IPL Eliminator: Sunrisers Hyderabad defend 163 to knock Kolkata Knight Riders out

Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated the Kolkata Knight Riders by 23 runs in the Eliminator of the Indian Premier League to knock Kolkata out of the tournament. Hyderabad will now face Gujarat Lions in Qualifer 2 with the winner meeting Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final on Sunday. Yuvraj Singh's 30-ball 44 was the anchor around which Hyderabad managed to get to 162/8 in their 20 overs. Kuldeep Yadav impressed for Kolkata with 3/35. However Hyderabad put in a disciplined performance to defend the total.

Here's how the action unfolded:

11.29 pm: KKR 140/8 in 20 overs (Narine 1*, Holder 7)

And that is it. Hyderabad are through to Qualifier 2 while Kolkata are out of the tournament. A great performance from Hyderabad as they defended their score very well. Kolkata could never really get going after they lost Gambhir and Pathan in quick succession. So it's confirmed then, IPL 2016 will have a new champion!

11.24 pm: KKR 138/6 in 19 overs (Sathish 8*, Holder 6*)

Mustafizur wraps it up in fine style. The batsmen have no idea how to play him and keep flaying at thin air. Eight runs off that over and Kolkata need 25 off the last six balls to win.

11.20 pm: KKR 130/6 in 18 overs (Sathish 5*, Holder 2*)

That looks like curtains for Kolkata in this tournament. Manish Pandey holes out to Deepak Hooda while trying to clear the long-on boundary. Great over from Bhuvneshwar Kumar who gives away only six in the over. KKR need 33 from the last two.

11.12 pm: KKR 124/5 in 17 overs (Pandey 36*, Sathish 1*)

Wow. Mustafizur, what a bowler. Bowls yorker after yorker and Kolkata can't really do anything else much about it. The game is slowly inching away from Kolkata's grasp. Pandey will need to do something spectacular now. He dances down and heaves a full toss to the deep mid-wicket boundary.

11.08 pm: KKR 116/5 in 16 overs (Pandey 30*, Sathish 0*)

In the circumstances, this is a good over from Moises Henriques. He mixes up the pace and frustrates the batsmen. Suryakumar Yadav sees an opening and tries to swing him over square-leg but doesn't get the distance and Dhawan completes a decent catch. That makes things a lot more difficult for KKR.

10.59 pm: KKR 110/4 in 15 overs (Pandey 24*, Suryakumar 22*)

The Fizz has made a mess of it. A thick edge off Suryakumar's bat went down Mustafizur's throat but he only managed to tip it over the line. Ten runs off the over and KKR are staying in this. 53 required off 30 balls.

10.55 pm: KKR 100/4 in 14 overs(Pandey 23*, Suryakumar 14*)

Good bowling from Cuttings. Bowling straight yorkers on the leg stump and not giving KKR's batsmen room to swing their arms. Eight runs off the over, all through singles and doubles. KKR need 63 off 36 balls.

10.49 pm: KKR 92/4 in 13 overs (Pandey 21*, Suryakumar 8*)

The Fizz is back but Pandey is equal to the task. Hits the aerial cover drive to get the boundary. But he almost gets run out at the non-striker's end. He needs to be steady now because the match depends on him. Suryakumar Yadav finished off the four with a cheeky scoop over fine leg for four.

10.46 pm: KKR 81/4 in 12 overs (Pandey 15*, Suryakumar 3*)

A welcome big shot for Kolkata as Pandey comes down the ground and hits it over Bipul Sharma's head for a six. They'll need a few more of those. Five more runs in the over. Remember Hyderabad still have three overs of Mustafizur left.

10.42 pm: KKR 70/4 in 11 overs (Pandey 7*, Suryakumar 1*)

Uh-oh. If you're a KKR supporter, look away now. Yusuf Pathan has flicked the fifth ball of the eleventh over to Bhuvneshwar Kumar who pulls off a brilliant catch. KKR are crumbling now and the required run rate has gone over ten. They'll need something very very special now.

10.36 pm: KKR 66/3 in 10 overs (Pandey 1* , Pathan 4*)

Big wicket for Hyderabad! Gambhir tries to pull but gets it high on his bat. Long-on takes the catch gratefully and Cutting gets the KKR captain! That brings Yusuf Pathan out to the middle who's been in fantastic form. KKR bat deep and they're not out of the equation by any means but Hyderabad will be quietly confident.

10.29 pm: KKR 63/2 in 9 overs (Gambhir 28*, Pandey 2*)

Another good over for Hyderabad. The left arm spinner Bipul Sharma gives away only seven in the over. Rapped Pandey on his pads in what looked a close lbw decision. Things are getting tense. And at the first strategic time out, KKR need 100 runs off the last 66 balls.

10.26 pm: KKR 56/2 in 8 overs (Gambhir 25*, Pandey 0*)

The KKR captain is getting testy now. Gets sent back by his partner and then plays and misses against Cuttings. But Hyderabad release the pressure by giving him a loosener on his legs. Two runs but the pressure has just crept up a notch. The required run rate is now uncomfortably close to nine.

10.20 pm: KKR 53/2 in 7 overs (Gambhir 22*, Munro 16)

Moises Henriques is in the attack. The power-play is over so the field is spread but Gambhir still deftly glances the ball and places it perfectly for a boundary. But he's involved in another run-out and it's Yuvraj Singh who's the man. Calls Munro for a quick single but Yuvraj is faster and pulls off a direct hit to catch Munro short. Brilliant stuff from the veteran!

10.14 pm: KKR 46/1 in 6 overs (Gambhir 17*, Munro 14*)

The Fizz is here and automatically Kolkata take a step back. No risks against him. Three dot balls in the over and only three singles. No wicket though and perhaps that will make KKR happy.

10.11 pm: KKR 43/1 in 5 overs (Gambhir 16*, Munro 12*)

Did Gambhir read that last tweet? A beautiful piece of timing as he opened his arms and simply guided the ball from outside off stump to the cover boundary off Bhuvneshwar Kumar. And obviously enough, takes the single off the next. Hyderabad need to do something quickly because these two left-handers are taking the game away from them.

10.06 pm: KKR 34/1 in 4 overs (Gambhir 11*, Munro 8*)

Munro muscles it away over mid-wicket for a boundary off Sran. The bowler gave away four leg-byes as well of the first ball. He might have got the wicket but Sran has already been quite expensive today.

10.02 pm: KKR 23/1 in 3 overs (Gambhir 11*, Munro 1*)

Deepak Hooda bowled four good deliveries and conceded only three runs. But he bowls the fifth one short and gets pulled away for six.

10.00 pm: KKR 15/1 in 2 overs (Gambhir 4*, Munro 0*)

Beautifully timed from Uthappa as he pierces the off-side field to give KKR their first boundary of the chase. Cuttings makes a shy at the stumps the next ball and misses - the overthrow goes for five runs. But Uthappa can't keep the same shot down and holes out to Warner at cover. Hyderabad have their first wicket, but it's a good over for both the teams.

9.53pm: KKR 3/0 in 1 over (Gambhir 2*, Uthappa 1*)

KKR take a leaf out of Hyderabad's book and start off watchfully themselves. Great first over from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, gave nothing away.

9.37pm: SRH 162/8 in 20 overs (Sharma 14*, Sran 0*)

The perfect over for Hyderabad! Bipul Sharma gets it in the slot and drives it to the mid-wicket boundary to start the over with a six. Two balls later, throws the kitchen sink at a length ball for a massive six over mid-wicket. Morkel does get the wicket of Bhuvneshwar Kumar but that's 14 runs off the last over. This is not going to be an easy chase for KKR.

9.30 pm: SRH 148/7 in 19 overs (Kumar 1*,Sharma 1* )

You miss, I hit. Jason Holder keeps it simple and bowls it dead straight. Yuvraj tried to be too cute, tries to play the dab-sweep and misses. Timber and Yuvraj has to depart for a very useful 44. Follows it up with the wicket of Naman Ojha. This is exactly how Kolkata would have wanted to bowl at the death.

9.22 pm: SRH 143/5 in 18 overs (Yuvraj 44*, Ojha 7*)

Lucky! Yuvraj Singh is very lucky today. Tries to pull Narine but gets the top edge which careens over short third-man. To make matters worse for KKR, it goes to the boundary. These are vital runs.

9.18 pm: SRH 133/5 in 17 overs (Yuvraj 40*, Ojha 1*)

Kuldeep Yadav is brought back and his first ball beats Ben Cuttings all ends up as he steps out and swings wildly, missing the ball by a mile to get stumped. Yuvraj Singh then hared down the pitch only to realise Naman Ojha didn't want a run and narrowly missed being run out. But Yuvraj finally gets two vital boundaries off the last two deliveres.. This is an eventful over!

9.13 pm: SRH 124/4 in 16 overs (Yuvraj 32*, Cuttings 0*)

Deepak Hooda has an almighty but strong heave and deposits the first ball of the Jason Holder into the deep mid-wicket stands. Then Yuvraj decides he's had enough of the short stuff, directs a short ball behind the keeper for a boundary. But tragedy strikes - a direct hit from Kuldeep Yadav and Hooda's promising knock has been cut short. That's the third time's been run out in this tournament!

9.05 pm: SRH 109/3 in 15 overs (Yuvraj 24*, Hooda 14*)

That was a strange over. Narine got hit for a six by Hooda off the first ball but bowled three beauties at Yuvraj. Unfortuntely, he gave too much air off his last delivery and Yuvraj smashed him to the boundary.

9.02 pm: SRH 98/3 in 14 overs (Yuvraj 20*, Hooda 7*)

But Yuvraj can't do much with Morkel. The South African pacer tests him with the shorter stuff and even slips in the yorker. Yuvraj was furious that the leg umpire did not rule the last ball bouncer as above head height.

8.58 pm: SRH 94/3 in 13 overs (Yuvraj 18*, Hooda 5*)

Yuvraj! Twirls the bat and shows Yadav the mid-wicket boundary for a royal six. Walks down the ground and then hits it straight. Such power, such poise. He holds the key now.

8.54 pm: SRH 82/3 in 12 overs (Yuvraj 7*, Hooda 4*)

Another surprise from Gambhir - Rajagopal Sathish gets a go. And the trundler bowls a disciplined over. Hooda and Yuvraj can only pick him for singles and doubles and can't go for the big shot. Yuvraj slashes one to the point boundary to spoil what had been a good over.

8.49 pm: SRH 73/1 in 11 overs (Yuvraj 2*, Hooda 0*)

And now Kolkata are putting the squeeze on Hyderabad. Sunil Narine returns and Hyderabad's batsman have no clue against him. Only two runs off that over.

8.45 pm: SRH 71/3 in 10 overs (Yuvraj 0*, Hooda 0*)

Henriques rocks down the ground and times Yadav for a boundary over extra cover. An excellent cricketing shot. But he gets the leading edge while trying to smash the next ball over square leg and the bowler completes an easy caught and bowled. Then Warner has an ugly swipe across the line. He misses and the young Yadav has two wickets in two balls..

8.38 pm: SRH 62/1 in 9 overs (Warner 27*, Henriques 23*)

Finally a boundary. Henriques rocks off and plays the perfect pull over deep square leg. Great timing and finally some momentum to the Hyderabad innings. It's time for the strategic time out and it would be fair to say that Kolkata would be the happier side right now. They would still want the wicket of Warner though.

8.34 pm: SRH 54/1 in 8 overs (Warner 24*, Henriques 17*)

Mystery man Kuldeep Yadav, a left-arm chinaman bowler is the attack. David Warner failed to read him off the second delivery of the over. Only six off the over. Watchful stuff here.

8.30 pm: SRH 47/1 in 7 overs (Warner 23*, Henriques 13*)

Jason Holder from West Indies has been introduced in the attack. Warner tried to attack but can't get it through the infield. It's a decent over, finally, with only four off the over.

8.25 pm: SRH 43/1 in 6 overs (Warner 21*, Henriques 11*)

Sunil Narine gets the ball for the first time and Warner takes a liking to him. He hammers him for two boundaries in the over. And looks like after a sedate start, Warner is finally hitting second gear.

8.22 pm: SRH 31/1 in 5 overs (Warner 11*, Henriques 10)

That could be a costly miss. Warner hits it straight at Yusuf Pathan off the third delivery and it goes straight through him. This has been a good start from Kolkata but Warner has the potential to take it away very quickly. And to add insult to injury, Henriques heaves over mid-wicket for a six off the last ball..

8.17 pm: SRH 21/1 in 4 overs (Warner 9* Henriques 2*)

OK, Hyderabad need to get a move on. Warner makes a cute dab to get a boundary off the last ball of the Morkel over. But that's still only six off the over.

And SRH fans don't seem too happy with Dhawan.

8.12 pm: SRH 15/1 in 3 overs (Warner 4*, Henriques 1*)

David Warner is being watchful here. Yusuf Pathan returns for his second over and keeps the pressure. Only three runs off the over.

8.08 pm: SRH 12/1 in 2 overs (Warner 2*, Dhawan 10)

Morne Morkel from the other end gets stuck into. During the over, Suryakumar Yadav,a Mumbai lad, calls the Delhi atmosphere "classy". Shikhar Dhawan slashes the fourth ball and the leading edge guides the ball to the boundary. But he's more in control in the fifth ball, Dhawan plays his favourite pick-up over deep square leg for a six. But Morkel gets his revenge, smashing the woodwork off the last ball of the over.

8.04 pm: SRH 4/0 in 1 over (Warner 2*, Dhawan 2*)

Watchful start from Sunrisers Hyderabad as they pat away Yusuf Pathan's first over. It looks like it'll be a trial by spin.

7.58 pm: Almost time. And here's the burning question.

7.55 pm: Well, it was just yesterday that the "Superman" himself AB de Villiers played an incredible knock to lift Royal Challengers Bangalore from the depths of 29/5 and to an IPL final. Today's game has a lot to live up to.

One thing to keep in mind though. Both the teams are heavy on the bowling front so both the batsmen on the two sides will find the going tough. Here's how they stack up:

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Shikhar Dhawan, David Warner, Moises Henriques, Yuvraj Singh, Naman Ojha, Deepak Hooda, Ben Cutting, Bipul Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Barinder Sran, Mustafizur Rahman

Kolkata Knight Riders: Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, Manish Pandey, Colin Munro, Yusuf Pathan, Kuldeep Yadav, Rajagopal Sathish, Jason Holder, Kuldeep Yadav, Morne Morkel, Sunil Narine

7.45 pm: Welcome to the Scroll.in's over-by-over live blog of the Eliminator of this Indian Premier League season. Kolkata Knight Riders' Gautam Gambhir has won the toss and has decided to bowl.

The big team news for KKR fans is that the big West Indian all-rounder Andre Russell is not fit. That will be a blow for Kolkata as he has starred with both bat and ball this IPL season. Morne Morkel is also in the Kolkata team.

Sunrisers Hyderabad may have finished ahead of Kolkata Knight Riders but they will come into the game as under-dogs. They were defeated by Kolkata in both their league games.