IPL 2016: Kolkata Knight Riders beat Kings XI Punjab by 7 runs

Updated: 04 May 2016 23:54 IST - Published: 03 May 2016 23:40 IST

So, this last-over thriller makes way to another crucial match between two teams that are at the opposite corners of the table, the Delhi Daredevils and the Rising Pune Supergiants, at the Feroz Shah Kotla, Dlehi. The game begins at 20:00 hrs (IST) and Sportskeeda's live coverage begins at 18:30 (IST). Do join us tomorrow for the game. Cheers!

KKR have now moved to the top of the table, while KXIP have sunk to the bottom. What a contrast between two teams who almost neck-to-neck tonight.

ANDRE RUSSELL has been adjudged as the MAN OF THE MATCH, and now he also has the PURPLE CAP!

"I still thought that we were 10 runs short when we started, but then the pitch slows down towards the second innings. The way bowlers bowled, especially Russell and Morkel, getting wickets early in the game, was very important. We can't be complacent. We saw what happened in the last season, when we couldn't qualify for the playoffs despite being at the top of the table for a very long time. So we can't be complacent and have to keep winning," says Gautam Gambhir, the KKR captain.

Barring his penultimate over of length Andre Russell's bowling has really improved in the last year and a half. Super cricketer. #yorkers.
— ian bishop (@irbishi) May 4, 2016

"For Maxi to pull off a knock like that was unbelievable. Axar got out at the wrong time. Lot of positives to take for us. We are bowling really well and the bowlers were up to the mark. Sandeep and Mohit were brilliant at the death. It is a great game to be part of. We are just looking forward the games coming up for us. We are keeping it simple. Hashim Amla came today morning, so we thought we will give him a break and make use of him in the future games," said Murali Vijay, the KXIP captain.

This Andre Russell is a complete player. Just made for T20s.#KKRvKXIP #IPL
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) May 4, 2016

What a humdinger we've had. After KXIP's dismal start that game looked to be all but over, but out walked Maxwell and changed the momentum of the game within the space of a few overs. But the game wasn't done there either. Chawla bowled a brilliant over which included the wicket of the Aussie to bring KKR back. With Miller not finding the middle of the bat, the game looked to be going KKR's way, but Axar Patel, fresh from a hattrick in the last game walked out to bat and immediately started hitting sixes as if he was born to do so tonight. He made 21 off 7 to swing the game back to Punjab's favour, before a masterclass from Russell in the last over sealed the deal for the home side and broke thousands of Punjabi hearts.

19.6 Andre Russell to Sandeep Sharma, 1 run, down the ground, back to Russell. KKR WIN BY 7 RUNS. KXIP have squandered their winning position, take a bow Russell, with the bat, with the ball, and then in the field. What a player, what a star, S-E-N-S-A-T-I-O-N-A-L.

Russell, you beauty! What a last over. He now has the opportunity to take a 5-wicket-haul and warp up the Punjab innings off the last ball of the game.

19.5 Andre Russell to Swapnil, OUT! Full and fast, LBW. Andre Russell cannot be stopped. Well the replays suggest that ball might have be sliding down the leg side. Who cares, KKR certainly don't. The Kings Innings has come to a standstill. Game, set and match.

19.4 Andre Russell to Mohit Sharma, 1 run, length and outside off, Mohit closes his eyes and tries to pull it, takes the face of the bat and rolls on the off side.

Mohit Sharma walks in to bat.

Suicide follows heartbreak for KXIP, as Mann tried to invent a run and was short by a distance greater than the one between Kolkata and Mohali!

19.3 Andre Russell to Mann, 1 RUN AND MANN RUN OUT! Full delivery, smashed towards long off, the batsmen panicked and tried to get the second when there was none, easiest run out in the world for KKR. Uthappa knocks the bail off and jumps into the air, Russell is pumped, the crowd in Kolkata has come alive!

Well, if Russell doesn't get you with the ball, he'll get you in the field. Axar would be absolutely heat-broken there. What a player this Caribbean is!

19.2 Andre Russell to Mann, AXAR PATEL RUN OUT! This is not fair to the rest of the IPL, KKR have a match winner in the form of his life! Bowls it full, Mann only manages to dig it out back to Russell, he dives it, he saves it, he takes aim at the stumps at the non strikers end, he smashes it! Axar has to walk back and he wasn't even directly involved in his dismissal. Ridiculous piece of cricket from Andre Russell. Surely he will win the game for his team now. SUPERMAN RUSSELL!

Axar is batting with a strike rate of 300 at the moment! A Spartan moment on the cards?

19.1 Andre Russell to Axar Patel, 1 run, full and outside off, smashed towards long off for a single.

So, 12 runs needed off the last 6 balls of the match. Axar, within the space of 6 balls has turned the match on its head once again. Remember that KKR's last over went for just 5 runs! Here's Russell!

18.6 Morne Morkel to Axar Patel, 1 run, full ball, edge onto the pads, towards midwicket, they cross for a single. Russell vs Axar. Let's go.

18.5 Morne Morkel to Axar Patel, 2 runs, full and straight, gets an edge towards midwicket, they cross for a brace.

18.4 Morne Morkel to Mann, 1 run, full and on off, drilled towards extra cover.

18.3 Morne Morkel to Axar Patel, 1 run, full and outside off, dug out towards the covers.

18.2 Morne Morkel to Axar Patel, FOUR! Short delivery, Patel was waiting on that, sits in his crease, and cuts it over the wicket keeper's head. NERVES OF STEEL, this one today. Wow! Such a cool head by Axar. That was as sublime an upper cut as there could ever be.

18.1 Morne Morkel to Mann, 1 run, full and on off, guided towards deep cover to give AXAR the strike back.

Morkel to bowl the 19th over. Will this be the time when Punjab's last two overs when they weer bowling come back to benefit them and haunt the Knight Riders?

A hattrick can boost a bowler's confidence so much, that he can come in to bat and start smashing sixes straight away!

17.6 Andre Russell to Axar Patel, SIX! Russell drags back his length, bowls this short and straight, Patel sits back and smashes this over midwicket. He has needed no time to get in today.

What a shot by Axar! Was Miller's wicket a blessing in disguise for Punjab?

17.5 Andre Russell to Axar Patel, SIX! Full ball, on off, off cutter as well, Axar read it early and plays it over long on with EASE! That was hit high and long and landed deep into the stands. There was a free swing of the bat and the result was exactly what Axar wanted.

17.4 Andre Russell to Mann, 1 run, back of a length, Mann backs away and guides it to backward point.

Meanwhile, Russell's figures read 2.3-0-3-3 at the moment! Axar Patel walks out to bat.

Miller, who was batting on 13 of 17 balls juts hit a high full toss straight into the hands of the man at long on. Was it a no-ball? No, it wasn't. The worst possible end to a struggling innings by Miller.

17.3 Andre Russell to Miller, OUT. High full toss, Miller tries to play this over the boundary rope, is caught by Sathish running in from long on. They are checking whether it's a no ball. One angle showed it being over the waist, the other below. Bummer for Miller who never got going today.

17.2 Andre Russell to Miller, no run, slower off cutter, Miller tries to sweep it but it goes way under the bat.

17.1 Andre Russell to Miller, no run, back of a length and straight, tries to pull it over the square leg boundary, misses.

Russell brought back!

35 needed off 18 balls. Miller has to do it tonight for KXIP. But he can't middle the ball at the moment.

16.6 Shakib Al Hasan to Mann, FOUR. Full toss, chipped it straight past the bowler's head for a crucial boundary. Hit the boundary cushions on a half volley. This was an excellent over, until that last ball that went for four, under pressure by Shakib.

16.5 Shakib Al Hasan to Mann, no run, full and slow, tries to slog it, gets an inside edge onto the pads.

16.4 Shakib Al Hasan to Miller, 1 run, low full toss, backs away and smacks it, but once again finds a fielder, at long off.

16.3 Shakib Al Hasan to Mann, 1 run, full ball outside off, smashed straight to sweeper cover.

16.2 Shakib Al Hasan to Miller, 1 run, down the track to a full ball, drilled wide off long on. Miller just can't get going tonight.

16.1 Shakib Al Hasan to Mann, 1 run, full and on off, driven off the front foot towards long off.

Shakib has been brought back.

5 runs from that over, and potentially the game-changing wicket of Maxwell. What an over by Chawla!

15.6 Piyush Chawla to Mann, on off, slight turn, bunted to Sathish at short point who fumbles and they cross for a single easily.

15.6 Piyush Chawla to Mann, 1 WIDE, googly sliding down the leg stump.

15.5 Piyush Chawla to Mann, no run, defended to short cover.