Shikhar Dhawan's fighting half-century went in vain as Kolkata Knight Riders produced a clinical performance to beat a struggling Deccan Chargers by 20 runs in an Indian Premier League match here on Tuesday.
Chasing 170 for victory, Deccan lost their first four wickets for 70 runs before Dhawan (54 off 45) and Dwaraka Ravi Teja (30 off 22) stitched 55 runs off 31 balls to keep the home team in the loop.
However, it was not enough as Knight Riders eventually restricted Deccan to 149 for six. For KKR, Rajat Bhatia (2/26) and left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdullah (2/34) scalped two wickets apiece.
Earlier, Yusuf Pathan cashed in on two missed chances to hit a quickfire 47 and power KKR to a challenging 169 for four.
Pathan took his chances and used his long-handle to great effect to score a breezy unbeaten 47 that came off just 26 deliveries after being handed out two lives by butterfingered Deccan fielders.
Deccan Chargers skipper Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and elected to bowl first against in-form Kolkata Knight Riders in match no. 42 of the Indian Premier League-4 on Tuesday.
Deccan Chargers have made one change in their playing eleven with Dale Steyn replacing Harmeet Singh.
For Kolkata Knight Riders Jaidev Unadkat is in for Sreevats Goswami, and Mark Boucher, replaces the injured Brad Haddin.
Deccan have played eight matches so far and managed to win only three of them. The roller-coaster campaign puts them in the lower half of the points table with just six points and this match could be seen as a must win match for them.
On the other hand, Kolkata have 10 points and are second in the overall standings, having won five out of eight matches they have played so far and is in superb run of form.
