NEW DELHI, April 17: Half centuries by Yusuf Pathan and Manish Pandey enabled Kolkata Knight Riders overcome early jitters en route a thrilling four-wicket win over Delhi Daredevils in an Indian Premier League match here today.
It was a team effort by KKR, who first rode on Sunil Narine and Nathan Coulter-Nile controlled bowling effort to restrict Delhi to 168 for seven, and then Pathan (59) and Pandey (69 not out) anchored the chase to perfection as they won with a ball to spare.
It went down to the wire in the end with KKR needing nine runs from the last over. The first two balls from Amit Mishra resulted in dots as well as a wicket.
With the third ball yielding a run, Pandey got to the strike and straight away hit a much-needed six to KKR�s relief. He eventually sealed it off in style with one ball remaining.
Chasing a modest 169 for victory , Kolkata lost three quick wickets to be reeling at 21 for three before Pathan and Pandey joined hands to put on a crucial 110-run stand off just 72 balls for the fourth wicket.
But after Pathan�s dismissal, Daredevils had their chances but KKR managed to have the last laugh.
Despite Kolkata struggling at one stage, Pathan dealt in fours and sixes to not just show his batting prowess but keep the team in the hunt.
He, in the able company of Pandey, ensured that the Knight Riders were always in the game.
Pathan brought up his half-century in style as he hit Delhi skipper Zaheer Khan for a six.
The duo slowly and steadily stole the match away from the home team but Pathan failed to finish it for KKR as he fell for a well-made 59 off 39 balls, which included six boundaries and two sixes. � PTI
SCORECARD
Delhi Daredevils: Sanju Samson c Uthappa b Umesh Yadav 39, Sam Billings c Uthappa b Coulter-Nile 21, Karun Nair b Coulter-Nile 21, Shreyas Iyer run out 26, Rishabh Pant c Gambhir b Coulter-Nile 38, Angelo Mathews b Narine 1, Chris Morris c Umesh Yadav b Woakes 16, Pat Cummins not out 3, Mohammed Shami not out 0; Extras: (B-1, W-2) 3; Total: (for 7 wickets in 20 overs) 168; Fall of wickets: 1-53, 2-63, 3-106, 4-110, 5-145, 6-153, 7-167; Bowling: Coulter-Nile 4-0-22-3, Woakes 4-0-31-1, Umesh Yadav 4-0-53-1, Narine 4-0-20-1, Kuldeep Yadav 3-0-29-0, De Grandhomme 1-0-12-0. � PTI
Kolkata Knight Riders: Gautam Gambhir c Mathews b Zaheer 14, Colin de Grandhomme c Billings b Khan 1, Robin Uthappa c Pant b Cummins 4, Manish Pandey not out 69, Yusuf Pathan c & b Morris 59, Suryakumar Yadav c Khan b Cummins 7, Chris Woakes st Pant b Mishra 3, Sunil Narine not out 1; Extras: (LB-3, W-8) 11; Total: (for 6 wickets in 19.5 overs) 169; Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-19, 3-21, 4-131, 5-152, 6-160; Bowling: Zaheer 4-0-28-2, Cummins 4-0-39-2, Morris 4-0-30-1, Mishra 2.5-0-26-1, Shami 3-0-28-0, Mathews 2-0-15-0.
