Pathan: ‘It wasn’t that difficult a target’

India

Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Yusuf Pathan was the main reason his side beat Bangalore in the IPL on the weekend, scoring 60 off 29 balls, but he says that the target on 185 wasn't overly challenging.

Kolkata won by five wickets and with five balls to spare thanks to Pathan's blistering knock, seeing him hit 24 runs off the 17th over and 16 off the 19th, but he insisted that it was all in a day's work.

Pathan said on the IPL website of his stand with Andre Russell when they were four down for 69: "We were not thinking of anything in particular. We knew if we stuck around and played our shots, the target would not be too difficult to chase.

"At one point, when I was setting myself up, Russell played really well, taking the pressure off me. So that was very important, that we played for each other.

"We wanted to keep wickets in hand, while still playing our shots to prevent pressure from building. We knew that if we could take it deep, then one over of 20-25 runs could swing it our way."  

He did admit that he felt a bit of pressure when tasked with finishing the match: "It is not easy. When you come in with two or three overs to go and you need to hit big shots every ball, you won't have that kind of consistency.

"But I back myself and, importantly, my team has faith in me. So it is important to have that confidence.

"I thank Jacques Kallis and Simon Katich for trusting me and giving me ten overs to bat. After spending two or three overs at the crease, you get into the zone and things become easier.

"So I am very grateful to them for having faith in me and giving me that opportunity."

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