Pathan’s stunning assault demolishes Sunrisers

Agencies/Kolkata

Pathan smashed 72 runs from just 22 balls with five boundaries and a massive seven sixes to guide Kolkata to their longest winning streak ever, which now stands at seven matches. Kolkata chased down their target of 161 in 14.2 overs after the Sunrisers had posted 160 for seven after being sent into bat.

Karn Sharma (3-23) was the only bowler worth mentioning as the legbreak bowler also snatched up the wickets of Pathan and the in-form Robin Uthappa (41). Uthappa scored his ninth consecutive score above 40, before playing against the spin of Sharma and being caught by Jason Holder, also at long-on.

But the night belonged to Pathan. After the Knight Riders lost Uthappa and Ryan ten Doeschate (nought) in the space of three balls, Pathan exploded like an volcano.

Pathan despatched off-spinner Parvez Rasool (0-22) for two sixes and two fours, then hammered Sharma for two more sixes in the following over and then completed the carnage by smashing the best fast bowler in the world Steyn (0-43) for 26 runs (4,6,6,4,4,2).

Pathan smashed one more six before holing out to Shikhar Dhawan on the boundary. Suryakumar Yadav (12 not out) finished the game off by hitting one four and one six off just five balls.

Uthappa and Gautam Gambhir (28) gave the hosts the perfect start by adding 43 runs for the first wicket off only 30 balls before the captain was clean bowled by Holder (1-35). Kolkata then started to wobble as Pandey, Uthappa and Ten Doeschate fell for the addition of 35 runs in 31 balls.

But Pathan and Shakib Al Hasan (one) shared in a partnership of 38 off 14 balls, of which Pathan smashed 36 runs with one leg-bye in the mix.

Earlier, Hyderabad struggled to gain any momentum as three run outs cut them short. Darren Sammy and Dhawan top-scored with 29 with Venugopal Rao (27) and Naman Ohja (26) also failing to kick on.

Dhawan, Rao and Holder (16) were all run out at crucial stages which caused the innings to falter.

Morne Morkel (1-32) made an early breakthrough, clean bowling David Warner (four) with the second legal delivery of the match. But a 64-run partnership for the second wicket between Ohja and Dhawan off 47 deliveries gave the Sunrisers the foundation they needed to post a big score.

But then Ohja was caught and bowled by Ten Doeschate (1-7) followed by Dhawan and Rao’s run outs. Srikkanth Anirudtha (three) lasted just five balls before being stumped by Uthappa off the bowling of Shakib Al Hasan (1-25). Shakib’s bowling figures were spoiled by one over of madness as he conceded 19 runs in his third over.

Sunil Narine was once again the a tough nut to crack after conceding just 19 runs in his four overs.

Kolkata will now face the Kings XI Punjab on Tuesday in the first qualifier after ending second on the log. The Chennai Super Kings, who slipped one place into third, will now watch the match between the Mumbai Indians and the Rajasthan Royals today with anticipation to see who they will face on Wednesday in the eliminator.