CSK vs PBKS Ball by Ball Commentary

1:38 PM IST That's it from this game. But don't go too far away as the most important clash of the day involving Kolkata and Rajasthan will get underway soon at 6 pm local (2 pm GMT). Switch tabs and do join us for all the action. Cheers!

1:55 PM IST No prizes for guessing, KL Rahul is the choice for the Man of the Match award. The Punjab skipper says that it was really hot and their plan was simple. Shares that they were told about a few permutations and combinations and the plan was to chase the target before 14 overs. He is glad that it came off for him in this match and he had the license to go. Tells that he had complete clarity of what he wanted to do. Mentions that he knows his role in the team and KL doesn't want to let his team down by playing how he wants to play. Further says that you can hit every ball when you are in the zone but it's important to hold your shape and that's the only thing he keeps on reminding himself. Signs off by saying that there is no better feeling than hitting the ball from the middle of the bat.

1:36 PM IST Aiden Markram is up for a quick chat. He says that it has been a brilliant experience and they have a good bunch of boys. Tells that it was an unbelievable batting effort from KL Rahul and the teammates were celebrating every six from the pavilion. Says that he hopes that KL celebrates his knock tonight. Goes on to say that he looks to learn from the best in the business and he certainly got to learn a lot by watching how Faf du Plessis and KL Rahul played.

1:36 PM IST MS Dhoni, the captain of Chennai, starts by saying that they have to cope up at the mental level. He adds that they played good cricket to reach this position in the tournament. Admits that they have lost a few games but this is a part and parcel of the tournament like this but accepts that they need to fine-tune their preparation a bit. Talking about motivation, MS replies that it is not the factor and guys are highly motivated. He cheekily adds that it would have looked worse if they have batted first after winning the toss. Feels that the pitch changed a bit in the second innings but terms it a good one, although challenging.

1:27 PM IST Presentation time...

1:27 PM IST On a surface where KL Rahul put on a batting show, Chennai struggled big time as a unit. Their innings struggled for momentum and it was due to Faf du Plessis' lone fight, they managed to put a respectable total on the board. Picking early wickets could have made the chase interesting but the bowling unit leaked too many boundaries and as a result, there was no pressure on Punjab.

1:25 PM IST It was a tricky target on this pitch and Punjab adopted the aggressive approach in the Powerplay. Once again, their opening pair of KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal did a fabulous job and for a change, the former was the aggressor. After the departure of Mayank, Punjab lost Sarfaraz Khan quickly but the presence of Rahul in the middle meant that there was no pressure. With Shahrukh Khan and Aiden Markram, KL formed two crucial stands and eventually put the chase to bed in 13 overs. Amidst all the carnage, Shardul Thakur picked up three wickets and impressed the most. The rest of the Chennai bowling was not up to the mark right from the beginning.

1:51 PM IST Punjab have decimated the target in front of them with 7 overs to spare and handed Chennai their third defeat in a row. The chase was all about KL Rahul's extraordinary knock as he finished unbeaten on 98 and kept Punjab's slim chance to qualify for the playoffs alive.

1:16 PM IST SIX! BANG! KL Rahul finishes things off in style with a maximum! Thakur bangs it into the deck, outside off. Rahul stays back and pulls it high in the air and over the deep mid-wicket fielder for a massive biggie! PUNJAB WIN THE MATCH BY 6 WICKETS!

1:16 PM IST FOUR! Sloppy from the birthday boy, Dwayne Bravo at long on! Back of a length, around off. KL Rahul smacks it wide of long on. Dwayne Bravo runs there but fails to grab it and he concedes a boundary.

1:15 PM IST Back of a length, outside off. Moises Henriques hangs back and guides it to third man for a single.

1:14 PM IST Good-length ball, outside off. Moises Henriques heaves it wide of deep mid-wicket and takes a couple of runs.

1:14 PM IST Length ball, outside off. Moises Henriques moves across and looks to scoop but he fails to connect it and the ball lands in front of the bowler off his pads.

1:12 PM IST OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Shardul Thakur gets his man! He serves it on a length, just outside off. Aiden Markram looks to loft it over covers but it takes the outside edge and the ball goes straight to MS Dhoni, behind the sticks, who takes a simple catch. Moises Henriques is in next.

1:12 PM IST Shardul Thakur comes back into the attack.

1:11 PM IST Bravo again bowls it slow, on a length around leg, Aiden steps back and clips it to deep mid-wicket. Another run taken, 20 from the over, 9 needed more.

1:10 PM IST Too full and on middle, Rahul clips it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

1:09 PM IST Wide! Short and wide outside off, Rahul leaves it. 11 to win, KL is 13 away from his century.

1:09 PM IST Slower length ball around middle, Rahul gently works it in the mid-wicket region for a couple.

1:08 PM IST SIX! Take that! Fuller in length, around off and angling away from the batsman, Rahul finds it in his slot and lifts it over the bowler's head. Terrific swing of his bat and the ball is deposited over long on.

1:07 PM IST Wide! Full toss again, slower one, but it's down the leg side, Rahul leaves.

1:07 PM IST SIX! KL Rahul continues to impress! A full toss, around leg, KL Rahul brings his wrists into play, picks it off his pads and dumps it over backward square leg for a biggie. Effortless.

1:06 PM IST Bravo bowls it slow and short around leg, Rahul pulls it to the left of deep square leg for a couple of runs.

1:05 PM IST Back of a length, around off. KL Rahul stays back and flat-bats it to long on for a single. 29 runs needed off 54 balls!

1:04 PM IST Wide! Too wide, outside off. KL Rahul looks to reach out for it but he misses. Wide called by the umpire.

1:03 PM IST Another slower ball, on a length, around middle. Aiden Markram gets deceived by the change of pace and he checks his drive to mid on for a run.

1:03 PM IST In the air...safe! Slower ball, shorter in length, outside off. Aiden Markram stays back and lofts it over cover-point. Two taken!

1:02 PM IST Slower ball, on a length, outside off. KL Rahul drives it to sweeper cover for one.

1:01 PM IST SIX! WOW, JUST WOW! Take that, says KL Rahul! Length ball, around off. KL stays back and lofts it over the bowler's head for a maximum. It went many a mile!

1:00 PM IST Wide! Chahar spills this one way outside off. KL Rahul lets it be. Wided!

1:00 PM IST Slower ball, banged into the deck, around off. Aiden Markram drags it to long on to collect a single.

12:58 PM IST Shortish and outside off, Aiden pushes it from the toe end of his bat to mid off for a run. 11 from Bravo's first over. 43 needed off 60 balls.

12:58 PM IST SIX! Markram has sent this one packing! Short and around off at 128.1 kph, Aiden stays on the back foot to ride the bounce and muscles his pull over mid-wicket. Absolutely nailed.

12:57 PM IST Slower one, on middle at 105 kph, Rahul helps it through mid-wicket and takes a single.

12:56 PM IST Fuller and on middle, Markram eases it down to long on for a single.

12:55 PM IST Mishit but safe! Bravo bowls a slower delivery, short in length around leg, Rahul plays a mistimed pull shot down to fine leg. They take one.

12:54 PM IST In the air but wide of Dhoni. A low full toss down the leg side, Rahul spoons it in the air towards fine leg and takes a couple of runs.

12:56 PM IST Strategic Time-out! KL Rahul is looking in a hurry to finish the game as early as possible but he is losing partners at the other end. Chennai need to keep picking up wickets if they are to win this game as they are not left with many runs to play with! Dwayne Bravo comes to bowl now. Also, Aiden Markram is the new batter.

12:51 PM IST OUT! Shahrukh Khan holes out! Deepak Chahar opts for the short delivery and bowls it wide outside off at 132.1 kph, Khan has to fetch it from there as he attempts to play the pull shot. The bounce though gets big on him and it takes the top edge. The birthday boy, Dwayne Bravo, is underneath it at long on and takes the catch safely. 55 needed off 66 balls.

12:50 PM IST Length ball, outside off. KL Rahul looks to play a similar kind of shot but he miscues it and the ball goes over mid-wicket for a run.

12:49 PM IST SIX! KL Rahul is unstoppable at the moment. Chahar delivers it on a length around off, at 129.8 kph, KL Rahul walks across the stumps and smashes it over fine leg for a biggie.

12:48 PM IST Good-length ball, on middle. Shahrukh Khan works it down the ground for a run.

12:47 PM IST BEATEN! Good-length ball, outside off. Shahrukh Khan looks to poke at it but the ball zips past the outside edge.

12:47 PM IST Full ball, way outside off. KL Rahul reaches out and drives it to sweeper cover for a run.

12:46 PM IST Deepak Chahar comes back to bowl.

12:44 PM IST Ravindra Jadeja fires this flatter, on the stumps. Shahrukh Khan looks to cut but ends up hitting it back to the bowler as he gets the inside half of his bat on that one.

12:43 PM IST SIX! Smoked away! That's the reputation of this batsman. Flatter delivery, around middle, Shahrukh Khan gives it the full whack of his bat and towers it over wide long on for a maximum.

12:43 PM IST Goes back to a shortish ball and punches it to sweeper cover for one.

12:43 PM IST Flatter, on the pads, Shahrukh Khan clips it to backward square leg for a single.

12:42 PM IST Flatter, on middle, Shahrukh Khan pushes it back to the bowler.

12:42 PM IST Full ball, on the leg stump, KL Rahul knocks it down to long on for a run. FIFTY FOR RAHUL, off 25 balls. A fantastic knock from the skipper.

12:42 PM IST Ravindra Jadeja comes into the attack.

12:41 PM IST Good-length ball, outside off. KL Rahul presses forward and carves it to sweeper cover for a single.

12:40 PM IST Length ball, angling in from middle. KL Rahul pushes it back to the bowler.

12:40 PM IST FOUR! WOW! Back of a length, around off. KL Rahul stands tall and drives on the up past the point fielder for a boundary now.

12:39 PM IST SIX! Glorious! KL Rahul is on a roll! Full ball, darted on the pads. KL whips it off his pads way over deep square leg for a biggie!

12:38 PM IST Length ball, around off. KL Rahul drives it back to the bowler.

12:38 PM IST Good-length ball, on off. KL Rahul pushes it to covers off the front foot.

12:37 PM IST Another swing, another miss. At 140.9 kph, Josh Hazlewood serves it on a length around off, Khan tries to heave but misses. Three dots to end the over, Punjab are 51/2 at the end of the Powerplay, 84 needed off 84 balls.

12:36 PM IST Swing and a miss! Short in length and outside off at 140.2 kph, Shahrukh Khan stands tall and attempts to pull but fails to connect.

12:36 PM IST Sharp delivery, a bit short at 138 kph, Khan tries to defend but it takes his gloves and rolls to mid-wicket.

12:34 PM IST Fuller and on off, it's guided down to third man for a single.

12:34 PM IST The batsman has just blocked that from his crease.

12:33 PM IST FOUR! KL Rahul will continue to play his shots! Full and outside off, Rahul plays an elegant shot again, lofts it clinically over wide mid off for a boundary.

12:35 PM IST Shahrukh Khan walks out to bat now.

12:32 PM IST OUT! CAUGHT! Sarfaraz Khan falls cheaply and Shardul Thakur has two wickets in the over. He angles in a full ball around off at 137.5 kph, Sarfaraz Khan decides to flick it on the leg side but fails to close the face of his bat in time. It flies off the leading edge to mid off where Faf du Plessis moves across to his right to take the catch safely.

12:31 PM IST Good length, on middle, Khan tucks it on the leg side but finds mid-wicket.

12:30 PM IST Outside off, pushed to the off side and the point fielder stops it well.

12:31 PM IST Sarfaraz Khan is the new man in.

12:29 PM IST OUT! Mayank is gone, LBW! A wicket against the run of play. Shardul delivers it on a length around middle and gets it to angle in, Mayank Agarwal shuffles across the stumps slightly as he tries to flick but misses. He is rapped on the pads, they appeal and the finger has gone up. Agarwal has a shocked look on his face, looks at his partner and they eventually spend all the time discussing. No DRS taken. Punjab have lost a wicket. Hang on, the Ball Tracker shows that it's missing leg. Punjab have missed a trick here.

12:28 PM IST In the air... safe! Back of a length, around off, Agarwal is early into the pull shot and mistimes it in the air towards mid on. Doesn't carry to the fielder.

12:27 PM IST FOUR! It's raining boundaries at the moment for Punjab. This one is a lucky one though. On a length around off at 132.1 kph, Mayank tries to heave it over the leg side but gets an outside edge over short third man.

12:27 PM IST Shardul Thakur comes into the attack now.

12:25 PM IST Darts it in, on a length, Rahul defends it from the back foot to the off side. 15 from the over, Punjab are off to a flying start, yet again.

12:25 PM IST SIX! Wow, KL Rahul is oozing class. Short and around off, at 137 clicks, KL picks up the length early, gets into the position quickly and smokes it over deep square leg. Towards the longest part of the ground but still, it has gone all the way with ease.

12:24 PM IST The batsman has just blocked that from his crease.

12:24 PM IST FOUR! Lovely! Short and around middle and leg, KL Rahul gets on top of the bounce and pulls it with full control to fine leg for a boundary.

12:23 PM IST FOUR! Superb shot! Good length, around off, KL Rahul stays back and lofts it elegantly over mid off for a boundary.

12:22 PM IST Good stop by Ambati Rayudu! On a length around off, Mayank Agarwal pushes it to covers and sets off for a run. Rayudu dives across to his left to stop the racing ball. Mayank is sent back as Rayudu misses his shy at the striker's end. Now, they cross for an overthrow.

12:21 PM IST Short again but the line is wide outside off, at 135.2 kph, Mayank slaps it to deep cover for a single.

12:20 PM IST FOUR! Connects and connects well this time. A touch short and around off, at 131.7 kph, Mayank Agarwal stays on the back foot and heaves it over mid-wicket. It races away to the fence.

12:19 PM IST Excellent bouncer, around off at 133.3 kph, Mayank Agarwal tries to pull but it bounces over his blade.

12:19 PM IST On a length around middle, Rahul nudges it in front of square leg for a single.

12:18 PM IST Shortish and on off, at 133.7 kph, KL sticks back and pulls it over mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

12:17 PM IST SIX! What a shot! Short in length and angling down the leg side, Rahul picks it up off his pads and smacks it all the way over backward square leg for a biggie.

12:16 PM IST Aerial but safe! Width on offer outside off, short in length at 140.9 kph, KL Rahul flashes his bat at it and edges it wide of the diving backward point fielder. A single is taken.

12:15 PM IST Back of a length on off, at 135.9 kph, KL sticks back and plays it down to third man for a single.

12:18 PM IST The physio is out as per the concussion protocol as KL Rahul has been hit hard on the grill of his helmet. He looks fine and we are good to resume.

12:13 PM IST Bang on the helmet! Josh Hazlewood lands it a bit short and around off at 136.3 kph, KL Rahul tries to step down and pull but it takes the top edge and deflects onto the helmet. Nasty hit.

12:12 PM IST Full and on off, angling in, Rahul plays close to his body and defends it to the off side.

12:12 PM IST Goes full and around off at 139.5 kph, Mayank steps back to make room and plays a mistimed drive to mid off. They pinch a single.

12:11 PM IST Beauty from Josh! Delivers it on a length and close to off, it straightens a bit with extra bounce and squares up Agarwal in defense. Beats the outside edge by a whisker.

12:10 PM IST FOUR! Edgy! Chahar serves it on a length around off at 131.9 kph, Rahul looks for another lofted shot over the off side but this time it takes the outside edge and flies over short third man for a boundary. 11 from the opening over!

12:11 PM IST Josh Hazlewood will bowl from the other end.

12:09 PM IST Wide! A 133.5 kph delivery, full and down the leg side, KL tries to flick but misses. Dhoni dives across to his left to collect the ball.

12:08 PM IST FOUR! Here comes the first boundary of the chase. Full in length and outside off at 133.6 kph, KL Rahul opts for the aerial route and lofts it over covers. He has not connected it properly but it's enough to clear the infield and find the fence.

12:08 PM IST A touch short and on off, at 132.3 kph, Agarwal allows the ball to come to him and deflects it late down to third man for a run.

12:07 PM IST On a length and close to off, at 132 kph, Agarwal drives it a bit aerially but safely towards backward point.

12:06 PM IST A near-yorker outside off at 130.6 kph, Agarwal reaches out and pushes it to covers.

12:05 PM IST Starts with a pitched up delivery, around off at 128.2 kph, Rahul drives it to the left of mid off and opens his account with a single.