Player of the Match
Player of the Match

11.35pm Alright then, a low-scoring thriller draws to a close. That will be all from us tonight. Don't miss the action tomorrow as Gujarat Titans take on Sunrisers Hyderabad. For now, it's Abhimanyu signing off on behalf of Shashank, Thilak and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo. Adios!

11.30pm Time for the presentation ceremony.

PBKS captain, who is also the player of the match - Sam Curran: "I thought we bowled really well as a group. We had a lot of pride to play for. The way the guys came together... Nathan Ellis, the way he played his first game was excellent. Great character from the team. [On the chase] When I went in, Jonny said it was holding a tough. We were trying to build a partnership. Jitesh came in and got in nicely. We didn't need too many risks, just a couple of sixes. I've thoroughly enjoyed the season, thoroughly enjoyed captaining. Quite frustrating to leave, but obviously excited about the World Cup. Hindsight's a wonderful thing. If we win our next game we finish on 12 points. So I feel this team was close to something but it wasn't meant to be. Over the next few seasons, if we can keep some of the really good players, we can go better. Lots of positives. The chase against KKR. Shashank Singh has been amazing, Ashutosh in his debut season. Harshal and Arshdeep have done well as well."

Eric: "KKR to finish top of the league standings for the first time!" Indeed. With Royals' defeat today, KKR are guaranteed a top-of-the-table finish. If this was just a league format competition, the champagne would be coming out in Kolkata tonight! But they know they still have a long, long way to go still. Oh, also, the last two times KKR finished in the top two, they went on to win the league. Ominous signs?

11.15pm Sam Curran's joint-highest IPL score helps Punjab Kings win their fourth away game in a row. It keeps them off the bottom of the table, while giving Rajasthan Royals more to worry about. Royals have now slumped to four defeats on the trot. A second place finish looks difficult for them now. Excellent bowling performance from both teams, but in the end the target was too little to deter PBKS. Curran said at the start that he still wanted PBKS to win their remaining games, he said he wanted his character to rub off on the team. Today he led by example. He was excellent with the ball and he played an incredibly crucial hand with the bat with his team in trouble.

Sanju Samson: "[On the surface] We were expecting wicket to be a touch better. I think it's not a 140-kind of a wicket, we should have got around 160. I think that's where we lost the game. Would have been nicer to have one more bowling option, gets a little tough when you have just five. But I am used to it. And we have quality five bowlers. To be very honest, we have to sit back and accept that we are going through some failures. You have to find out what's not working well as a team. When you are getting to the business end, we need someone to raise their finger up and say I am going to win the game for the team. We have the players who can do that. If all of us try that. It's a team sport, but this is the time when we need individual players to step up."

Jitesh Sharma: "I had thought I wouldn't even have to bat today, but I am happy I got to bat. I feel relieved because I was able to middle the ball and we won and I could contribute as well so I am very happy. I didn't think there was much in the wicket. It was a little slow, but with a little intent you could score more runs here. Bairstow is going away he wanted to keep for a game, I'll be back with the gloves for the next match. But my fielding isn't bad [laughs]."

18.5
1
Avesh Khan to AR Sharma, 1 run, And that is that! Short ball angled across him, Ashutosh just helps it along to the vacant fine leg area and they close out the win with more than an over to go
18.4
6
Avesh Khan to AR Sharma, SIX, Scores are level! That's gone into the second tier! Slot ball, and he gives it the belt treatment. Clears his front leg and swings through the line
18.3
1
Avesh Khan to Curran, 1 run, Low yorker around off, squeezed out to long-on
18.2
6
Avesh Khan to Curran, SIX, Picks the bones out of that! Length ball angled across him and he clears his front leg and heaves it over midwicket. Another gift for those in the stands!
18.1
1
Avesh Khan to AR Sharma, 1 run, Slashed in the air but it drops safely. Dug in back of a length, Ashutosh lost his shape as he looked to swing it away but it lands between the fielders on the off side

Avesh will bowl out

END OF OVER:
18 | 10 Runs | PBKS: 130/5 (15 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.22, RRR: 7.50)

  • Sam Curran56 (39b)
  • Ashutosh Sharma9 (8b)
  • Sandeep Sharma4-0-28-0
  • Avesh Khan3-0-13-2

A track and field athlete normally doesn't get a police escort, but Neeraj Chopra isn't normal. The superstar was treated with due reverence at his first event in India after taking Olympic gold, but he proved once again that he was a champion of the people. Oh, and he won gold of course.

17.6
6
Sandeep Sharma to Curran, SIX, Pulled away for six! Sam Curran is on a mission here. Bouncer on leg sits up nicely around shoulder height for Curran. He nails the pull in front of square and clears the boundary comfortably
17.5
1
Sandeep Sharma to AR Sharma, 1 run, Yorker attempted on off, Ashutosh drills it out to long-off
17.4
0
Sandeep Sharma to AR Sharma, no run, Ashutosh manages to get his bat down to block out a leg-stump yorker
17.3
1
Sandeep Sharma to Curran, 1 run, Angles a short ball across Curran, who stands tall and looks to pull it down the ground. Doesn't get a hold of it but it lands well short of long-on. Fifty up for Sam Curran. Very important innings from him
17.2
1
Sandeep Sharma to AR Sharma, 1 run, Slower ball on a length on off, Ashutosh taps it leg side for an easy single
17.1
1
Sandeep Sharma to Curran, 1 run, Starts full and wide, Curran can only drive it out to the off side sweeper

One over left for Boult, Sandeep and Avesh. Who will bowl this one? It will be Sandeep Sharma

END OF OVER:
17 | 8 Runs | PBKS: 120/5 (25 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.05, RRR: 8.33)

  • Ashutosh Sharma7 (5b)
  • Sam Curran48 (36b)
  • Avesh Khan3-0-13-2
  • Yuzvendra Chahal4-0-31-2
16.6
4
Avesh Khan to AR Sharma, FOUR, Smartly played! Bouncer outside off angling in, Ashutosh waits on it before ramping it straight over the keeper for four
16.5
1
Avesh Khan to Curran, 1 run, Almost a return catch for Avesh! Ball holds a little as Curran looks to work it leg side. Leading edge and the ball balloons up, but too high for Avesh

Charan: "Arshdeep is not a bad batsman and he proved it in international matches. Shouldn't have been replaced" I always feel that when you are bringing an Impact Player in the second innings, you should remove a batter who has already gotten out! Ah well, what do I know?!

16.4
1
Avesh Khan to AR Sharma, 1 run, Length ball angled into him, Ashutosh opens the blade to run it down to deep third

Videos

PBKS 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st6JM BairstowPrabhsimran Singh
2nd30JM BairstowRR Rossouw
3rd0JM BairstowShashank Singh
4th12JM BairstowSM Curran
5th63SM CurranJM Sharma
6th34SM CurranAR Sharma

Indian Premier League

TeamMWLPTNRR
KKR1493201.428
SRH1485170.414
RR1485170.273
RCB1477140.459
CSK1477140.392
DC147714-0.377
LSG147714-0.667
GT145712-1.063
PBKS145910-0.353
MI144108-0.318