IPL PHOTOS: Yusuf slams fastest 50 to guide KKR to second spot

Yusuf Pathan blasted a majestic 22-ball 72 against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday to rocket Kolkata Knight Riders into the second spot in the IPL table.

- Scorecard 

Kolkata, chasing 161 for victory, and requiring to do so in 15.2 overs in order to play at home against Kings XI Punjab, got off to a good start, before they stuttered in the middle. 

But Yusuf’s counter-attack took the game away from Sunrisers Hyderabad as they coasted to victory with 34 balls to spare. 

Karn Sharma, though, managed to pick up four wickets, but did not get much support from the other end. 

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After being invited to bat first, Sunrisers had a poor start, losing David Warner for four. 

Warner, after smashing Morne Morkel for a boundary, was comprehensively castled by the South African.  

Naman Ojha and Shikhar Dhawan did manage to revive the innings with a 64-run stand for the second wicket.  

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But Gautam gambhir’s decision to give Ryan ten Doeschate the ball worked, as he removed Naman Ojha. 

Ojha, who had hit ten Doeschate for a maximum, tried to repeat the stroke only to hit it to the bowler. 

Dhawan was dismissed against the run of play by a piece of brilliance from Manish Pandey. 

He hit one straight to Pandey, at cover, who not only dived to stop the ball, but rocketed the throw to the keeper, who completed the run-out.

Venugopal Rao too was dismissed in search of some quick runs.

It was left to Darren Sammy, who made merry on a life he got, smashing Shakib al Hasan out of the park twice.

Jason Holder too got into the act, smashing Umesh Yadav out of the park and then hitting couple of boundaries.

In the end Hyderabad could only muster 160-7. 

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Kolkata openers  Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa started off the innings confidently.

Gambhir hit the boundary boards, flicking Dale Steyn off his pads.

But Kolkata really got the momentum in the Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s over as the bowler was taken for 13 runs.

Jason Holder was hit for a six and boundary before Gambhir threw his wicket way with a needless chip shot, which he dragged it back onto his stumps.

Manish Pandey too didn’t survive long, gobbled up by Steyn off Bhuvneshwar Kumar. 

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Robin Uthappa who is in the form of his life, smashed Holder for a six and boundary. He then took advantage of a short delivery form Bhuvneshwar and dispatched it into the stands.

However, he tried one shot too many and hit one straight down Holder’s throat much to the delight of Hyderabad skipper Sammy.

Ryan ten Doeschate was dismissed in the same over after he was involved in a mix-up with Yusf Pathan.

Doeschate dropped one and took off, but Yusuf refused to run and the Dutchman had to scramble back.

Shakib too played an uncharacteristic stroke and KKR were left in a spot of bother.

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Yusuf Pathan then decided to open his shoulders and see the team home. He attacked Parvez Rasool, hitting him for two sixes and a boundary.

He then latched on to Karn Sharma, sending him into the stands as well.

Such was the onslaught that by the time Yusuf was dismissed, KKR were not only in a winning position, but also courtesy of a better run-rate they climbed on top of Chennai to secure second spot.