Unlikely duo Yusuf Pathan and Swapnil Asnodkar struck rapid half-centuries to lead Rajasthan Royals to a 45-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL on Thursday.
Asnodkar plundered 60 and Yusuf 55 as the Royals posted 7-196 on the way to their fourth win of the competition.
Rajasthan Royals thrashed Kolkata Knight Riders by 45 runs and recorded their fourth win of the DLF Indian Premier League at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium in Jaipur.
Rajasthan were up for the task with the ball after they amassed 196 runs losing seven wickets in 20 overs.
Rajasthan captain Shane Warne had said before the match that they would go all out and attack from the onset. His team responded likewise and outperformed their opponents in all departments. They never let them take hold of the game.
Sohail Tanvir, who bowled out his compatriot and Kolkata opener Salman Butt for just seven runs, provided the first breakthrough.
Ajit Agarkar, who was sent up the order as no. 3 batsman, could not last long and was taken by Shane Watson after adding 20 runs. Siddharth Trivedi then ran out Brad Hodge. A straight shot hit by Ganguly kissed Trivedi's fingers before hitting the stumps on the other end. Hodge, who was at non-striker's end, was way out of the crease and went back cheaply.
Skipper Ganguly then took charge of the situation and slammed a half-century. Ganguly fell to Warne when he tried to loft him over the top but was caught by Kaif on the boundary. David Hussey also played a crucial knock and added 40 runs. But efforts of Hussey and Ganguly were not sufficient for the Knight Riders and they fell short of the target by 45 runs.
Kolkata Knight Riders now have three consecutive defeats and are placed fourth in the points table, while Rajasthan Royals with eight points are second in the list.
Earlier, after winning the toss, Rajasthan elected to bat first. Kolkata gave them first jolt soon as lanky pacer Ishant Sharma got rid of opener Graeme Smith. Next to go was Mohammad Kaif, who was dismissed by Ajit Agarkar. Agarkar took a return catch off his slow delivery as Kaif failed to read it and mistimed it.
Opener Swapnil Asnodkar, on the other hand, continued to flay the opponents from one end and completed his well deserved half-century. Umar Gul ended his expedition and Asnodkar went back adding 60 runs to the team's total. Gul struck again in the same over and dismissed Shane Watson for zero.
Yusuf Pathan then rose to the occasion and smashed 55 runs with six fours and two sixes. Umar Gul bowled him out. Ravindra Jadeja also played a crucial knock and added 33 runs.
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