Match Center

Right then, that is all we have from this game. The action continues on Sunday, 15th May and it will be a double-header with a double dose of action. In the afternoon game, it will be Chennai going up against Gujarat at the Wankhede Stadium. That game will start at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT). The second game will be between Lucknow and Rajasthan. It starts at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). Our coverage, as you know, will start in advance. So do join us for the same. Till then, goodbye and cheers!

Andre Russell is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his all-round performance. He scored 49 from 28 balls and then took three wickets with the ball. He says it was difficult to bat when he went outand they knew they had a decent total on the board and their bowling attack pulled them back. Adds that the mindset is very clear, he doesn't think of the situation that isn't his role, he just tries to go from ball one. Shares that he knew Sundar has an over left so he wanted to play the final over and fortunately he got full toss and it went for six. On his bowling, he tries to chip in with wickets as well and hopes it continues and hopefully they qualify for the playoffs.

Shreyas Iyer, the skipper of Kolkata, says that the mindset they came up in this game was outstanding and it was very important to win the toss considering the wicket in Pune, so everything panned out well. Tells that they were praying that Russell bat till the end and luckily it came off for them. Mentions that spinners bowled well and both of them bowled smart lines and lengths. Says that they have not played their best cricket so far in the tournament and they needed every individual to step up and they have done well today. Signs off by clarifying that in the last interview when he talked about CEO’s involvement in the team selection he meant that he is there to console the players who are sitting out as it is tough work to select the players.

Time for the presentation.

Tim Southee is down for a chat. He says it was a great win, they know chances will come and go but sometimes for an overseas player, you have to sit on the sidelines but have to be ready to grab the chance. Adds that they bowl according to the plan, sometimes it's tough to replicate match situation in the nets. On the surface, he says it was hard to hit back of a length delivery but they stick to it, they have played a couple of games and they did well to put a decent score on the board here. Tells that their spinners, particularly Narine bowled really well.

Kane Williamson, the skipper of Hyderabad, says it was a fair total and Russell showed how dangerous he can be after having a good first half. Adds that they are failing to create momentum and whenever they tried to put up a partnership, Kolkata came good. Tells that it was always going to be tough for Sundar but he did a decent job, overall he thinks it was a much improved bowling performance. He used his resources a little early and that didn't work at all. Shares that Abhishek was brilliant today but throughout the inning, they didn't glued any partnership and now they will sit down and address the issue. Says the game forever teaches the lesson and they'll learn from it.

Time for some interviews!

Hyderabad were never really in the chase as their skipper, Kane Williamson failed to get going. It was only Abhishek Sharma who batted fluently and kept them in the hunt. However, wickets kept falling at regular intervals and they lost the plot completely when Abhishek Sharma, Pooran and Markram departed in quick succession. Markram’s wicket was the final nail in the coffin and after that, it was all about minimising the damage for Hyderabad, and unfortunately for them, they have suffered a big defeat here. They probably gave away 15-20 runs more than the par-score on this pitch and that 20 runs final over from Washington Sundar really cost them.

Shreyas Iyer made a bold call at the toss and decided to bat first and Kolkata managed to get a very good score on the board with Andre Russell showing his might in the final overs. However, Kolkata were under the pump halfway during that innings but Kane Williamson probably made an error when he did not give Umran Malik a third over on the trot when he took three wickets in his first two overs. Kolkata took the momentum of the first innings to their bowling innings and bowled quite tightly in the Powerplay. Russell once again provided the first breakthrough and got rid of Kane Williamson and then Southee got the big wicket of Rahul Tripathi. Narine was a bit expensive in his first two overs as Abhishek Sharma decided to target him but Varun Chakaravarthy was brilliant and got the wicket of Sharma and with Markram departing in the 15th over, it was all Kolkata after that. Russell finished with three wickets and Southee with two to cap off a dominating performance.

Kolkata have kept their playoff hopes alive! They needed a win and needed a big one to keep their slim hopes of qualification alive. They have done exactly that and it is the big man, Andre Russell who has delivered a brilliant all-round performance to keep his team in the hunt. Hyderabad, on the other hand, have now lost five games on the trot and have made things tougher for themselves. Their net run rate has also been hampered with this big loss and they would need something special now from hereon to qualify for the playoffs.

Swing and a miss! Short in length and on middle. Malik looks to pull but misses. Kolkata are still fighting for the playoffs race as they win here by 54 runs.

Fuller, slower and on leg. Kumar forces it to long on for a single.

Wide! Length ball but down the leg side. Kumar misses his pull.

Length ball, outside off. Kumar guides it to backward point.

Back of a length, on middle. Kumar looks to push to covers but misses.

On the pads, slower and it is hit to mid on.

FOUR! A length ball, around off. Kumar makes some room and drives it hard through covers for a boundary,