Thanks for your company tonight, as we head into the next stage of the tournament. Kolkata Knight Riders now meet Delhi Capitals, with Chennai Super Kings already in the final. The Qualifier 2 is two days away, and don't forget to join us for it!

Narine is the Player of the Match for his all-round day: "Definitely [one of the greaetest T20 performances]. When you perform, and the team comes out winning... I am prepared to be out first ball. Some days it comes off, some days it doesn't. I enjoy all wickets, but getting Kohli and tying them was my goal. It was a total team effort. [Doubt with the new action] I am getting close - not that close as yet like before - and the hard work has paid off. [I am] pretty calm and cool when it comes to cricket. I like funny stuff as well."

Morgan after the close win: "Narine makes it look very easy. He bowled outstandingly well. Throughout the innings, we continued to take wickets. Good start from the bowlers, and we were in control in the chase. A quite like it [having three spinners around[. It is a huge privilege when there are world-class spinners around. They continue to get better and better. When it comes off [with our batting order], it looks quite deep. [Advantage to play in Sharjah again] For us, it is a matter of coming back and adjusting. We are looking forward to it. I thought we had a chance [when we landed in the UAE], but the cricket we have played has surprised everybody. Everyone came with a drive to perform... Narine is a cool customer and is very level-headed."

Time for the presentations

Dipanjan Show: "Even as a KKR fan, I can't help but feel heart-broken for Harshal. What a season he had, absolutely marvelous! From the lows of 37 to the highs of hat-trick!"

The Goan: "Any guesses for MoM? :D" --- What a waste of time that would be!

Gill following the win: "Not many gave us a chance that we would qualify. I didn't have the best of the first leg in India, but I knew I was batting well. Delhi are a really balanced team as we see it. This was our third match here, and coming again day after tomorrow, we know what to expect from the wicket. I think we would have an edge over Delhi Capitals. The first powerplay was totally against us, but the way Sunny [Narine] and Varun bowled... Keep building the pressure on them was important, and that is what the spinners did."

Tony Stark: "@Gokul Pradeep V It was a Dhoni-esque finish, but from Shakib. :)"

Kohli after a close defeat: "(Difference in the match) Their spinners dominated the game in the middle overs. They kept taking wickets there. We had a great start and probably should've tried to build on. It was more about quality bowling instead of poor batting. (Bowling effort of RCB) Outstanding. Been the hallmark this season. But tonight that big over in the middle deflated our chances in the middle. We fought till the last. But 15 runs left out there with the bat and a couple of big overs with the ball. (Narine) Always been a quality bowler and tonight once again showed why he is the most consistent wicket takers in the IPL. Not just him, Shakib, Varun and him all three bowled amazingly together. They created pressure together for our batters to not get their big shots. (Last season as RCB captain) Ive tried my best to create a culture where youngsters could come and play expressive cricket. Its something I've tried to do in the India level as well. All I can say is that I have given my best. I have given my 120% to this franchise and will continue giving it as a player on the field. Its a great time to regroup and restructure the franchise for the next three years. I will definitely (play for RCB). For me loyalty matters and my commitment is with this franchise till the last day I play IPL."

Akhilesha: "Thank you Kohli. I've I've a supporter of the idea of him stepping down as captain for a couple of years now, but, it is an undisputed fact that Kohli has given complete time and effort to the team and played every match with passion, leading from the front as a captain. Some things just don't work out but that shouldn't take much away from Kohli's legacy as a captain."

Prakash: "Little shout out for morgan as captain 
. The way he using his bowlers
woww
.i think its simply outstanding
."

Richard Wesley: "Feel sad for RCB's exit. They had a great season!! That was Kohli's last match as RCB skipper."

9.34pm A tight contest again. Royal Challengers will feel the pinch though, having been in a good position with the bat but to only end up with 138. An all-around show from Narine - he followed 4 for 21 with a quickfire 26 to derail the opposition - which means Knight Riders are just one step away from the final. A dejected Kohli shakes hands with the opponent, having decided to give up captaincy of Royal Challengers earlier this season.

19.4
1
Christian to Shakib Al Hasan, 1 run, jams that yorker just outside off, as the ball hits him after dropping close to off. They scamper for a single, and Royal Challengers are now eliminated as Knight Riders make the Qualifier 2

Some drama here maybe? 1 off 3...

19.3
1
Christian to Morgan, 1 run, dabs at this good length ball on off, and plays to point. A rapid single is gobbled, with the fielder there not collecting cleanly

Christian has a word with Maxwell now. Over the wicket to Morgan too.

For what it is worth, this is Kohli's last match as RCB captain.

19.2
1
Christian to Shakib Al Hasan, 1 run, skips down, but gets a bottom edge behind the wicket to short fine leg. Bharat gives the chase to his right

3 off 5...

19.1
4
Christian to Shakib Al Hasan, FOUR, scoops over short fine leg, and four! Steps across off stump early, and lobs that slower ball on a full length wide of off. Just helped that over the man inside the circle

Over the wicket

Who bowls the last over? Christian takes his cap off, and is ready to roll.

Afnan Ahmed: "*Chatur Chahal :) @Pranav"

Gokul Pradeep V: "Expecting a Dhoni-esque finish from Morgan"

END OF OVER:
19 | 5 Runs | KKR: 132/6 (7 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 6.94, RRR: 7.00)

  • Eoin Morgan4 (6b)
  • Shakib Al Hasan3 (3b)
  • George Garton3-0-29-0
  • Mohammed Siraj4-0-19-2
18.6
0
Garton to Morgan, no run, dot ball again! Short delivery outside off, and now Morgan misses his pull. Seven to win for Knight Riders in the last over

Sunil Chhajer: "Problem for VK now is that his dependable bowlers are bowed out not. Advantage KKR."

18.5
1
Garton to Shakib Al Hasan, 1 run, goes for the hoick to this full ball on off, and turns that away to fine leg
18.4
1
Garton to Morgan, 1 run, slower ball on a shortish length on off, and angling in. Dabbed to third man close from to his body
18.3
0
Garton to Morgan, no run, beaten on the cut! Looks to slash at that shortish ball wide of off, but doesn't get a bat. Precious dot for Royal Challengers
18.2
2
Garton to Morgan, 2 runs, near yorker on middle, and angling in. Flicked to deep square leg, who runs across to his left to stop that. But two quick runs still

Stays over to Morgan

18.1
1
Garton to Shakib Al Hasan, 1 run, flicks this full ball on middle an off to fine leg

Over the wicket

Garton to bowl the 19th, but only after a word of advise from Kohli and Siraj.

Meanwhile, Siraj now has 100 T20 wickets and 50 in IPL.

Pranav: "Purple Patel, Super Siraj and Trusty Chahal for RCB"

END OF OVER:
18 | 3 Runs 2 Wkts | KKR: 127/6 (12 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.05, RRR: 6.00)

  • Eoin Morgan1 (2b)
  • Shakib Al Hasan1 (1b)
  • Mohammed Siraj4-0-19-2
  • Harshal Patel4-0-19-2
17.6
0
Mohammed Siraj to Morgan, no run, back of a length outside off, and dabbed to point. The man there stops after going low to his right, and thus ends an over with two wickets and three runs
17.5
1
Mohammed Siraj to Shakib Al Hasan, 1 run, full delivery on middle and off, and he opens the bat face to run that down to deep point with a slightly open face of the bat

Over the wicket

Shakib is the new batter. Siraj has struck twice this over already.

17.4
W
Mohammed Siraj to Karthik, OUT, carried to Bharat? Yes, he thinks so. Karthik has started walking back already though, but the umpire goes upstairs. Good length ball outside off, and angling in. Karthik looks to half-cut-half-drive at that, but gets a faint outside edge off the bottom off the bat. The ball is dying to Bharat, who goes low to try and pouch that. Remember, there is no soft signal in IPL, so the call is to be entirely made by the third umpire. The TV umpire is not satisfied with the angles so far, and so we wait for more replays. Now he says he can see "fingers underneath", and Karthik has finally disappeared into the pavilion

KD Karthik c †Bharat b Mohammed Siraj 10 (20m 12b 1x4 0x6) SR: 83.33

17.3
1
Mohammed Siraj to Morgan, 1 run, lands a near yorker on off, and that is clipped to mid-on. An overthrow from Maxwell at the bowler's end, and that means a single is stolen

Over the wicket

Morgan is the new man in. Remember, he has been out of form this season.

17.2
W
Mohammed Siraj to Narine, OUT, bowled him! Siraj leaps in the air, as he adds a touch of excitement to this. The off stump is pushed back, as Siraj bowls on a good length on off, and with a scrambled seam. Narine stands outside leg and prepares to slog that to the on side, but misses his heave. Some late drama here then?

SP Narine b Mohammed Siraj 26 (31m 15b 0x4 3x6) SR: 173.33

Over the stumps to Narine

Kohli now adjusts his field after consultation with Siraj

17.1
1
Mohammed Siraj to Karthik, 1 run, full delivery on middle, and angling into his pads. Clipped to deep square leg

Siraj now over the wicket.

Is there life left yet in this game? We'll find out soon.

END OF OVER:
17 | 4 Runs | KKR: 124/4 (15 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.29, RRR: 5.00)

  • Dinesh Karthik9 (10b)
  • Sunil Narine26 (14b)
  • Harshal Patel4-0-19-2
  • Glenn Maxwell3-0-25-0

That's Harshal Patel probably done for the season. Finishes with 32 wickets, the most by any bowler, tied with DJ Bravo's effort. Likely to take the purple cap home unless Avesh Khan gets a lot of wickets. Here's Himanshu to end the match.

16.6
1
Patel to Karthik, 1 run, slower ball, full and wide. Nudged to third man as Harshal finishes with 2/19
16.5
0
Patel to Karthik, no run, slower ball. Just outside off. Defended with very soft hands. Ball ricochets onto his pads off the edge
16.4
1lb
Patel to Narine, 1 leg bye, slower ball. Full outside leg. Tries to slog leg side, but it hits his thigh and rolls away to short fine leg
16.3
0
Patel to Narine, no run, yorker length, on leg stump. Dug away to midwicket
16.2
1
Patel to Karthik, 1 run, full on off, and flicked past midwicket to wide long on

KKR 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st41VR IyerShubman Gill
2nd12RA TripathiVR Iyer
3rd26N RanaVR Iyer
4th31SP NarineN Rana
5th15KD KarthikSP Narine
6th1KD KarthikEJG Morgan
7th13EJG MorganShakib Al Hasan