Pune will now play Mumbai Indians for a spot in the final.
Pune seal play-off spot with comprehensive win. © BCCI
Clinical - that's what Rising Pune Supergiant have been today. Right from the toss, everything clicked for them to perfection. They were all over Punjab from ball one and didn't relent. The bowlers were brilliant as Punjab's batsmen seemed to be lacking answers. After being bowled out for 73, it would have been ridiculous to expect a result other than an easy Pune win. Rahul Tripathi came out all guns blazing and gave them the start they wanted. He fell to Axar Patel in his 20s, but Steve Smith and Ajinkya Rahane steered the side home - and to their first play-off.
That's it! Pune finish in style and pick up a nine-wicket win to seal their play-off spot, finishing second in the points table. They will now take on Mumbai for a spot in the final.
Dropped! Ajinkya Rahane finds Guptill at deep midwicket, but his horror day continues. Straight in, straight out. An otherwise magnificent fielder puts Rahane down. When it's not your day, it just isn't.
Steve Smith, the next man in...
Axar strikes: Tripathi shuffles far too across and misses the line completely. The ball crashes into the stumps as Axar gets the wicket. Departs for 28 with 33 required for victory and a spot in the play-offs.
GOOD START: Rahul Tripathi has started off strongly in this rather paltry chase. Has raced away to 28 off 17, while Rahane is still on 7 off 11.
Should be a straightforward chase here for Pune. Join us after the break.
ALL OUT: Zampa takes two as Kings XI Punjab are bowled out for 73 - their lowest total in IPL history. It's been such a dismal performance from Punjab in a game that was to determine who would qualify for the playoffs. When it mattered most, they faltered. That said, Pune stepped up beautifully and clasped the game by the throat right from ball one when Guptill fell. It was curtains thereafter as one wicket fell after another. It was a procession. Shardul Thakur finished with three wickets, while Zampa, Christian and Unadkat had two.
ZAMPA GETS HIS FIRST: Zampa tosses one up to Ishant Sharma slogs it straight to Steve Smith who takes an easy catch. All too easy for Pune, this. They're just one wicket away from bowling Punjab out now.
OUT! Just as the commentators were raving about Unadkat and the kind of influence he has had on Pune's campaign, picking up a wicket in every game he's played so far this season, he picks up another. Swapnil Singh edges to Christian at slip, who fumbles, but the fumble lobs up and Dhoni pouches it.
The collapse continues: Axar Patel makes the long walk back after edging a fuller delivery. Christian picks up his second for the evening as Punjab slip further.
Saha departs: Wriddhiman Saha tries to run one down from Dan Christian to third man, but end up edging it into the gloves of MS Dhoni, who took a diving catch to his right. Christian strikes in his first over. Punjab - 55/6 after 10 overs.
MAXWELL QUACKS: This has been a disastrous start for KXIP. What a Powerplay for Pune this has turned out to be. Half the Punjab side is back in the shed, and just for 32 runs. Maxwell the last man to go. Clips it straight to Rahane at deep backward square. Shake of the head from Maxwell, and for good reason.
AND ANOTHER! Can't keep Unadkat out of the game today. Struck off the first ball, gets a direct throw to run out Morgan and now takes a sharp catch at short fine leg to send back Rahul Tewatia. Punjab are 32 for 4 and the powerplay isn't even over.
RUN-OUT: Punjab's third overseas player makes a run for it, literally. Morgan calls for the run, but is unable to make it to the safer side before a direct throw shatters the stumps. Brilliant work from Unadkat there, who attacked the ball after Morgan pushed it towards mid on! Punjab are in trouble.
MARSH DEPARTS: The ball seems to have stopped on the batsman. Marsh was committed to the drive and ended up handing Steve Smith a simple catch at mid off. Punjab have lost their big guns early. Need a partnership now.
DROPPED: MS Dhoni spills one... Saha edges, but Dhoni is a tad late to react as he gets his fingertips to it but can't hold on. Saha goes for the drive but gets a thick edge. Survives.
Batsmen getting out first ball of an inngs in #IPL2017:
Amla v SRH
Parthiv v RCB
Samson v MI
Gayle v KKR
Rahane v DD
GUPTILL v RPS#RPSvKXIP
14 May 2017
14 May 2017
WHAT A START: What a start for Pune! Guptill gone first ball. Unadkat bowls a slightly wider one that Guptill goes after, looking to drive it, but hits it straight to Manoj Tiwary at short extra cover. Gone for a golden duck!
Playing XIs:
Kings XI Punjab (Playing XI): Martin Guptill, Wriddhiman Saha(w), Glenn Maxwell(c), Shaun Marsh, Eoin Morgan, Axar Patel, Rahul Tewatia, Swapnil Singh, Mohit Sharma, Ishant Sharma, Sandeep Sharma
Rising Pune Supergiant (Playing XI): Ajinkya Rahane, Rahul Tripathi, Steven Smith(c), Manoj Tiwary, Ben Stokes, MS Dhoni(w), Daniel Christian, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Adam Zampa
Toss: Steve Smith wins toss and opts to bowl. Pune fielding the same XI from the previous game, while Punjab have two changes. Morgan comes in for Henry and Swapnil Singh comes in for Manan Vohra.
Welcome to our coverage of the penultimate league game of the tenth edition of the IPL. What a season this has been. It all comes down to the final day. And the final three hours that could determine the final slots. It has all come down to this. A shoot-out. A case of winner take all. Let's lay out the cards - a win for Pune would get them catapulting up to the second spot. Punjab would have to do with a trip to Bangalore with a win, no matter what the margin. Punjab have had a spate of virtual play-offs before the actual ones. So, we are in Pune, a land that has seen all kinds of thrillers this year.We wouldn't mind this afternoon throw up another.