KKR clinch thriller
Register 2-wicket win against Pune
Suryakumar Yadav's 49-ball 60 was the backbone of the Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) run chase as they hunted down Rising Pune Supergiants' 160/5 with two wickets and three balls to spare in a closely-fought Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium here on Sunday.
With the win, KKR go atop the points table with four wins from five matches.
Yusuf Pathan (36) and Andre Russell (17) were the other major contributors for KKR. Albie Morkel and Rajat Bhatia picked up two wickets each for the hosts.
Chasing a target of 161, KKR got off to a disastrous start as Robin Uthappa was adjudged leg-before-wicket off Albie's very first delivery of the innings.
But then skipper Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar got together to put on a breezy 31-run partnership of just 2.3 overs.
Unluckily for KKR, Gambhir was run out as he misjudged a double. His desperate dive to make the ground was not enough as Mahendra Singh Dhoni took the bails off in a flash.
But the visitors kept the scoreboard ticking at a rapid pace and with six overs gone, they were 59/2.
Shakib Al Hasan (3) then played on a Rajat Bhatia delivery in the next over which helped Pune pull back things a little.
KKR thereafter managed just 19 runs till the 10th over.
But then Suryakumar and
Pathan, who finally found some rhythm in the competition, put on a pacy 51-run partnership. Pathan hit two huge sixes en route to his 36 but then was trapped right in front of the stumps by Rajat.
Though it dented KKR a bit, West Indies all rounder Andre Russell once again brought down the asking rate by hitting Ankit Sharma for two sixes in the 17th over.
Although Russell holed out in the deep thereafter, KKR was within touching distance and they finally got home with Umesh Yadav