Yousuf Pathan blitzed the fastest ever Indian Premier League (IPL) half-century as Kolkata Knight Riders thrashed Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Eden Gardens here last night to steal second place in the points table.. Chasing a below par 161 to win, Kolkata needed to triumph in 15.2 overs in order to leapfrog Chennai Super Kings in the standings.. They were deep in trouble at 78 for four in the 10th over, but Pathan smashed seven sixes and five fours to score 72 in just 22 balls as the Knight Riders won in a thrilling 14.2 overs. The former India star, who took 26 from one Dale Steyn over, reached 50 in just 15 balls — two deliveries quicker than the previous fastest half-centuries scored by Adam Gilchrist and Chris Gayle.. Pathan’s firewords were particularly galling for Srikkanth Anirudha, who spilled an easy chance early in his innings.. Defeat ended the Sunrisers’ hopes of qualifying for the play-offs.. A disciplined bowling and fielding performance saw Kolkata restrict Hyderabad to 160 for seven after putting them in to bat. After David Warner fell early, Shikhar Dhawan and Naman Ojha set about building a platform for Hyderabad and they added 64 together in 7.4 overs before the latter was caught and bowled by Ryan ten Doeschate for 26 from 23 balls. . A pair of run-outs then further hit the visitors’ hopes, as first Dhawan (29 from 31) and then Venugopal Rao (27 from 26) were caught out by the same Manish Pandey-Robin Uthappa combination to leave their side 121 for four with only five overs to go.. Skipper Darren Sammy (29 from 19) hit three sixes, but Sunrisers generally struggled to get on top.. The Knight Riders went into the match unchanged, while for Sunrisers Jason Holder and Srikkanth came in for Aaron Finch and Irfan Pathan.
Yousuf Pathan blitzed the fastest ever Indian Premier League (IPL) half-century as Kolkata Knight Riders thrashed Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Eden Gardens here last night to steal second place in the points table.. Chasing a below par 161 to win, Kolkata needed to triumph in 15.2 overs in order to leapfrog Chennai Super Kings in the standings.. They were deep in trouble at 78 for four in the 10th over, but Pathan smashed seven sixes and five fours to score 72 in just 22 balls as the Knight Riders won in a thrilling 14.2 overs. The former India star, who took 26 from one Dale Steyn over, reached 50 in just 15 balls — two deliveries quicker than the previous fastest half-centuries scored by Adam Gilchrist and Chris Gayle.. Pathan’s firewords were particularly galling for Srikkanth Anirudha, who spilled an easy chance early in his innings.. Defeat ended the Sunrisers’ hopes of qualifying for the play-offs.. A disciplined bowling and fielding performance saw Kolkata restrict Hyderabad to 160 for seven after putting them in to bat. After David Warner fell early, Shikhar Dhawan and Naman Ojha set about building a platform for Hyderabad and they added 64 together in 7.4 overs before the latter was caught and bowled by Ryan ten Doeschate for 26 from 23 balls. . A pair of run-outs then further hit the visitors’ hopes, as first Dhawan (29 from 31) and then Venugopal Rao (27 from 26) were caught out by the same Manish Pandey-Robin Uthappa combination to leave their side 121 for four with only five overs to go.. Skipper Darren Sammy (29 from 19) hit three sixes, but Sunrisers generally struggled to get on top.. The Knight Riders went into the match unchanged, while for Sunrisers Jason Holder and Srikkanth came in for Aaron Finch and Irfan Pathan.