PBKS vs KKR, IPL 2023: Rain continues to pour, Punjab Kings win by 7 runs - DLS method

Match called off at 7.45. PBKS begin the season a winning note as they win their 1st encounter by 7 runs (DLS).

Rain stops play - Kolkata Knight Riders need 46 runs in 24 balls.

KKR are behind on DLS par by 7 runs.

Arshdeep Singh strikes again!

The ball rises high and Venkatesh Iyer was on his toes trying to guide that.

But he only manages to find the backward point for a simple catch. 

Venkatesh Iyer c Rahul Chahar b Arshdeep Singh 34(28) [4s-3 6s-1]

Russell does not get hold of the pull and holes out to deep mid-wicket where Raza takes it.

Russell is seen aghast as he curses himself and walks off. 

Russell c Raza b Sam Curran 35(19) [4s-3 6s-2]

Rahul Chahar strikes first ball!

It was a tossed up googly outside off and Rinku Singh went for a slogsweep. It was aiming to clear the biggest part of the ground, but he found deep mid-wicket where Raza was stationed. 

Rinku Singh c Raza b Rahul Chahar 4(4)

Nitish Rana failed to keep the ball down and a shapr catch was taken by Rahul Chahar. 

Raza, in happiness, punches the air. 

Nitish Rana c Rahul Chahar b Raza 24(17) [4s-3 6s-1]

KKR are in big trouble now.

Nathan Ellis cleans up Gurbaz as the KKR batter was nowhere near the line and came down the track to a back of a length delivery.

He cuts and misses and the ball clips off-stump. 

Gurbaz b Nathan Ellis 22(16) [4s-3 6s-1]

KKR impact sub - Venkatesh Iyer in for Varun Chakravarthy, and he is walking out to bat after the fall of two wickets.

Anukul fetched the pull but did not time it well. The ball goes and finds mid-wicket who is on the edge of the ring. 

Anukul Roy c Raza b Arshdeep Singh 4(5) [4s-1]

Arshdeep Singh does his aeroplane celebration!

He strikes first ball of his first over. Mandeep miscued straight to the fielder at deep square leg. 

Mandeep c Sam Curran b Arshdeep Singh 2(4)

PBKS have made their impact sub - Rajapaksa out and Rishi Dhawan in.

On a pitch that appears to be favourable for batting, PBKS end with 191.

PBKS were 100/1 after 10 overs, and were looking good to go over 200 with Prabhsimran, Dhawan, and Rajapaksa all giving the side a good start.

However, Umesh and Chakravarthy helped KKR pull things back with Southee also getting two wickets.

Sliced in the air, and taken comfortably at extra cover! R

Raza c Nitish Rana b Narine 16(13) [4s-1 6s-1]

The ball goes right through him!

Dhawan gets beaten for pace as he looks to whip it through the on-side. The ball crashes into middle and leg.

Dhawan b Chakaravarthy 40(29) [4s-6]

Southee bounces back and dismisses Jitesh with the slower ball! 

Jitesh Sharma c Umesh Yadav b Southee 21(11) [4s-1 6s-2]

Rajapaksa was looking in good form and had just scored his half-century in just 30 balls, but Umesh Yadav got the better of him as he had to walk back.

Plenty of height but not enough distance as Rajapaksa holes out off a slower ball which landed straight into Rinku's hand at long-on.

Rajapaksa c Rinku Singh b Umesh Yadav 50(32) [4s-5 6s-2]

Tim Southee was being hit for boundries and he needed Prabhsimran to depart. surely he gets the man who hit him for 2 fours and a six. 

Prabhsimran will surely be disappointed with himself after he had provided a flying start to his side. 

Prabhsimran c Gurbaz b Southee 23(12) [4s-2 6s-2]

Both teams have gone with 4 overseas players.

Squads:

Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan(c), Prabhsimran Singh(w), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jitesh Sharma, Shahrukh Khan, Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza, Nathan Ellis, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh

Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI): Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Mandeep Singh, Nitish Rana(c), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Shardul Thakur, Sunil Narine, Tim Southee, Anukul Roy, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy