Bengaluru: Kolkata Knight Riders played a wonderful back, riding on Yusuf Pathan’s disastrous hitting to record a five-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) here on Monday.
Pathan bursted away to 60 off 29 balls to help KKR accomplish the target of 186 with five balls to spare at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Andre Russell made 39 off 24 balls in a brilliant match-turning fifth-wicket partnership of 96 runs in just 7.2 overs.
The Knight Riders were back to the second position in the points table, while RCB’s hopes of qualifying for the playoffs took a beating.
Sent into bat, Royal Challengers Bangalore scored 185 for seven. In reply, KKR were reeling at 69 for four in the 11th over. However, the duo of Pathan and Russell had other ideas and made short work of the chase by launching a severe onslaught on the RCB bowlers.
Pathan smashed six boundaries and three sixes, while Russell cleared the fence four times. Joining force at a difficult situation, Pathan and Russell kept their side in the game till the Indian brought KKR within sniffing distance by hitting Shane Watson for 24 runs in the 17th over. Pathan then collected 16 runs off Tabraiz Shamsi in the 19th over.
The Knight Riders were off to a poor start, losing Robin Uthappa in the first over bowled by Stuart Binny. The next batsman, Chris Lynn threatened with a six, but got out after making 15.
