DHAKA: Kolkata Knight Riders is going to face Kings XI Punjab in the Qualifier 1 of the Indian Premier league at 8:30pm Tuesday at Eden Gardens of Kolkata.

The first of the four Playoff matches of Pepsi IPL 2014 will see the teams who finished in the top two positions in the standings clash for a direct passage to the tournament final.

Kings XI Punjab, who’ve had their best-ever season in the IPL registering 11 wins, finished the league season atop the eight-team standings. 

They are pitted against the Kolkata Knight Riders, who are one of two teams to have defeated them this season.

However, Kolkata Knight Riders turned the point tables in stunning fashion, winning their seven matches on the bounce and barging into the Playoffs. 

Kings XI Punjab have a 100% record in run-chases in Pepsi IPL 2014; they’ve won each one of their 6 run-chases this season. Kolkata Knight Riders meanwhile have registered victories in their last six run-chases.

Kolkata Knight Riders’ Robin Uthappa (516 runs) has scored 151 more than the second-highest run-getter in the India-leg of Pepsi IPL 2014.

The result of this match will dictate what happens to the teams going forward. The winner of this contest progresses to the Final, scheduled to be played at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on June 1. The loser of this contest will travel to Mumbai, where they will meet the winner of the Eliminator (contested between the Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians) on May 30.

** Reason behind KKR turnaround

BDST: 1409 HRS, MAY 27, 2014