Manish Pandey and Yusuf Pathan scored fighting fifties to help Kolkata Knight Riders recover from a disastrous start and defeat Delhi Daredevils by four wickets in a thriller.
The win also saw the two-time IPL champions topple Mumbai Indians from the first position in the table.
Chasing 168, the visitors were in a precarious position after Delhi Daredevils pacers made light work of their top order. Pat Cummins accounted for Robin Uthappa in the second over which was sandwiched between Zaheer Khan’s twin strikes- first to dismiss the makeshift opener Colin de Grandhomme and then the prized scalp of in-form Gautam Gambhir in the third over, as the two-time champions were reduced to 21 for three.
But Gautam Gambhir’s men were put on the path to victory after Yusuf Pathan and Manish Pandey stitched together a brilliant partnership of 110 runs.
The partnership came to an end when Pathan top-edged a Chris Morris delivery to be dismissed for 59. Manish Pandey completed his second fifty of this season soon to put his team in command of the chase.
However, Suryakumar Yadav’s dismissal in the 18th over set up a nervy finish. And it was a nervy finish as the game went right down to the wire with Kolkata needing eight runs from the last three balls before Pandey hit a six and took a couple to take his team home with a ball to spare.
Earlier, Rishabh Pant had played a quickfire knock of 38 to guide his team to a challenging total of 168 for seven after they were looking destined to squander a good start provided by their openers-Sanju Samson and Sam Billings.
The duo had added 53 runs off only 36 balls but a tight bowling from the visitors did not allow Delhi’s middle-order batsmen to free their arms.
As a result, they were reeling at 119 for four after the end of the 16th over before Rishabh Pant hit Umesh Yadav for 26 runs in an over to give his team’s innings the much-needed impetus.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the match:
What a finisher this Manish Pandey is. And what a calm head!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 17, 2017
Mishra ji bowled the seam up to Manish Pandey after tossing first three balls up. Always crumbles under pressure.
— dorku (@Dorkstar) April 17, 2017
I legit cried when Manish Pandey flew that six. WHAT A MATCHHHH !! #DDvKKR
— Richa Singh (@richa_singh) April 17, 2017
Narine has gone from starter to finisher #DDvKKR
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) April 17, 2017
Oh yessssssss Lala @iamyusufpathan really good inning #Strongman pic.twitter.com/F2RtL1xz5C
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 17, 2017
https://twitter.com/Manishshaarma/status/853974349237411843
KKR & MI both r the teams who fights till the very end of the match no matter what. Even their tailender gives their best. ?#IPL #DDvKKR
— Banna. (@iJaideep_) April 17, 2017
Zaheer Khan is still the best playing left-arm pacer for India. #DDvKKR
— Anish Anand (@testbowler) April 17, 2017
Gambhir is 50th wicket for Zaheer Khan in Powerplays in IPL – first bowler to get there. Kulkarni and Nehra are next with 39 wickets in PP.
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) April 17, 2017
Say it as often as you want. This Rishabh Pant is a special batsman. India must take great care in looking after him.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 17, 2017
Nope Pant got it just about right!!?#DDvKKR
— Ashwin ?? (@ashwinravi99) April 17, 2017
Poor Umesh Yadav has been hit by a cyclone called Rishabh Pant. What incredible strike power!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 17, 2017
Best figures on debut for KKR:
4/11 S Akhtar, 2008
3/15 C Langeveldt, 2009
3/17 M Karthik, 2008
3/22 NATHAN COULTER-NILE *#DDvKKR #IPL— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) April 17, 2017