Fighting the rain, the host Kolkata Knight Riders booked direct ticket to Bangalore. With their owner Shahrukh Khan, being banned at Mumbai ground, playing the Playoffs match directly at Bangalore was further motivation. The toss was crucial, but the rain threat and disciplined KKR bowling forced Kings XI to succumb. Although the match went till 20th over, Kings XI Punjab were fighting more with D/L method every over rather than planning a 20-over chase. Narine and Co ensured Kings XI batsmen could not settled down, and in the process KKR reached only their 2nd final of IPL.
Player of the Qualifier 1: Umesh Yadav
By the time they came to bowl, Umesh Yadav knew he was not selected in any of the Indian team announced for Bangladesh ODI or England series. He had to vent his frustration. Kings XI Punjab batsmen were unlucky to be facing him. His spell of 4 overs 13/3 was the defining factor of the match as first he sent Sehwag, then Maxwell and later Bailey, killing any hope of fight back. It may be bit late for BCCI selectors to give a second thought, but it is certainly the best thing to happen to his IPL team, who are going to ask him for a repeat performance in the final too.
KKR Scored 163/8
Sent to bat first, KKR again had a bad start as Gambhir went in the second over scoring only 1 run. But by now KKR batsmen are used to his early dismissal. Uthappa (30-balll 42 runs with 4 4s and 2 6s) continued the onslaught in the company of Manish Pandey (20-ball 21 runs). All the other batsmen continued to maintain the run rate of around 8 per over. As a result although Shakib (18), Pathan (20), Doeschate (17), Surya Yadav (14-ball 20 runs) could not consolidate still three boundaries from Chalwa (9-ball 17* runs) took them to a decent total, considering they had not let Kings gun blaze beyond 150 runs in the last two matches at Group Stage.
Sandeep Sharma was not playing today. His replacement Awana went for 0/33. Johnson had 2 wickets for 31 runs, Dhawan (0/44) was most expensive, while Karanveer Singh was most successful but expensive with 3/40. Akshar Patel justified his selection in Indian ODI team of Bangladesh with 2/11 in 4 overs with a maiden.
Kings Look to D/L and Lost Momentum
As even 5 overs appeared difficult to complete, Kings XI played like that. Sehwag could score only 2 runs. But Manan Vohra (19-ball 26 runs with 3 6s) and Saha (31-balll 35 runs with 2 6s 2 4s) got them the first win scoring more than 37 runs that was required for first 5 overs by D/L method. But after that neither the sky opened, and they were left worrying about every ball and over. On top of that Maxwell (6), Miller (8) failed miserably. Akshar Patel (2) was promoted ahead of Bailey (17-ball 26 runs). Dhawan scored 14 runs and Johnson managed unbeaten 10 runs. They could score 135/8 in 20 overs losing by 28 runs.
For KKR, Umesh Yadav (3/13) and Morne Morkel (2/23) had almost won the match. Narine (0/30) and Shakib (1/43) were expensive, but Chawla grabbed his opportunity with 1/23).
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