayush Badoni eases this down to long on for a run.

Floats this one full and outside the off pole. Ayush Badoni shimmies down the wicket and thumps this towards deep cover for a single to retain strike.

Tosses this one full and just outside the off pole. Nicholas Pooran dabs this towards cover with soft hands and takes one.

Slightly short and pitching outside leg. Nicholas Pooran sweeps this straight to the short third man fielder. Nicholas Pooran looks for a run but is sent back by Ayush Badoni. There is a run out appeal but replays show that the batter has made it back to his crease.

A low full toss at the pads. Ayush Badoni clips this towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Loops this one full and wide outside off. Ayush Badoni looks to go hard at the ball but is beaten by the lack of pace.

Varun Chakaravarthy bowls this full and in line with the stumps. Ayush Badoni blocks this back to the bowler.

FOUR! Short and punished! Suyash Sharma continues to go short and bowls it on off, Nicholas Pooran rocks on the back foot in a flash and pulls it to the left of long on for four more runs. An expensive first over by Suyash Sharma, 12 runs came off it.

Slowed up again and short, turning away, outside off, Nicholas Pooran goes for the pull but the ball keeps low and sneaks under his bat.

Another googly, short and turning in, on off, Ayush Badoni reads it well and whips it to deep mid-wicket. Wants the second run but has to settle for a single.

Slower this time and short, around off, Nicholas Pooran goes back and taps it front of point for a quick single.

Flatter and shorter, outside off, Nicholas Pooran goes back to pull but mishits his shot. The ball rolls past the keeper for a dot.

SIX! Suyash Sharma is greeted with a maximum! Starts with a googly and on a fuller length, Nicholas Pooran fetches this one from outside off and slog sweeps it over wide long on for a biggie.

Strategic break! Kolkata bossed the middle phase of this game and have sent have of Lucknow's side back to the hut. The visitors will be disappointed with their shot selection as they looked to go hard despite the situation they were in. They have a nice partnership building now between Nicholas Pooran and Ayush Badoni and will hope that these two can push them to a decent total. Kolkata will be eager to break this partnership and get into the tail as soon as possible.

FOUR! Nicely played! Fraction short and outside off, Ayush Badoni hangs on the back foot and gets the width he needs. Cuts it late and along the ground, through backward point for a boundary.

Flighted, fuller on off and middle, Ayush Badoni gets on the front foot and defends it to short cover.

Slows it up a touch, short and turning away, just outside off, Nicholas Pooran steers it wide of short third man for a run.

Bowls it short again and on off, Ayush Badoni stays on the back foot and punches it to deep point for one.

Short and quicker, around off, Ayush Badoni hangs back to push it on the off side but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Flatter and on off, Nicholas Pooran opens the bat face and guides it to short third man for a quick single.

Drifts onto the pads on a length, Ayush Badoni tucks this one in front of deep square leg for a couple of runs more.

Short and turning away, outside off, Ayush Badoni reaches out to cut but misses.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Ayush Badoni gets behind the line and blocks this one from the front foot.

On a slightly short length, Nicholas Pooran gets down and sweeps it to deep square leg for one more run.

Slower and short, around off, Nicholas Pooran looks to run this one down to third man but gets an inside edge that rolls behind the wicket for a dot.

SIX! Nicholas Pooran goes straight this time! Floated, full on off, Nicholas Pooran plants his foot forward and tonks this one back over the sight screen for a maximum.

Bowls this one quicker and on the pads on a short length, Nicholas Pooran goes back in his crease and tickles it to fine leg. Retains the strike with a single.

Gives the ball air and bowls it fuller, on off, Nicholas Pooran gets forward and keeps this one out on the off side.

Keeps it short and just outside off, Nicholas Pooran cuts this one late but straight to short third man.

Shortens his length and bowls it around leg, Ayush Badoni goes back and tucks this one to deep square leg for a single.

Tossed up, fuller on middle, Nicholas Pooran gets on the front foot and drops this one in front of cover for a quick single.

Fraction short and turning away, on off, Nicholas Pooran dabs this one to backward point.

Kolkata bring on Suyash Sharma as their Impact Player, replacing Harshit Rana.

Continues to bowl short and wide outside off. Ayush Badoni looks to cut and gets an under edge back down on the pitch.

Short this time and outside the off pole. Nicholas Pooran cuts this straight to deep cover-point for a run.

SIX! Nicholas Pooran has three boundaries on his first three deliveries! This is tossed up full and just outside the off pole. Nicholas Pooran clears his front foot out of the way and deposits this straight back over the bowler's head for a massive hit.

FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries! Varun Chakaravarthy bowls this short and outside the off pole. Nicholas Pooran cuts this late and the ball races to the vacant third man region for four more runs.

FOUR! Lucky boundary to get Nicholas Pooran off the mark! Varun Chakaravarthy tosses this full and outside the off pole. Nicholas Pooran pushes at the ball and gets an outside edge that flies to third man for four runs.

Nicholas Pooran walks out to the middle.

OUT! Poor shot selection here by Quinton de Kock and he perishes looking to play a big shot! Varun Chakaravarthy flights this full and outside the off pole. Quinton de Kock looks to slog sweep this but miscues this high into the air towards deep mid-wicket. Andre Russell seems to have over-run the ball slightly but adjusts well to take a catch. Lucknow have now lost half their side and Kolkata are right on top of this tie.

Delivers this onto the pads on a fuller length. Quinton de Kock flicks this towards deep mid-wicket for one and will keep strike.

Floats this one full as well and outside off. Ayush Badoni dabs this towards cover and takes one to open his account.

Ayush Badoni comes in at number 6.

OUT! Another one bites the dust and this time it is the Lucknow skipper who makes the long walk back to the hut! Sunil Narine tosses this full and in line with the stumps. Krunal Pandya looks to sweep this over the deep square leg boundary but does not connect well. The ball goes high into the air and Rinku Singh comes running in from the deep to take a fine catch. Lucknow are now four wickets down with most of their key players dismissed. Kolkata wanted to see a performance like this by their bowlers.

Bowls this full and pitching outside leg. Quinton de Kock attempts a reverse sweep and hits this straight to deep point.

Loops this one full and at the pads. Quinton de Kock dabs this to the left of the bowler.

Sunil Narine floats this one full and outside off. Krunal Pandya knocks this uppishly towards long off for a single.

Short this time and outside the off stump. Quinton de Kock mistimes his cut towards the cover fielder.

Bowls full once again and outside off. Krunal Pandya pushes this towards mid off for a quick single.

Quinton de Kock misses out on the Free Hit! This is a low full toss outside off. Quinton de Kock lofts this towards long off for a run.

NO BALL! A wild delivery by Shardul Thakur as he bowls a full toss well away from the batter outside off. Quinton de Kock leaves this and the umpire calls a no ball for a waist-high full toss. Free Hit coming up...

Continues to bowl full and just outside off. Krunal Pandya steps across to the stumps and flicks this towards long on for a single.

SIX! This has been well-struck by Krunal Pandya as he just about clears the ropes! Shardul Thakur bowls full and outside the off pole. Krunal Pandya lofts this over the infield towards long off for six runs.

Shardul Thakur begins with a short ball bowled outside off. Quinton de Kock cuts this to deep point fo a run.

Bowls this quicker and outside the off pole on a shortish length. Krunal Pandya looks to slap this away but gets beaten on the outside edge.

On an off-stump line and bowled on a shorter length. Krunal Pandya looks to cut but gets cramped for room as he knocks this towards backward point.

Back to bowling short and just outside the off pole. Quinton de Kock cross bats this down to long on for one.

Goes full this time and pitching outside leg. Quinton de Kock looks to work this leg side but misses and gets hit on his pads.

Continues to bowl short and outside off. Quinton de Kock pulls this towards deep mid-wicket and a good stop by Jason Roy keeps them down to two runs.

Nitish Rana bowls this short and outside the off stump. Quinton de Kock cuts this straight to the point fielder.

Bowls this on a good length and at the pads. Krunal Pandya blocks this towards mid-wicket.

Krunal Pandya is the new man in.

OUT! CAUGHT! Marcus Stoinis departs on a duck and what a setback this is for Lucknow! Another well-directed bouncer by Vaibhav Arora and he gets some extra bounce off the surface as well. Marcus Stoinis looks to fend this awkwardly and gets his gloves to the ball. It lobs up to the wide slipfielder where Venkatesh Iyer has the easiest of catches to take. Vaibhav Arora has two wickets in an over and Lucknow find themselves three down in no time.

Bowls this back of a length and in line with the stumps. Marcus Stoinis looks to get on his toes and block this but gets squared up. The ball hits him on the just off the gloves.

Strategic break! The wicket of Prerak Mankad just before the strategic break has pegged Lucknow back slightly. Prerak Mankad and Quinton de Kock took their time but were starting to build a good partnership. The onus is now on de Kock to take the innings forward with the rest of the batting unit. On the other hand, Kolkata began well but leaked a lot of runs towards the fag end of the Powerplay. They will be relieved to see the back of Mankad and will look to tighten the screws in this next passage of play. Marcus Stoinis comes out to bat now.

OUT! CAUGHT! Vaibhav Arora gets a wicket just after the Powerplay and Prerak Mankad's enterprising knock comes to an end! This is short and wide outside the off pole. Prerak Mankad charges down the wicket and has to reach for the ball. He cuts this high into the air and the ball hangs in the air for a considerable period. Harshit Rana at deep point comes running in from the deep and takes a well-judged catch as he cannot be kept of the game so far. Lucknow lose their second wicket and they will be hoping to stitch together a decent partnership. Kolkata needed this breakthrough as the scoring rate was increasing consistently.

Slightly short this time and outside the off pole. Quinton de Kock slaps this towards deep point for a single.

Vaibhav Arora bowls a slower delivery from 'round the wicket and serves this full, just outside off. Quinton de Kock gets an inside edge onto his pads as the ball rolls down the pitch.

FOUR! Nicely swept! Flighted delivery, full and on off, Prerak Mankad gets down quickly and sweeps this one in the air. Gets it in the gap towards deep mid-wicket for four more runs.

Tossed up, on off and middle, Prerak Mankad flicks this one towards deep mid-wicket and collects a couple of runs more.

Four Byes! Bowls a googly, fuller and turning in on leg, Prerak Mankad gets beaten in the flight as he went for the drive. Rahmanullah Gurbaz misses as well and the ball races away to the fence.

FOUR! Just over! Keeps it slower and shorter on middle, Prerak Mankad goes on the back foot and pulls it towards mid-wicket. Does not middle this one but gets enough to clear mid-wicket for a boundary.

Floats it up nicely, googly, around leg, Prerak Mankad clears his front leg to whip this one but misses. The ball comes off his pads and rolls to third man for a dot.

Starts on a short length, outside off, Quinton de Kock goes back and punches it down to long on for a single.

FOUR! Prerak Mankad has found his touch here! Harshit Rana goes length this time, around off, Prerak Mankad creates room and powers this one over mid off for yet another boundary. A good over for Lucknow, 12 runs came off it.

Rolls his fingers over the ball and bowls it short, on off, Prerak Mankad looks to cut but does not time this one. The ball drops in front of point and Mankad wants a single but de Kock says no.

FOUR! Hammered! On a hard length, Prerak Mankad picks the length early and frees his arms by moving to the leg side. Flat bats it through extra cover for four more runs.

Good bumper! Banged in short and directed at the batter, Prerak Mankad goes for the pull but the ball climbs on him and he misses.

Nails the yorker, on off, Prerak Mankad shuffles and clips it to mid-wicket for a dot.

FOUR! Prerak Mankad gets into the act now! Back of a length, on off, Prerak Mankad backs away and slaps it hard. Gets it through covers for his first boundary.

SIX! Cracking shot! On a fuller length, on off and middle, Quinton de Kock walks across in the crease and picks the ball from the stumps. Helps it over fine leg for six more runs.

Slightly shorter, on middle and leg, Quinton de Kock swivels in the crease and pulls it wide of Sunil Narine at mid-wicket. Rinku Singh from deep square leg runs to his right and keeps it to two.

Sees the batter shuffle and bowls it at him, on a good length, Prerak Mankad pushes this one to mid on and takes a single.

Bowls it into the wicket and at the batter, Prerak Mankad is beaten for pace as he goes for the pull. Mishits it uppishly towards cover for a dot.

NO BALL! Length delivery this time and outside off, Prerak Mankad slashes hard at the delivery but does not connect. Vaibhav Arora has overstepped and a Free Hit will follow now.

On a good length and outside off, Prerak Mankad shuffles across and gets down on one knee. Paddles this one towards deep square leg for a couple of runs.

Goes full and outside off, Prerak Mankad goes for an expansive drive but connects with thin air.

Bowls it around leg, on a shortish length, Prerak Mankad tucks this one off his hips towards backward square leg and opens his account with a single.

Persists on a hard length, on middle, Prerak Mankad looks to whip this one on the leg side but gets an inside edge onto his thigh pad. The ball rolls behind the wicket for a dot.

On a good length, in the channel outside off, at 147.7 kph, Prerak Mankad gets on the front foot and keeps this one out on the off side.

Prerak Mankad makes his way out to the middle and will bat at number 3.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Harshit Rana draws first blood! Bends his back and bangs it in short at the batter, Karan Sharma is no position to pull this one but still goes through with the shot. Gets hurried and the ball comes off the splice of the bat. Lobs the simplest of catches to Shardul Thakur at mid-wicket who does the rest. Harshit Rana is delighted and so are the home fans.

On a shorter length and on off, Quinton de Kock runs this one down to third man and rotates the strike.

SIX! Quinton de Kock goes huge! Full delivery and outside off, Quinton de Kock walks across and smokes this one with ease. Deposits it over deep mid-wicket for his first maximum.

Good running! On a length and on off, Quinton de Kock drops this one in front of cover and scampers across for a quick single.

Keeps it full and swinging in sharply, on off, Karan Sharma looks to drive it on the up but gets an inside edge towards square leg for a single.

On a good length and outside off, Quinton de Kock goes for the drive away from his body and gets an outside edge that rolls to third man for one.

Quinton de Kock gets off the mark now! Fuller delivery, on off, Quinton de Kock drives this one a bit uppishly towards cover-point. The ball drops in front of the diving fielder and goes through his hands. The batters run two in the process.

A reprieve for Quinton de Kock! Back of a length around off by Vaibhav Arora, Karan Sharma stays on the back foot and taps it in front of backward point. He sets off for a quick single and Quinton de Kock obliges. The fielder misses the shy at the batter's end and the replays show that Quinton de Kock was a goner had the throw hit.

Begins his spell with a full delivery, tailing in on off, Karan Sharma uses his feet and drives it crisply to mid off.

Vaibhav Arora will share the attack and bowl from the other end.

Make that five dots in a row! On a good length and swinging away, in the corridor of uncertainty on off, Quinton de Kock has a poke at the delivery and gets beaten once again. A probing first over by Harshit Rana.

Keeps it on a length and going away, outside off, Quinton de Kock reaches out to go through the off side but misses. Four dots on the trot by Harshit Rana.

Beauty! Goes full and swinging away, in the channel outside off, Quinton de Kock gets lured into the drive and gets beaten on the outside edge.

Bowls on a good length near the tramline on off, Quinton de Kock thinks its a wide and lets the ball go. The umpire doesn't think so and it is a fair delivery.

On a hard length and angling across, outside off from over the wicket, Quinton de Kock watchfully leaves the ball alone.

Karan Sharma and Lucknow are underway! Harshit Rana starts on a back of a length, shaping in, around off, Karan Sharma hangs back and guides it to third man for a single.

We are all set for the game to begin as the umpires make their way out to the middle. The Kolkata players walk onto the field before taking their respective positions. Quinton de Kock and Karan Sharma will open the inning for Lucknow and will want to get a good partnership going here.  Harshit Rana has the new ball in his hand and is ready to begin proceedings. Let's play...

Krunal Pandya, the captain of Lucknow says that if they won the toss they would have fielded first as well but at the end of the day, they need to play good cricket. Mentions that they know where they stand so the focus is on what they have to do tonight. Claims that it has been a complete team performance under pressure as a batting team and they have defended well.  Reckons that the need to do the same by putting a good total on the board and then defending the target. Informs that they have a couple of changes.

Nitish Rana, the skipper of Kolkata says that they will bowl first. Mentions that there isn't any strategy behind this decision. Adds that they need to win by a big margin and says that they want to finish the season on a good note with this being their final home game. Shares that there have been many positives such as Rinku Singh, their fast bowling, Jason Roy's starts, and Suyash Sharma. Ends by informing that they are going with the same team as the last game.

Impact Players for Lucknow - Yash Thakur, Daniel Sams, Yudhvir Singh, Deepak Hooda, Kyle Mayers.

Lucknow (Playing XI) - Quinton de Kock (WK), Karan Sharma, Prerak Mankad, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Krunal Pandya (C), Ayush Badoni, Krishnappa Gowtham, Ravi Bishnoi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mohsin Khan.

Impact Players for Kolkata - Mandeep Singh, Suyash Sharma, Anukul Roy, Narayan Jagadeesan, David Wiese.

Kolkata (Playing XI) - Jason Roy, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Nitish Rana (C), Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, Shardul Thakur, Sunil Narine, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy.

TOSS - The captains are out in the middle. The coin is flipped into the air and lands in favor of Kolkata. They have elected to BOWL first.

On the other hand, Lucknow have a better momentum, coming off two wins on the bounce. Moreover, a win in this fixture will help them seal a spot in the playoffs. Their batting is firing on all cylinders, and they will need to be on top of their game in this important clash. Their spinners have been successful in spinning a web, and it will be upon the pace attack to complement them. Will Lucknow get the two points and seal their playoff berth? Let’s find out. Toss and teams coming up shortly.

Kolkata come into this game on the back of a confidence-boosting victory over Chennai in their last outing. Despite the win, the hosts find their qualification hopes hanging by a thread, and they require a big win this evening to have any chance of making it to the playoffs. The batting unit is clicking at a crucial juncture in the competition, which is a big plus for them. The spinners starred in the last outing and will be crucial to their team’s chances in this game.

Hello and a warm welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to our coverage of match number 68 of the 2023 Indian T20 League, where Kolkata go up against Lucknow at the Eden Gardens. This promises to be a cracker of a game between two sides jostling for a spot in the playoffs.

... MATCH DAY …

We have reached that phase of the competition where the final pieces of the puzzle are set to fall in the group stages of the 16th edition of the Indian T20 League. While some teams are in a position where they have fate in their own hands, others are dependent on results to go in their favor to have a sniff at making it to the playoffs. We arrive at match number 68 where two sides facing similar contrasting situations clash against each other in the quest to keep their tournament hopes alive. Kolkata welcome Lucknow to the Eden Gardens in the City of Joy and the hosts will be hoping for a comprehensive win before waiting for the results on Sunday to see if they make it through to the next round. They have six wins in 13 games and will need both Mumbai and Delhi to lose their final games to come level on points with them, so they will also be playing this encounter with net run-rate in mind. If Mumbai and Delhi do lose their fixture, Lucknow will qualify irrespective of the result in this game as no other team will be able to get more than the 15 points they have. However, they will be eager to win this game and confirm their position in the top four with their own performance having started the tournament strong. A slight stumble around the time they lost their regular skipper KL Rahul had them slightly worried but wins in the last two games have put them back in a position of strength in terms of the standings on the table. Quinton de Kock has cemented his place into the side as he looks to be in good form and has been solid with the gloves but Kyle Mayers lost his place in the team to accommodate Naveen-ul-Haq as an overseas option in the bowling department. Deepak Hooda was assigned the task of opening the inning last time around and that experiment did not work but there has been consistency from their middle order comprising Marcus Stoinis, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, and Nicholas Pooran. Mohsin Khan seems to be hitting his stride after returning from injury but it is Yash Thakur who has been given the responsibility of bowling in the death overs and has an uncanny ability to pick up crucial wickets. Ravi Bishnoi and Krunal Pandya spearhead the spin bowling unit with Amit Mishra used in rotation and he could have a role to play on the Eden Gardens wicket. Kolkata looked down and out at one stage as they were dependent on the excellence of individual players to help them win their handful of games at the start. They have managed to gel together better recently and three wins in the last four matches have helped them keep their qualification hopes alive. Jason Roy has been instrumental in their turn of fortunes but Rahmanullah Gurbaz has faded away a fraction after his explosive start. The home side will want these two to fire in this encounter as they look for a quick start to their inning and that will allow their potent middle order of Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh, and Andre Russell to play freely. They will once again want to test their opponent with a barrage of spin as Varun Chakaravarthy, Sunil Narine, and Suyash Sharma can all be a handful on their day. Harshit Rana has accepted the responsibility of being the frontline pace bowler with open arms and the management seems to be backing the talent of Vaibhav Arora. The two teams have not faced each other in this edition so far and they will need to analyze each other at the earliest as this could be their last chance going forward. Will Lucknow seal a crucial win and cement their spot in the top four? Or will Kolkata continue to come from behind and put themselves in a position to sneak through to the playoffs? We will find out soon.