Match Center

Right then, that is it from this game and it is Kolkata who have managed to break their poor run of four losses and get a crucial win. The action in the 2023 Indian T20 League continues on Thursday, the 27th of April with a blockbuster clash between two top teams. Rajasthan will take on Chennai at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur and that game will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT) with our build-up starting much sooner. Do join us then. Take care and goodbye!

Varun Chakaravarthy is the PLATER OF THE MATCH for his fine display with the ball. Varun says that in the last match, he was taken to the cleaners and he is delighted to turn it around. Adds that cricket is a funny game. Mentions that he has worked a lot and thanks the backroom staff as well to support him. Ends by saying that he wants to dedicate this win to his newborn son and his wife. Hopes that he is able to meet them sooner rather than later.

Nitish Rana, the captain of Kolkata says that in the last 3-4 games he said that at the toss if they played collectively, the game would go their way and it did. On Jason Roy, he says that he has had an impact on the side and credit to the team for not losing belief and they were able to bounce back. Mentions that they tried to put the runs on the board and then use spin but there wasn't much turn and yet the spinners did well. On Suyash Sharma, he says that whenever he talks to him, the young guy puts his hands up, and in only a few handful of matches he has been able to do well for them.

The Presentation ceremony...

Andre Russell is down for a quick chat. He says that they really needed this victory, as they were under the pump. Informs that anything over 200 was a good score and is glad they could get that. He then congratulates the guys for this win. Tells that once he gets the ball he tries to help the team. Adds that he still knows what he can do with the ball. States that the runs were there on the board, and was confident enough that the team will defend it.

The skipper of Bangalore, Virat Kohli starts by saying that he feels they handed the game away. Adds that they were not brilliant in the field as well and it was a free win for the opponent. Mentions that their batters continued to lose wickets to non-wicket deliveries and that cost them the game. Tells that for them it is all about how much is there on the scoreboard, and how do they chase it down. States that they were just one partnership away from taking the game by the scruff of the neck. Informs that winning on the road is tougher but it certainly helps to bring the momentum into the side and will try to make the most of it while playing at home.

Earlier in the game, Virat Kohli walked out for the toss and won it, and put Kolkata into bat. Jason Roy and Narayan Jagadeesan made a fine start up top and added 83 runs for the first wicket before the latter got out. Roy got to his second half-century in a row but got out soon after. There was another 80-run stand between skipper Nitish Rana and Venkatesh Iyer which really put them in a good position before a few big hits from Rinku Singh and David Wiese took them to 200. With the ball, Vyshak Vijay Kumar and Wanindu Hasaranga were the standouts for Bangalore with a couple of wickets each but they dropped crucial catches which cost them dearly. Coming to the chase, Bangalore got to a good start but the Kolkata spinners simply didn't allow the opposition to get away and wickets at regular intervals earned them a crucial win.

Bangalore will be distraught with the loss and it is their third loss at home this season which is not a good sign. Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis started off in trademark fashion and Kohli looked in sublime touch. Faf got out after a quick start and soon Shahbaz Ahmed and Glenn Maxwell followed suit. There was a fightback from Kohli as he brought up his half-century and was well-supported by Mahipal Lomror who got a few hits away before getting out. With the scoreboard pressure mounting, Kohli too fell and only Dinesh Karthik managed to muster up a few runs in the lower order.

Kolkata had 200 runs on the board, just like they did the last time these two sides met but the pacers were hit away in the first couple of overs. Spin was introduced in the third over and the duo of Suyash Sharma and Varun Chakaravarthy bowled a fine spell of four overs between them, picking up three wickets as well. Sunil Narine and Nitish Rana couldn't replicate the other two spinners' performance but Kolkata managed to find ways of picking up wickets with Andre Russell doing a fine job with the ball as well. Varun came back in at the death to pick up his third wicket and in the end, it was a comfortable win for the away side.

Kolkata have done it yet again against Bangalore and that too on the road. They needed a win and boy, they got it with ease, also becoming the first team to do the double over a side this season.

Two runs to end the innings! Full length, on middle. Vyshak Vijay Kumar gets it down to long on for two runs. KOLKATA WIN THE MATCH BY 21 RUNS.

LEG BYE! David Willey goes for the scoop once again but it does not come off as expected. It is very full, on off. Willey shuffles and tries to play it over the keeper's head but takes a blow on his pads. They cross for a leg bye.

Good length, wide of off. Willey slashes it hard to sweeper cover for a brace.

FOUR! Cracking shot. It is tossed up, full and on off. David Willey whips it powerfully through mid-wicket for a boundary.

TWO WIDES! A sharp bumper, on off. Vyshak Vijay Kumar tries to chase it but misses. The umpire signals a wide due to height.

Very full, on off. Willey tries to go for the paddle shot but it goes to short third off the inside edge. One taken.

Very full, on off. Vyshak Vijay Kumar swings hard at it. The ball catches the inside edge, and deflects off his pads into the off side. One taken.