Pune Warriors face Kolkata Knight Riders in the second of two Indian Premier League (IPL) games scheduled for Thursday. Pune are out of the race for a place in the knock-out stages, while Kolkata have a mathematical chance of finishing fourth if they win their remaining games and other results go their way.

Where to Watch Live

Play starts at 3.30pm BST. Live coverage is on ITV 4 and ITV 4 HD. Follow the match live, via text updates, on ESPN Cricinfo.

Overview

Pune have nothing left to play for and may look to give fringe players a chance to prove themselves. Coach Allan Donald will look to test players ahead of the next season, while identifying those he may need to move on. The side have won only two games so far this season and look unlikely to add to that tally, based on recent performances.

The hosts come into this game after a five wicket defeat to Rajasthan Royals in their last game. Pune posted a strong total of 178/4, riding on Robin Uthappa's 54, Aaron Finch's 48 and Mitchell Marsh's unbeaten 35 off 21 balls.

However, their bowlers failed to defend the total, with Sri Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews particularly culpable; he conceded 34 runs off his three overs. South Africa Wayne Parnell did stand out, with 3/27 from 3.5 overs.

For the Royals, openers Rahul Dravid and Ajinkya Rahane continued their good form, with each scoring a half-century in a 98-run opening stand.

Kolkata, meanwhile, need results to go their way to maintain any hope of qualifying for the knock-out stages. Gautam Gambhir's men were hammered by Mumbai Indians in their previous match, losing by 65 runs.

Wayne Parnell [Pune Warriors]
Reuters

Dwayne Smith and Sachin Tendulkar gave Mumbai a solid platform, taking the pre-tournament favourites to 93 for the opening stand. Both batsmen fell just short of their half-centuries but that was about as good as it got for Kolkata. The in-form Dinesh Karthik pounded 34 off 18 balls to set up a 171-run target for the Knight Riders.

A side with the likes of senior internationals like Gambhir, Jacques Kallis and Eoin Morgan, supplemented with local IPL specialists like Manvinder Bisla and Yusuf Pathan should have made it an interesting contest but for the second time in two games Mumbai's bowlers produced an absolute master-class.

They bowled Chennai Super Kings for a paltry 79 a few days ago and took only a little longer to dismiss Kolkata, with Mitchell Johnson, Pragyan Ojha and Harbhajan Singh the stars again. The Indian spinners picked up 5/49 from their eight overs, while Mitchell had 2/13 from his four.

Team Form

Pune Warriors

  • Last Five (most recent first): L L L L L
  • Last Match: Rajasthan Royals defeated Pune Warriors by five wickets

Kolkata Knight Riders

  • Last Five (most recent first): L W L L W
  • Last Match: Mumbai Indians defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 65 runs
South Africa