Highlights, IPL 2019, Match 55: Rahul's 71 powers Kings XI Punjab to 6-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings

Live Cricket Score, KXIP vs CSK, Match 55 from Mohali: Hello and welcome to our coverage of the Indian Premier League match between Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings live from the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali. Punjab host Chennai in a do-or-die game. And the situation is such that even if they win, it may not be enough. Because even though Hyderabad lost to Bangalore, Punjab's net run-rate is the worst amongst Hyderabad, Kolkata and themselves - so a massive win is needed. After winning 4 out of the first 6, they have managed just 2 in their next 9. What a slump. That has come mainly due to their batting order which has been largely inconsistent. Chennai, on the other hand, look at this opportunity to confirm their presence on May 7 at the Chepauk. They might still be there even if they lose to Punjab but they would like to leave it to themselves rather than other teams. In spite of Punjab's excellent performance in Mohali, Chennai start as resounding favourites but with a big question mark on Dhoni's fitness.  It's an action-packed weekend so don't miss out a single detail as KXIP host CSK. You can get all Cricket IPL Scores Today and Match Updates along with ball-by-ball commentary here at IndiaTV. (Match scorecard)

Highlights, KXIP (173/4) beat  CSK (170/5) by 6 wickets

19.26 IST: Kings XI Punjab (173/4) beat Chennai Super Kings (170/5) by 6 wickets in Mohali. Rahul 71, Pooran 36

19.25 IST: Imran Tahir to Sam Curran, FOUR! All over, PUNJAB WIN BY 6 WICKETS with two overs remaining! Tahir serves it very full and on off, Curran goes hard at it and thwacks it down the ground for a boundary.

19.18 IST: Ravindra Jadeja to Nicholas Pooran, OUT! Against the run of play, Jadeja has dismissed Pooran. He dishes out a flatter and shorter delivery outside off, Pooran camps back to play the square cut but it takes a thick outside edge and settles into the gloves of Dhoni. The keeper just tosses the ball up in celebration, Jadeja turns back to put in a formal appeal and then Pooran is seen walking back.

19.14 IST: Tahir to Pooran, SIX! That has gone out of Mohali! A leg-spinner one on middle, Pooran pulls it way into the stands over deep mid-wicket. This is striking of the best quality! KXIP 162/3 in 15.3 overs

19.10 IST: Ravindra Jadeja to Pooran, FOUR! A flatter one on off, Pooran pulls this one and finds the long on boundary on a bounce. This is some hitting! KXIP 148/3 in 14.4 overs

19.10 IST: Ravindra Jadeja to Pooran, SIX! Smashed! A flatter one on middle and leg, Pooran lifts the ball clean as a whistle. The fielders are mere spectators. Brilliant shot. KXIP 144/3 in 14.2 overs

19.06 IST: Dwayne Bravo to Pooran, FOUR! Crunched! Bravo goes full again, it's wide outside off, Nicholas reaches out for it with his long hands and thumps it through covers. KXIP 135/3 in 13.4 overs

19.02 IST: Harbhajan Singh to Nicholas Pooran, SIX! That ends up deep in the stands. A flatter one on middle, Pooran rocks back and pulls this one. That ball keeps travelling. Ends up in the crowd somewhere. KXIP 126/3 in 13 overs

19.00 IST: OUT! Harbhajan has his third and Mayank holes out! A poor delivery to get a wicket though. A short one on middle and leg, Agarwal looks to pull it away but finds deep backward square leg to perfection. Jadeja out there takes the catch with his safe pair of hands and Punjab are losing their way slightly here. Harbhajan removes Mayank for 7. Kings XI Punjab 118/2 in 12.1 overs

18.53 IST: Harbhajan Singh to Mayank, FOUR! No hat-trick for Bhajji today! The hat-trick ball goes to the fence. Mayank Agarwal gets off the mark in style. Short and flat on middle, Agarwal pulls it away easily for a boundary. Bisects the deep fine and deep square leg fielders with ease. KXIP 112/2 in 11 overs

18.52 IST: OUT! 2 in 2! Gayle to depart now, Harbhajan has his number for the sixth time in T20 cricket. A flatter one on middle, Chris looks to go really big but does not get the elevation with his swing. The ball travels with pace but straight to long on where the substitute fielder, Dhruv Shorey takes the catch with ease.Harbhajan removes Gayle for 28. Kings XI Punjab 108/2 in 10.4 overs

18.51 IST: OUT! Harbhajan returns in the attack and has taken his revenge. Went for 40-plus in his first two overs and this will make him feel a lot better. Dhoni also flashes a smile. A flatter off spinner around off, not turning much, Rahul skips down the track to heave it across the line but it takes the top edge and balloons in the air towards covers. Tahir settles underneath it and does the rest. End of a 108-run stand. Harbhajan removes Rahul for 71. Kings XI Punjab 108/1 in 10.3 overs

* The seam seems to be coming off... the umpire cuts it and gives it back to Dhoni.

18.42 IST: Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, FOUR! The 100-run stand also comes up. Chahar over-corrects his length this time and bowls it fuller and outside off, Rahul throws his heart and soul behind it and spanks it over the bowler's head. Nearly carries all the way. The umpire goes upstairs and then signals a boundary, it just bounced inside the line. 10 from the over, Deepak Chahar has bowled out, 4-0-28-0, decent figures, considering the onslaught. KXIP 100/0 in 9 overs

18.41 IST: Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, FOUR! Timed and slammed! Wrong length from Chahar, it's short and on middle, Rahul shimmies down the track and pulls it powerfully to the deep mid-wicket fence. KXIP 96/0 in 8.5 overs

18.40 IST: Deepak Chahar to Lokesh Rahul, A low full toss on middle, Rahul drives it straight back and the ball goes on to hit the stumps at the non-striker's end. Gayle then tries to get back inside the crease and Chahar jokingly pulls his leg, something we see a lot in Kabaddi. Good to see players having a fun moment amidst so much pressure.

18.35 IST: Dwayne Bravo to Lokesh Rahul, An overpitched ball on middle, Rahul whips it across the line through mid-wicket. Faf du Plessis circles around it from long on and keeps the batsmen down to just a run.

* Strategic break! Much-needed break for Chennai. They have been slaughtered so far here by Rahul and Gayle. They need a wicket to slow down this carnage or they are in real possibility of going to second place. If Punjab get 86 runs in the next 44 balls, Delhi will go to first position on basis of net run rate. Punjab though are coasting and would love to do the same, even Delhi would love them to do so. Meanwhile, it is Ravindra Jadeja to bowl after the break!

18.29 IST: Tahir to Gayle, SIX! Another one! 16 runs off the last 3 balls of this over! A flighted googly on middle, Gayle waits and middles the ball. When he swings like that and middles them too, there is only one result. It ends up in the stands over long on. Huge over again, 17 runs off Tahir's first. KXIP 85/0 in 7 overs

18.28 IST: Tahir to Gayle, SIX! Smashed away. A flighted ball outside off, Gayle smashes it right past the bowler to his right and hits the sightscreen. What power! KXIP 79/0 in 6.5 overs

18.28 IST: Tahir to Gayle, FOUR! Full toss and faster in speed this time. It is punished though. Gayle powers this through covers and pushes the ball wide of long off for a boundary. KXIP 73/0 in 6.4 overs

* Imran Tahir comes into the attack right after the Powerplay!

18.23 IST: Dwayne Bravo to KL Rahul, FOUR LEG BYES! Bravo decides to come from 'round the wicket and serves a good length delivery down the leg side. Rahul though fails to flick, it takes his pads and runs fine down the leg side for a boundary. KXIP 65/0 in 5.3 overs

18.21 IST: Dwayne Bravo to Chris Gayle, Swing and a miss! Back of a length delivery outside off, angling away from the batsman, Gayle winds up for a big shot across the line but fails to make any connection.

* Dwayne Bravo is into the attack.

18.18 IST: Deepak Chahar to Chris Gayle, Ouch! The throw hits Gayle and Gayle bulges into the umpire. Also, that would have been out had the ball hit the stumps! A length ball outside off, pushed wide of mid off. Gayle decides to risk taking the single this time. The fielder has a shy at the bowler's end and misses. The single is completed.

18.15 IST: SIX AND FIFTY! KL Rahul slams his 17th IPL half-century in just 19 balls. Wow, he has reached the milestone in the blink of an eye. Quicker and fuller delivery outside off, Rahul latches onto it and sends it packing over wide long off for a sixer. This is the third fastest half-century this season. 42 in 2 overs of Harbhajan, he is a marked man. Kings XI Punjab 57/0 in 4 overs

18.13 IST: Harbhajan Singh to KL Rahul, SIX! That's now 18 runs in 4 deliveries.  Full delivery, flighted and on off, Rahul dances down the track and lofts it over mid off for a maximum. 50 up for Punjab. A good catch there by the ball boy. KXIP 51/0 in 3.4 overs

18.12 IST: Harbhajan Singh to KL Rahul, FOUR! Hat-trick of boundaries. Bhajji continues to be on the shorter side, it's around middle and off, Rahul rocks back to make room and muscles it over mid on. 45/0 in 3.3 overs

18.11 IST: Harbhajan Singh to KL Rahul, FOUR! Turbanator under pressure. He drops it short and on off, Rahul attacks it with all his power and pummels it over mid-wicket for a boundary. KXIP 41/0 in 3.2 overs

18.10 IST: Harbhajan Singh to Lokesh Rahul, MISFIELD, FOUR! A low full toss on off, Rahul forces his drive in the direction of Bravo at mid off and sets off for a run. Seeing that, the West Indian tries to attack the ball but then fails to pick it up. It goes right through and reaches the fence behind.

18.06 IST: Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, FOUR! Poor ball and dispatched! A short length ball on the hips, Rahul swivels and pulls this wide of short fine leg for a boundary. Easy pickings. KXIP 32/0 in 2.3 overs

18.05 IST: Deepak Chahar to KL Rahul, FOUR! Brilliant shot! A yorker on the pads, flicked away past short fine leg. There is no chance for deep square leg to stop that one, brilliant timing. KXIP 28/0 in 2.1 overs

18.04 IST: Harbhajan Singh to Lokesh Rahul, SIX! Brilliant shot from KL Rahul. Harbhajan serves an off spinner around off, turning back in, Rahul goes down and across before slogging it behind square leg for a maximum. KXIP 24/0 in 1.5 overs

18.01 IST: Harbhajan Singh to Lokesh Rahul, SIX! High and handsome! Width on offer outside off, Rahul moves back to make more room and powers it over covers for a biggie. Excellent connection. KXIP 18/0 in 1.4 overs

17.59 IST: Harbhajan Singh to Chris Gayle, FOUR! Gayle is off the mark with a boundary. Harbhajan delivers a quicker one on the pads of the batsman, Chris gets back and flicks it in the gap between square leg and short fine leg for a boundary.  KXIP 10/0 in 1.1 overs

17.57 IST: Deepak Chahar to Lokesh Rahul, SIX! No, it will not be a maiden. The last ball travels into the stands. A short one from Chahar on off, Rahul stands and pulls this deep over mid-wicket. Huge! KXIP 6/0 in 1 over

STAT - In case Punjab score this total in 14.2 overs or fewer, Chennai's NRR will go under that of Delhi's and they will drop down to second place.

* We are back for the second innings. The Men in Yellow are in a huddle as the Punjab openers walks out to bat. Chris Gayle and KL Rahul it will be as usual. Deepak Chahar has the new ball in hand. Let's play...

* Just 28 runs off the last 4 overs, including just 5 runs off the last one and Punjab have finished really strongly here! They will be heading into the break with momentum and have a great chance to chase down this total, which at one stage even they would have felt would be more than 200! Once du Plessis and Raina fell, none of the other batsmen could even find the rope and that means that Punjab surely are chasing something 15-20 less than what Chennai would have liked them to.

17.40 IST: Mohammed Shami to MS Dhoni, Terrific yorker by Shami, Dhoni can only manage to push it down to long on for a couple of runs. The throw from the deep was very poor. Chennai finish on 170/5!

17.38 IST: Mohammed Shami to Dwayne Bravo, Shami follows the new batsman down the leg side with a good length ball, Bravo jumps and helps it in front of square leg to hand the strike back to Dhoni for the last ball.

17.36 IST: Mohammed Shami to Kedar Jadhav, OUT! One more wicket in the over and Shami is doing a great job here. A 145.8 kph delivery, landing on a length around off, Jadhav gives himself room on the off side and tries to hit it through the line. But he is beaten in pace and the off stump takes a beating.

17.33 IST: Mohammed Shami to Ambati Rayudu, OUT! Rayudu holes out! Shami angles in a length ball on middle and leg, Rayudu heaves it across the line over mid-wicket but doesn't have enough power behind it to clear Mandeep Singh in the deep. It falls straight down his throat and Chennai lose their fourth wicket.

* Ambati Rayudu is the new batsman.

17.30 IST: Sam Curran to Faf du Plessis, OUT! Oh no! Du Plessis will not get to his 100. He is floored by a brilliant yorker and sees his bails come off while he is down on the ground. Curran spears one on the base of the South African skipper, Faf looks to flick it away but the ball gets him on the toes. It then goes on to hit the off stump. Curran picks up his third wicket! He has done really well this year.

17.28 IST: Sam Curran to Faf du Plessis, SIX! Moves to 96! That has flown! A short length ball on middle, du Plessis stands tall and hoicks it deep into the stands at deep mid-wicket.

17.24 IST: Ravichandran Ashwin to MS Dhoni, Rocks on the back foot to a short ball and strokes it to sweeper cover for one.  CSK 154/2 in 18 overs

* MS Dhoni arrives on the crease

17.19 IST: Sam Curran to Suresh Raina, OUT! Raina departs and that brings to an end the excellent partnership of 120! A short ball on middle and leg, Raina looks to pull it over short fine leg. CSK 150/2 in 16.4 overs

17.16 IST: Sam Curran to Faf du Plessis, SIX! What is that shot! A fuller length ball wide outside off, du Plessis reaches out and smacks it right back over the bowler's head. The sightscreen bears the brunt of that shot.

* Sam Curran comes back on.

17.15 IST: Andrew Tye to Faf du Plessis, SIX! This one disappears. Tye under tremendous pressure. He goes seam up this time but it's served on a length around middle, du Plessis makes room for the swing of his bat and dismisses it over wide long on.

17.13 IST: Andrew Tye to Faf du Plessis, FOUR! Tye is not learning. He continues to drop it short in the batsman's half. This one is on middle and Faf powers his pull shot over mid-wicket for a boundary. Great start to the over for Chennai.

17.12 IST: Andrew Tye to Faf du Plessis, FOUR! Slapped away! A short delivery outside off, du Plessis skips down the track and clobbers it through extra cover for a cracking boundary.

* Strategic break! This partnership between Raina and du Plessis has gone from strength to strength. It has set stage for a grandstand finish and Punjab could end up chasing a really big total here by the looks of things. The hosts would hope that they can at least pick a few wickets to bring new batsmen to the middle. Also, Andrew Tye comes back on.

17.07 IST: Murugan Ashwin to Faf du Plessis, SIX! This is even better! A flighted ball on leg, du Plessis runs down the track and also a bit to his left. He then gets under the ball and lifts it over long on. This is turning into a really expensive over from Murugan. CSK 23/1 in 14.5 Overs

17.06 IST: Murugan Ashwin to Faf du Plessis, FOUR! Second one of the over. Fuller on middle and leg, du Plessis runs down the track and hits the ball as straight as an arrow. The ball beats long on to the rope.

17.05 IST: Murugan Ashwin to Suresh Raina, FOUR! Fifty for Raina! A gift to get there too. Shorter on middle and off, Raina stands back and pulls it wide of long off for a boundary. Beautifully bisects both the fielders in the deep to get to his 38th League fifty.

17.00 IST: Ravichandran Ashwin to Faf du Plessis, Beaten by a beauty! Ashwin dishes out a carrom ball just outside off, Faf picks it very late and ends up offering no shot. Just a late thought of playing inside the line there.

16.57 IST: Murugan Ashwin to Faf du Plessis, Single and that is FIFTY FOR FAF! His 11th one in the Indian T20 League Flatter on the pads, flicked away for a single to get to his fifty! Excellent innings so far from du Plessis, would love a big one though.

16.54 IST: Andrew Tye to Suresh Raina, FOUR! That outfield is so fast! A length ball on middle, Raina comes inside the line and glances that so delicately through fine leg. The fielder in the deep runs to his left and was not too far away from that one but he cannot reach the ball.

16.51 IST: Murugan Ashwin to Faf du Plessis, FOUR! Poor fielding from KL Rahul. He has let that one go through as he has slipped slightly. A flatter leg-spinner on middle and leg, Faf du Plessis whips it away through mid-wicket. Rahul in the deep comes to make a regulation stop but slips at the last moment and lets the ball under him. Reaches the rope.

16.49 IST: Murugan Ashwin to Faf du Plessis, FOUR! You got love this shot. Fancy footwork once more from du Plessis. He is down the track in a flash and then hammers it over the bowler's head for a boundary. Nearly went all the way, just bounced inside.

16.45 IST: Andrew Tye to Suresh Raina, FOUR! Second one of the over. Wide outside off, with third man in. You are asking for trouble. Raina easily guides it through the gap between short third and backward point. The ball reaches the rope.

16.43 IST: Andrew Tye to Faf du Plessis, FOUR! Shot! Over extra cover! A length ball outside off, the knuckle ball. Faf du Plessis is one of the best batsmen in the world and spots that one early. He lifts the ball with ease over covers. No chance for the fielder in the deep.

* Strategic break! Chennai should be the happier team right now, given their top order problems this season. They have powered their way to 67 in 9 overs and are setting a good platform. They would love Raina and du Plessis both to continue. On the other hand, Punjab would love one or two quick wickets which will slow down things for the visitors. The pitch seems to be a really good deck to bat on without much assistance for the bowlers. Meanwhile, Andrew Tye comes onto bowl!

16.38 IST: Harpreet Brar to Suresh Raina, SIX! Raina goes big again. He charges down the track to a full ball in his half and smashes it over mid-wicket for a biggie. That's hit with the spin and clears the fence with ease. CSK 66/1 in 8.5 overs

16.33 IST: Ravichandran Ashwin to Suresh Raina, FOUR! The outfield is electric here! That brings up 50 for Chennai. Around the wicket and outside off, Raina dabs it really late past first slip. The backward point fielder has no chance to even chase that ball.

16.31 IST: Harpreet Brar to Suresh Raina, SIX! This will release all the pressure. Doesn't middle it too well but it has travelled the distance. Brar delivers it flat and wide outside off, Raina shimmies down the track and goes big down the ground. It doesn't fly from the meat of the bat but still has enough to clear long on.

16.28 IST: Ravichandran Ashwin to Suresh Raina, FOUR! Heaved away! A flatter one on off, Raina gets under the ball and pulls it over mid-wicket. That has to be fetched from the other side of the rope.

* Ashwin comes into the attack.

16.25 IST: Sam Curran to Faf du Plessis, FOUR! Lovely footwork shown by the South African. He jumps out of the crease to make a length ball full and then drills it back past the bowler for a boundary down to long off. Excellent.

* Suresh Raina, the evergreen Chennai man walks out at number 3 as usual.

16.20 IST: Sam Curran to Shane Watson, OUT! The off stump goes cartwheeling! Curran strikes with a back of a length delivery around middle and off. It skids on with the angle and Watson camps back to play a late dab down to third man. But the Aussie is too late in doing that and the off stump is pegged back. CSK 30/1 in 4.1 overs

16.18 IST: Mohammed Shami to Faf du Plessis, FOUR! That one is in the gap! Fuller on middle and leg, flicked away through mid-wicket. There were 3 fielders on the leg side and to still find the gap, CLASS!

16.16 IST: Mohammed Shami to Shane Watson, That was nippy! Slightly back of a length on middle and leg, Watson looks to pull it away but is late on the shot. The ball rushes through and gets him high on the thigh pad. The ball goes off towards the off side and the batsmen change ends. Umpire has given that as runs though, looks like there was a slight inside edge there maybe.

16.14 IST: Sam Curran to Shane Watson, Slower short ball this time, around middle and leg, Watson is early into his pull shot and hence misses. Gets hit on the body and the ball rolls near the surface. 9 from Curran's first over. CSK 23/0 in 3 overs

16.09 IST: Sam Curran to Faf du Plessis, FOUR! Starts his spell with a pitched up ball around off, du Plessis presents the straight face of his bat and forces it past his partner at the other end for a boundary down the ground.

* Sam Curran is now on attack

16.05 IST: Mohammed Shami to Shane Watson, Good ball. Slightly back of a length and on top of off stump, Watson taps the ball to the off side and looks for a single but wisely decides against it in the end.

16.04 IST: Mohammed Shami to Faf du Plessis, FOUR! Du Plessis gets his first boundary now. Shami starts off with a poor length ball on the pads. Easily flicked away through square leg and deep fine leg has no chance to come around and stop that.

16.03 IST: Harpreet Brar to Shane Watson, FOUR! That will make him feel a lot better. Flatter outside off, that little width is all that Watson needs. The ball pings off the middle of the bat and through cover-point for a boundary.

16.00 IST: Harpreet Brar to Faf du Plessis, Flighted on the middle and leg stump line, nudged towards wide mid on for a single by du Plessis. He and Chennai are away!

15.59 IST: We are almost ready for the first ball. The two openers for Chennai, Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis are out in the middle. Ravichandran Ashwin has given his final instructions to his side as they head to their fielding positions. The new ball is in the hands of the skipper but wait, he is not bowling! He tosses the ball to Harpreet Brar. Everything in readiness, let's play!

15.39 IST: Playing XI of both teams are out

15.30 IST: Kings XI Punjab win toss, opt to bowl against Chennai Super Kings in Mohali

Brief Preview: Already assured of a playoff berth, table toppers Chennai Super Kings will aim to maintain their pole position with a victory over a struggling Kings XI Punjab in their last IPL group league encounter on Sunday. After a defeat against Mumbai Indians in an earlier match, Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led CSK bounced back with a massive 80-run win over Delhi Capitals in their last game, to once again capture the No.1 spot. [Read full preview here]