Rain check:
The rain has stopped, and the covers are off for now. However, KKR's innings will surely be curtailed due to this delay. An inspection is scheduled to take place at 12.35 am. The cut-off time for at least a 5-over innings for KKR is 12.58 am. KKR would need 41 runs to win the game, in case it is a 5-over affair.
Rain update:
And the rains are back. While the umpires had come onto the pitch, the resumption of rain means the covers are back on the pitch again.
Rain update:
We are going to have a match. Play will restart at 11.25 pm IST, and KKR wil play their full quota of 20 overs.
Rain check:
Its still pouring down in Bangalore, as the match has been interrupted. We will bring you more updates from the game, as and when we get them.
SRH: 128-7 from 20 overs
And Boult brings an end to the SRH innings, as David Warner's men struggle to put up a competitive score. 128 is not a score that SRH would have been looking at, and it seems like their bowlers would need to put in a monumental effort to win this game.
Rain has also started to pour down on the Chinnaswamy Stadium, as the covers come back onto the pitch, as soon as the last ball was bowled. Let's hope the rain does not last for long.
SRH: 119-6 from 18.3 overs
WICKET! Coultier-Nile makes further indents in the SRH batting lineup. Removes Vijay Shankar and Chris Jordan in quick succession.
SRH: 98-4 from 15.3 overs
WICKET! Yuvraj goes for the big pull on the leg side against Umesh, but only managed to send it straight down Piyush Chawla's throat, at deep mid-wicket.
SRH: 98-3 from 15 overs
KKR have tightened the screws on SRH now. They have removed their top three, and arguably their most dangerous batsmen. However, SRH will depend on yuvraj singh, to get them to a big score.
SRH: 80-3 from 13 overs
WICKETS! Two wickets fall in quick succession. First Nathan Coultier-Nile removes Kane Williamson, and then Piyush Chawla tricks Warner to make room and miss the ball that went on to crash into the stumps.
SRH: 27-1 from 5 overs
WICKET! Its a good start for KKR. Umesh and Boult have kept things tight in the opening overs. Their plan to bowl a shorter length has worked wonderfully here. Dhawan, who tried to pull it, top-edged high into the Bengaluru sky, as Robin Uthappa took an easy catch.
Teams:
Kolkata Knight Riders XI: Sunil Narine, Chris Lynn, Gautam Gambhir (c), Robin Uthappa (wk), Yusuf Pathan, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishank Jaggi, Piyush Chawla, Umesh Yadav, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Trent Boult.
Sunrisers Hyderabad XI: David Warner (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Kane Williamson, Yuvraj Singh, Vijay Shankar, Naman Ojha (wk), Chris Jordan, Bipul Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rashid Khan, Siddarth Kaul.
Toss:
Gautam Gambhir has won the toss, and has put SRH in to bat first.
Preview: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are all set to battle it out in the eliminator at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, on Wednesday.
While both the sides have shown good form this season, they have also had their blips, which have prevented them from making it to the top two spots in the league stage of the competition. Interestingly, both SRH and KKR have been almost unbeatable at home this season.
SRH seem to have a balanced side, with the presence of top quality batters like captain David Warner, Shikhar dhawan, and Kane Williamson; they also have the highest wicket-taker of this season’s IPL so far – Bhuvneshwar Kumar (25 wickets). The likes of Afghan spinner Rashid Khan, and India youngster Siddarth Kaul have also impressed a lot during the ongoing season.
However, SRH would miss out on the services of the old warhorse Ashish Nehra, who has been ruled out due to an injury, while star batsman Yuvraj Singh is doubtful for the game after he injured his finger.
Meanwhile, KKR have managed to make their way through to the IPL playoffs, with a mix of talent and some shrewd tactical leadership from their iconic captain Gautam Gambhir.
While the southpaw has been on top form this season, giving the Kolkata-based side good starts from the top of their batting order, he has also shown a keen eye for latent talent, pushing Sunil Narine up the order, a role that has redefined the West Indian as a proper all-rounder.
However, all the anticipation surrounding the match could be washed away, as reports of incessant rains pour in from Bengaluru.
