Pathan, Russell muscle KKR to last-over win

Pathan and Russell added 96 runs off 7.2 overs as KKR, chasing 186 for victory, sailed home with five balls to spare. The win puts KKR in the second spot in the points table.

Andre Russell bludgeoned four sixes in his 24-ball 39. The Jamaican also picked a wicket.

Andre Russell and Yusuf Pathan mounted a stunning assault on Royal Challengers Bangalore's beleaguered bowlers to help Kolkata Knight Riders to a five-wicket victory here on Monday. The pair added 96 runs off 7.2 overs as KKR, chasing 186 for victory, sailed home with five balls to spare at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The result helped the visitor climb to second spot on the points table while RCB, condemned to a fifth loss, remained in seventh place.

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When Russell joined Pathan at the crease, KKR needed 117 runs from 59 balls. But Bengaluru has small boundaries. Defending a total here is hard enough at the best of times. When Russell and Pathan, two immensely powerful strikers of the ball, get going, there is little hope for the fielding captain. The Jamaican offered a stumping chance on 13, but K. L. Rahul, who earlier entertained the crowd with his third consecutive half-century, spurned it.

Tabraiz Shamsi, Varun Aaron and Shane Watson bled 58 runs in the space of three overs as the contest effectively drew to a close. Russell fell for 39 but Pathan remained unbeaten on 60.

Earlier, Rahul's half-century helped RCB regain ground after a ponderous start. Chris Gayle lasted seven balls on his comeback as Morne Morkel and Andre Russell bowled with control, limiting RCB to 30 from the first five overs. Things improved as Rahul swung into action.

Sunil Narine went for 10 in his first over and Piyush Chawla 15 in his second, Rahul clobbering the legspinner for a towering six. The Karnataka batsman tucked into Narine again, sweeping him over the fine-leg boundary and next ball raising his fifty, off 29 balls, with a reverse-sweep for four. The West Indian had a bad day by his own standards, leaking 45 from his four overs.

Rahul fell chasing a wide one from Chawla, the end of an 84-run stand for the second wicket. AB de Villiers was out to the UP bowler not long after, trapped in front by a quicker delivery. Having gone for 24 from his first two overs, Chawla recovered admirably, taking two for eight from the next two.

RCB was staring at a mediocre total until some quick runs from Shane Watson, Sachin Baby and Stuart Binny changed the colour of the innings. Fifty-four runs came off the last three overs, two of which were bowled by Umesh Yadav.