Highlights, IPL 2018 Match 18: Kings XI Punjab defeat Kolkata Knight Riders by 9 wickets

In the 18th match of the VIVO IPL 2018, Kings XI Punjab emerged victorious at Eden Gardens as the Gaylestorm overshadowed the thunderstorm which interrupted play, making matters worse for the hosts as Kings XI Punjab defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 9 wickets. Chris Gayle and KL Rahul scored their respective fifties and before the rain could pour down, the R Ashwin led Kings XI had already made a brilliant start to chase the 192 set by the Dinesh Karthik led KKR. It was none other than Gayle who had the last say of the match as Rahul departed for 60 off 27 balls. Staggering innings by the opener and KXIP now lead the points table. Despite Chris Lynn's 74 run-knock, KKR were beaten by the rain and the powerplay. Punjab have now won four matches in the five that they have played which now makes them the current league leaders. Take a look at the highlights that went down at Eden Gardens between Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders.(LIVE SCORECARD) (LIVE STREAMING) (IPL 2018 POINTS TABLE)

HIGHLIGHTS MATCH 18: KKR vs KXIP LIVE UPDATES FROM EDEN GARDENS

That's all from this match. You can now quickly switch over to the other game going on between Bangalore and Delhi. The latter is put to bat and is in all sorts of trouble. Take a look. LIVE SCORE RCB vs DD

A commanding win for Punjab! Mind you, they were after a gigantic total but the pair of Gayle and Rahul made a complete mockery of it. The West Indian unleashed from the word go and the Indian didn't hold back either. Runs leaked from both ends as they amassed 73 runs in the Powerplay to put Kolkata on the back foot. After the rain break, the target was reduced to 125, meaning only 29 runs were needed off 28 balls. In spite of losing Rahul, they crossed the finish line with ease.

20.30 IST: KINGS XI PUNJAB BEAT KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS BY 9 WICKETS!!

20.29 IST: SIX! And thats a wrap. The big man finishes off in style. Maximum and the best way to announce his one of many returns against his former team. KINGS XI PUNJAB DEFEAT KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS BY 9 WICKETS!! Punjab are at the top of the table. That's something you don't hear normally.

20.21 IST: OUT! Sunil Narine gets his first wicket and removes KL Rahul for 69. In the air... gone this time! KL Rahul gets carried away, he wanted to put everything out of the park. Looks to pull this short ball but gets it off the top edge. The ball lobs towards deep mid-wicket where Tom Curran takes a good catch. So no 10-wicket victory for Punjab. KXIP 117/1 in 9.4 overs

20.19 IST: FOUR! Rahul is in a hurry to finish things off! Short and outside off, he rocks back and slaps it behind point for another boundary.

20.17 IST: SIX! Kaboom! It's fifty for KL Rahul as well. What a show these two have put up. Narine bowls a half-tracker, Rahul is quick to rock back and slam it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a maximum. 

20.17 IST: SIX! And Gayle continues from where he left off! The rain-break has not done any bad to him. It's fifty for him, third in a row. He's on a roll this season. A loopy full toss, dipping in, Gayle hammers it straight back down the ground for a maximum. 100 up for Punjab! 102/0 in 9 overs

20.10 IST: 

20.08 IST: UPDATE! After a lot of rain, the groundsmen have done well to let the game resume. The revised target is 125 for Punjab. It has been reduced to a 13-over game so 29 runs are required off just 28 balls and the match will resume at 20.15 IST.

20.05 IST: 

 

19.55 IST: 

19.53 IST:  The Umpires are out and checking around. The field is quite damp at the moment. 

19.36 IST: 

 

19.31 IST: Well news from the other side says that Royal Challengers Bangalore have won the toss and have opted to bowl first against Delhi Daredevils.FOLLOW LIVE SCORE RCB vs DD HERE

19.28 IST: Good news! We are getting an update that the rain has eased off and the groundsmen are working really hard to get the ground ready. Stick around for the latest updates.

19.25 IST: 

 

19.20 IST: Seems like it's going to take a while. The Supersoppers are doing their job put is has been raining heavily. Either ways, the action doesn't stop there. Down at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru, we have a high octane clash between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Daredevils. Get the action here- LIVE CRICKET SCORE MATCH 19, RCB vs DD

19.00 IST: 

18.47 IST: 

18.44 IST: Amidst the Gaylestorm, the rain has picked up at Eden Gardens. There is strong breeze blowing across and the umpires calls for the covers. Off go the players and we are in for a bit of a delay. Punjab are bossing the game wholly and solely and are well ahead as far as the DLS per score in concerned. That's all we have for now to update you. KXIP 96.0 in 8.2 overs

18.41 IST! SIX! That was MAXIMUM! Sadly its started to drizzle heavily. It seemed like the ball reached the heavens and came back. The fielder at long-on thought he had a chance but crosses the fence. KXIP 96/0 in 8.2 overs

18.39 IST: Oh no, breeze has picked up and it has started to drizzle. 

18.34 IST: SIX! No Mercy! Kuldeep tosses it up outside off, Gayle gets down on one knee and clobbers it long way into the stands at long on. The big man is on a roll. KXIP 85/0 in 6.3 overs

18.33 IST: FOUR! A step back and cuts the delivery. Smart batting by Rahul. Kuldeep Yadav isn't spared either! He drops it short on middle, Rahul is quick to rock back and pull it away through mid-wicket. It just blazed away to the fence. KXIP 78/0 in 6.2 overs

18.28 IST: FOUR! Cheeky! Flatter delivery on middle and leg, KL Rahul moves across and paddles it fine down the leg side for back-to-back boundaries. KXIP 72/0 in 5.4 over

18.27 IST: FOUR! Rahul plays it down to fine leg. Narine thinks the fielder there might make the attempt. But sails away for a boundary. That's very poor from Narine! Short ball, on middle and leg, Rahul gets across and pulls it past him. The spinner could have at least tried to stop it with a dive but he doesn't bother. Lets it through. KXIP 68/0 in 5.2 overs 

18.24 IST: FOUR! Was turning out to be a good over for Narine but a different length at the end gets punished by Gayle himself. And all the good work has been undone here! Full and fired down leg, Gayle gets down and helps it over backward square leg for a boundary to spoil the over. KXIP 62/0 in 5 overs

18.20 IST: This is not good for Kolkata. Andre Russell fell flat on the floor after bowling the previous delivery and seems to have hurt his hamstring. He isn't able to bowl and is limping off the field. They will hope that, he recovers soon. Meanwhile, Nitish Rana, the man with the golden arm will complete Russell's pending over...

18.18 IST: FOUR!  Sensible batting! It was the slower delivery from Russell, Gayle makes room and slaps it through the gap at cover for a boundary. 50 comes up for Punjab in just 22 balls. KXIP 57/0 in 3.5 overs 

18.16 IST: SIX! Gayle starts off. It's a lion waiting for a chance to pounce. Russell's delivery was sent into the stands. Back-to-back maximums for Punjab! This is sensational start from them. Rusell bowls a length delivery on middle, right in the zone for Chris Gayle. He takes his front leg out of the way and smokes it over mid-wicket. Into the stands she goes. KXIP 51/0 in 3.4 overs

18.14 IST: SIX! Deep to square leg and KL Rahul is on fire. Picked the bones out of that one! Rahul waits on the back foot, gets a short ball and he dispatches it from his sight. Off the sweet portion of the bat and bags a maximum over the deep mid-wicket fence. KXIP 45/0 in 3 overs

18.11 IST: FOUR! Up and over! Not perfectly timed but it doesn't matter! Good length delivery, angling away, Gayle clears the front leg and launches it over extra cover for a boundary.

18.08 IST: KXIP 22/0 in 2 overs. Andre Russell to Chris Gayle, no run. A bouncer to surprise the batsman. Around leg and Gayle ducks at the last moment.

18.05 IST: FOUR! Another one, not in much control this time. Back of a length ball around off, Rahul moves back and somehow opens the face of the bat at the last moment. Gets enough wood on it to beat short third man.

18.03 IST: FOUR! Goes for a boundary first ball, Russell. An overpitched delivery outside off, shaping away, Rahul strides forward and unfurls a lovely square drive for a boundary.

18.01 IST: FOUR! Fine shot this time! Mavi offers just a little bit of width outside off, Rahul is on the front foot with an angled bat and pierces the gap between backward point and short third man.

17.58 IST: FOUR! No justice for the bowler! Mavi serves a sharp inswinger around off, Rahul tries to push it through the line but it takes the inside edge and hurries past the stumps to fine leg for a boundary.

17.55 IST: We are back for the run chase. So, 192 is what the visiting side needs. Chris Gayle and KL Rahul stride out to the middle. Both of them are in tremendous form and it would be interesting to see if they fire on all cylinders right from the onset. The former will take strike and will face Shivam Mavi first up.

17.44 IST: Kolkata Knight Riders score 191/7 in 20 overs vs Kings XI Punjab at Eden Gardens. Lynn 74,  Karthik 43, Tye 2/30. Andrew Tye to Shubman Gill, 1 run. Good length delivery on middle and off, punched through cover and will get one. KOLKATA FINISH WITH 191/7!

17.41 IST: OUT! Andrew Tye removes Tom Curran for 1. Squeezes out straight to short third man. Yorker length outside off, Curran looks to squeeze it out but gets it off the edge. The ball spoons towards short third man where Rajpoot takes a sitter. Kolkata have lost the momentum completely. Kolkata Knight Riders 186/7 in 19.2 overs vs Kings XI Punjab at Eden Gardens.

17.39 IST: OUT! Barinder removes Karthik for 43. What an over this is turning out to be! Slower length delivery on middle and leg, Karthik goes deep in the crease to slog it away. Gets it off the inner half towards deep square leg where Andrew Tye takes it reverse cupped. Karthik departs at the wrong time for his side. Kolkata Knight Riders 185/6 in 18.5 overs vs Kings XI Punjab at Eden Gardens.

17.27 IST: FOUR! Cracked! Superb from Gill! Got on top of the bounce and cuts it exquisitely past the diving point fielder for a boundary. 15 coming from the over with a wicket for Russell.

17.26 IST: Shubman Gill is the new man in.

17.24 IST: OUT! Barinder removes Russell for 10. Slammed hard but straight to Karun Nair! Andre Russell is gone! This can slow things down for Kolkata, I reckon. Fuller delivery, it's in the slot for Dre Russ. He backs away and hits it hard but finds Nair perfectly at long on. It's his third catch of the match. Big wicket for Punjab as Russell is someone who can be really lethal at the fag end of the innings. Kolkata Knight Riders 159/5 in 16.5 overs vs Kings XI Punjab at Eden Gardens.

17.20 IST: FOUR! Oh! He has timed it well! Sran looks for the yorker but slips out a full toss on the middle. Andre clears his front leg and hits it down through mid off for a boundary.

17.17 IST: Eden Garden erupts as Andre Russell rushes in to bat next. More fireworks?

17.16 IST: OUT! Andrew Tye removes Chris Lynn for 74. No century for Chris Lynn as he departs! Andrew Tye provides a much-needed breakthrough! Tye spots Lynn shuffling across and hence he fires it wide outside off. The batter still goes on with the mighty slog but gets an under edge this time. Easy catch for KL Rahul behind who takes it easily. Lynn walks back after a monstrous knock! Kolkata Knight Riders 147/4 in 15.2 overs vs Kings XI Punjab at Eden Gardens.

17.11 IST: FOUR! Short and outside off, Lynn blazes it through extra cover. Sran in the deep puts in a dive and tries to scoop the ball back in play but in the process, his boot touches the rope.

17.04 IST: FOUR! Shot! Carrom ball from Rahman, Karthik goes half down and pulls it through backward square leg for a boundary. Runs are coming thick and fast for Kolkata.

17.01 IST: Andrew Tye to Chris Lynn, 2 runs. In the air... dropped! Sran is the man who gives life to Lynn. Slower back of a length outside off, Lynn flashes hard at it but doesn't time it well. It goes high up in the air over cover. Barinder moves across to his left from sweeper cover and dives to catch it but fails to hold on. Should have taken it, how costly will the prove to be? Two taken to end the 13th over. KKR 127/3 in 13 overs.

16.59 IST: FOUR! No stopping, Lynn! Tye bowls it short and outside off, Lynn makes room and carves it over cover-point for a boundary.

16.57 IST: FIFTY! Chris Lynn hits his 4th IPL half-century off 30 balls. Yuvraj Singh to Chris Lynn, 2 runs. Fifty up for Lynn, his 4th of the tournament and second against Punjab. He has been struggling since the start of the season and has finally made his presence felt, at least. Now then, can he become the third man to score a ton in as many days? We shall wait and find out. Ball - Flatter outside off, Lynn reaches out to that one as he punches it wide of Finch at long off. Wants two and gets it comfortably in the end. Raises his bat to acknowledge the cheers from the crowd. Kolkata Knight Riders 112/3 in 12 overs vs Kings XI Punjab at Eden Gardens.

16.55 IST: FOUR! All power! Brutal batting from Lynn! Yuvi drops it short and outside off, Chris Lynn bludgeons it down the ground to make the long off fielder look stranded.

16.48 IST: Dinesh Karthik is next to the crease.

16.47 IST: OUT! Nitish Rana Run Out for 3. Nitish Rana has been run out! What happened there? Eden Gardens goes silent as it wears a shocking look in the stands. Complete brain fade, says Ian Bishop on air. This is surely a waste of a wicket. Flatter delivery, outside off and shorter in length. Rana goes back and cuts it hard. As soon as he hits it, he sets off. But Ankit Rajpoot at that position stretches his right hand out and makes a one-handed stop. He was off balance but still manages to release the ball quickly to the keeper. In the meanwhile, Lynn sees all this from the other end and sends his partner back. Before Nitish could make his way back, KL Rahul dislodges the bails. Good passage of play for Punjab as they remove the in-form batsman. Kolkata Knight Riders 85/3 in 9.4 overs vs Kings XI Punjab at Eden Gardens.

16.42 IST: Nitish Rana, the Man of the Match for his side in consecutive games is the new man to the crease.

16.41 IST: OUT! Ashwin removes Uthappa for 34. Ashwin removing Uthappa for the 5th time, start the bunny talks! How many times we have seen a break breaking the concentration and providing a wicket? Flatter through the air, dropped short and was asking to be hit. Uthappa rocks back and flat-bats it off the meat but much to his dismay, it goes straight down the throat of Karun Nair stationed at deep mid-wicket who takes his second catch of the match. The threatening stand of 72 off 41 balls has been broken by Ash. Kolkata Knight Riders 78/2 in 8.1 overs vs Kings XI Punjab at Eden Gardens.

16.39 IST: SIX! Make that 23 off the over, Sran has been taken for a journey by Lynn. He tries the back of the hand delivery but it's in the Aussie's arc. He gets down on one knee and smites it over the deep square leg fence for the second maximum of the over. Chris is striking at the strike rate of around 173, beware Punjab.

16.37 IST: SIX! A 97m monster from Lynn! He has absolutely muscled that one. A length delivery on middle, Lynn swings across the line and then the gymnasium takes over to send it sailing over the square leg fence for a huge maximum.

16.35 IST: FOUR! Power! Short of a length delivery, a bit wide outside off, forcing Lynn to reach out for that one. He does so and makes good enough contact to take it over extra cover for a boundary.

16.33 IST: SIX! Pummeled! What a hit from Robin! Holds back to a back of a length delivery, gets it at a good height and smacks it over deep square leg for a biggie. 50-run stand comes up between the two in just 35 balls. A good move on from the hosts after an early wicket of Narine. KKR 61/1 in 7.1 overs.

16.31 IST: KKR 55/1 in 7 overs. Ravichandran Ashwin to Robin Uthappa, 1 run. Flattish in nature, on the leg stump, Robbin looks to tuck it away but it goes off the pads towards short fine leg. Interestingly, the umpire signals it as a run. The stand moves to 49.

16.28 IST: FOUR! Picks up the knuckle ball and dumps it away! Swivels inside the crease and pulls it down to the fine leg fence for a boundary.

16.23 IST: FOUR! Lynn was deceived by it but still manages to put that away. Back of a length, Sran once again takes the pace off. Chris is early into his pull shot but still gets it off the meat behind square on the leg side for a boundary.

16.20 IST: FOUR! Three in a row for Uthappa! Not how he would have liked but this will certainly insert pressure on the bowler. Another one on the flatter trajectory, skidding off the surface, Robin stays back to work it away but the ball takes the inner half and races past the short fine leg fielder. He gives it a chase but to no avail.

16.15 IST: SIX! Lynn delights with a big hit. That's gone a long way into the stands! Rajpoot once again pounds in a short one but this time it comes at a comfortable height. Lynn stays back and smokes it high and over the fine leg fence for a maximum. KKR 21/1 in 3 overs. 

16.12 IST: FOUR! Flayed! Lynn and his quick hands! Short and outside off, Chris goes back and cracks it through cover for a boundary, first one of the game.

16.10 IST: Robin Uthappa is the new man in.

16.09 IST: OUT! Mujeeb removes Narine for 1. Sunil Narine is out of here! Good captaincy from Ashwin he kept a man in the deep and gets the reward. Mujeeb strikes on the second ball. He tosses it up around middle and leg, Narine steps down the track to go big on the leg side. He hits it well but Karun Nair in the deep comes sprinting ahead, misjudges it at first but recovers soon to dive forward and take it. Good catch and Punjab have begun on the right note. Kolkata Knight Riders 6/1 in 1.3 overs vs Kings XI Punjab at Eden Gardens.

16.05 IST: Five runs from the first over by Ankit Rajpoot. Ankit Rajpoot to Chris Lynn, 1 run. Stays back and punches it to mid on for a single. A nice tidy over to begin with for Ankit.

16.00 IST: It's really hot out there, folks. Kudos to the crowd who have come out in numbers to support their side. As the tradition of ringing the bell, it's Chris Gayle who is doing it today. The Ashwin-led side is in a huddle with him sharing some words. Out walk to dashing openers - Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine. The ex-Kolkata lad, Ankit Rajpoot will steam in first up with the ball.

15.55 IST: Kolkata Knight Riders Playing XI: Sunil Narine, Chris Lynn, Robin Uthappa, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik (w/c), Andre Russell, Shubman Gill, Tom Curran, Piyush Chawla, Shivam Mavi, Kuldeep Yadav

15.50 IST: Kings XI Punjab Playing XI: Lokesh Rahul (wk), Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, Karun Nair, Aaron Finch, Yuvraj Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin(c), Andrew Tye, Barinder Sran, Ankit Rajpoot, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

15.45 IST: Dinesh Karthik says even they were looking to bowl first. On the wicket, he says it looks a beauty and should remain same throughout the course of the game. Is looking forward to the game as Punjab are a quality side and they need to be consistent to beat tough teams in the competition. They are going in with the same team that played against Delhi, he reckons.

15.40 IST: Ravichandran Ashwin says they have decided to change things up since it's a day game so wants to have a go with the ball first. Opines they need to be on top of the game today as Eden Gardens is sort of a fortress for Kolkata. Hopes to restrict the opposition to a respectable total and then chase it down later. Informs they have brought in Ankit Rajpoot in place of Mohit Sharma.

15.30 IST: IPL Toss- Kings XI Punjab win toss, opt to bowl vs Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens.

15.20 IST: Here are the IPL teams for the 18th match between Kolkata and Punjab.

Kolkata Knight Riders: Dinesh Karthik (c and WK), Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Chris Lynn, Robin Uthappa, Kuldeep Yadav, Piyush Chawla, Nitish Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Shivam Mavi, Mitchell Johnson, Shubman Gill, R Vinay Kumar, Rinku Singh, Cameron Delport, Javon Searless, Apoorv Wankhade, Ishank Jaggi and Tom Curran

Kings XI Punjab: Ravichandran Ashwin (captain), KL Rahul, Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, Aaron Finch, Yuvraj Singh, Karun Nair, David Miller, Marcus Stoinis, Axar Patel, AJ Tye, Mohit Sharma and Mujeeb ur Rahman

14.40 IST: Did you know! Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab have faced each other 21 times and it has been KKR who have 14 wins against Punjab, who in term have 7.

14.32 IST: Kolkata Knight Riders are ready for today. Are you?

14.30 IST: The Lions are all set to roar at Eden Gardens.

Brief Preview: Table-toppers Kolkata Knight Riders and a transformed Kings XI Punjab cross swords in an Indian Premier League contest in which two big-hitting Jamaicans -- Andre Russell and Chris Gayle -- will be up against each other at Eden Gardens on April 21. The best of power hitters, the smashers, the googly artists and the spinners, the clash between KKR and KXIP have a long rivalry between the two celebrity owned franchises, Shah Rukh Khan's Kolkata and Preity Zinta owned Punjab. Gayle was at his best last night when he smashed this season's first century -- a 63-ball 104 not out -- at the expense of one of the best bowling outfits, Sunrisers Hyderabad. READ FULL PREVIEW HERE