IPL 2021 Playoffs, DC vs KKR (Qualifier 2) LIVE UPDATES: KKR wins by 3 wickets in the last gasp, to face CSK

Annnnndddd.... It's a win for KKRRRR.... Phew! That came so close. DC almost turned things around, with KKR losing three more in the final two overs, with the equation coming down to six needed off two. However, it was Tripathy who saved KKR's self-destruction and face, hitting six off Ashwin and sealing the final berth by three wickets, with a ball to spare. Heartbreak for DC. So close, yet so far. It's CSK vs KKR on Friday in Dubai. Read the full match report here....

OUT! Morgan b Nortje 0 (3), Shakib lbw b Ashwin 0 (2), Narine c Axar b Ashwin 0 (1). KKR 136/7 (19.5). Batting: Tripathi 12 (11), Ferguson 0 (0).

KKR has lost a couple more, with Rana, Gill and Karthik going back. However, the job is more or less done for KKR, or is it? 10 needed off 13.

OUT! Rana c Hetmyer b Nortje 13 (12), Gill c Pant b Avesh 46 (46), Karthik b Rabada 0 (3). KKR 126/4 (18). Batting: Tripathi 2 (6), Morgan 0 (0).

Finally, the first wicket goes down for KKR, as Iyer has fallen to Rabada. However, is it too late for DC? Well, they have already dropped a couple of catches. 23 needed off 30.

OUT! Iyer c (sub) Smith b Rabada 55 (41). KKR 113/1 (15). Batting: Gill 35 (39), Rana 11 (9).

Still no harm done, as the openers keep going in the same manner for KKR, while Iyer has scored his fourth IPL half-century. 44 needed off 48.

KKR 92/0 (12). Batting: Iyer 51 (39), Gill 31 (33).

The KKR openers continue their steady and smart show. Do the DC bowlers having anything up their sleeves to get rid of this pair? 69 needed off 66.

KKR 67/0 (9). Batting: Iyer 37 (29), Gill 26 (25).

The KKR openers are going good and strong, having brought up the 50-run opening stand. Pressure on DC bowlers outright. 85 needed off 84.

KKR 51/0 (6). Batting: Iyer 31 (21), Gill 17 (16).

It has been a steady start by the KKR openers. Not losing wickets in the Powerplay would be the key for KKR in this chase, while being the other way around for DC.

KKR 20/0 (3). Batting: Iyer 10 (10), Gill 11 (8).

Yes, DC has managed to finish beyond 130, thanks to Iyer. KKR needs 136 to win. Should be chasable, but won't be easy.

OUT! Hetmyer run out (Iyer/Karthik) 17 (10). DC 135/5 (20). Batting: Iyer 30 (27), Axar 4 (4).

Pant goes down as the fourth wicket to Ferguson. However, Hetmyer earned a lifeline post dismissal off Chakravarthy via a no-ball, as he is producing some fireworks. Is 130 possible?

OUT! Pant c Tripathi b Ferguson 6 (6). DC 9114043 (18). Batting: Iyer 15 (20), Hetmyer 15 (20).

Third wicket goes down, as Dhawan is sent back by Chakravarthy. Pressure keeps mounting on DC, while the KKKr bowlers remain on top. Can we start predicting the projected score around 140?

OUT! Dhawan c Shakib b Chakravarthy 36 (39). DC 90/3 (15). Batting: Iyer 9 (12), Pant 6 (4).

DC's second wicket falls, as pacer Mavi knocks over Stoinis. This is some great bowling from the KKR bowlers, while DC needs to play smart hereon.

OUT! Stoinis b Mavi 18(23). DC 73/2 (12). Batting: Dhawan 32 (34), Iyer 2 (3).

It has been some great bowling from KKR so far, as the DC bowlers are finding it difficult to even connect the ball, let alone scoring. The pitch seems to be really slow.

DC 55/1 (9). Batting: Dhawan 21 (26), Stoinis 12 (15).

The opening setback is here for DC, as Shaw has been trapped leg-before by spinner Chakravarthy. DC is under slight pressure right away, followed by some tight bowling from the KKR bowlers. Meanwhile, Dhawan has hit his 200th T20 six in the process.

OUT! Shaw lbw b Chakravarthy 18(12). DC 38/1 (6). Batting: Dhawan 17 (19), Stoinis 3 (5).

The DC openers are off to a slow starts, as the KKR bowlers have bowled well. An early wicket would put DC under pressure instantly.

DC 18/0 (3). Batting: Dhawan 1 (8), Shaw 17 (10).

Toss: KKR opts to bowl.

Eoin Morgan: We are going to bowl first. We have played a few games here at Sharjah, so far, it's worked. There might be a dew factor later on. We have kept the same side. We are playing some good cricket at the moment. We are confident as a side. Guys know their roles inside out, so hoping to come here today and produce something close to that. The mindset that we have had throughout the second phase has been spot-on. Guys have looked to play aggressive, smart cricket, which is excellent. We enjoyed playing here, and hopefully, it has put some smiles on people's faces as well.

Rishabh Pant: We would have bowled first. It's okay; we can't be thinking about the toss too much, so let's play some good cricket today. There's nothing we wanted to change from the last game, just one or two overs here and there would have done us the job. We needed an extra batsman in these kinds of tracks, so Stoinis comes in. Tom Curran is out. We are in a great frame of mind, always exciting to play together, always having a lot of fun, looking to have fun during the match.

Playing XI
DC: Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Marcus Stoinis, Shimron Hetmyer, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Avesh Khan and Anrich Nortje.
KKR: Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Rahul Tripathi, Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan (c), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Sunil Narine, Shakib Al Hasan, Lockie Ferguson, Shivam Mavi and Varun Chakravarthy.

Hello and welcome to Asianet Newsable's live coverage of Qualifier 2 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 Playoffs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, between Delhi Capitals (DC) and former champion Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The winner advances to the final, where it takes on fellow former champion Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Dubai on Sunday while we present all the major live updates from this compelling clash.

Current form
DC finished at the top of the table but succumbed to a defeat in its Qualifier 1 match to second-placed CSK in Dubai. On the other hand, KKR was placed fourth and terminated third-placed Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Although the momentum is slightly on KKR's side, DC is hard to stop.

LIVE SCORECARD: IPL 2021 Playoffs, DC vs KKR (Qualifier 2)

Head-to-head
The two sides have clashed on 29 occasions, with KKR holding a lead of 15-13, while in 28 IPL battles, KKR leads 15-12. Both have won two each in the four United Arab Emirates (UAE) meetings, besides winning one each in the two Sharjah meetings.

"

Weather and pitch report
The Sharjah weather is burning, with a temperature of 37 degrees and 36% humidity. The pitch would be lazy, while the shorter boundaries are expected to keep the batters engaged.

ALSO READ: IPL 2021: David Warner opens up about his axe by SunRisers Hyderabad

Probable XI
DC: Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Marcus Stoinis, Shimron Hetmyer, Axar Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Ravichandran Ashwin, Avesh Khan and Anrich Nortje.
KKR: Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Eoin Morgan (c), Rahul Tripathi, Sunil Narine, Shivam Mavi, Shakib Al Hasan, Lockie Ferguson/Andre Russell and Varun Chakravarthy.