IPL 2018: Yusuf Pathan hails Rashid Khan for his unparalleled consistency

Rashid Khan was adjudged Man of the Match for his all-round show against KKR in the second qualifier on Friday.

Rashid Khan scored 34* in 10 balls and picked 3/19 against KKR in qualifier 2 | IANS

Yusuf Pathan has heaped praise on Rashid Khan's scintillating batting against the Kolkata Knight Riders in the second qualifier of IPL 2018 at the Eden Gardens on Friday (May 25).

Rashid played a stunning cameo of 34* runs in just 10 balls to help SRH post 174 on the board. Khan’s innings was laced with 2 fours and 4 sixes and he added 36 runs in the last two overs along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar to shift the momentum towards Hyderabad.

While defending the total, SRH rode on Rashid’s awe-inspiring bowling spell to restrict KKR to 160/9 in 20 overs. Rashid claimed 3 for 19 in his 4 overs when Kolkata were cruising during their run chase. Robin Uthappa, Chris Lynn, and Andre Russell were the victims of Rashid Khan.

"He is a good cricketer and in Big Bash and other overseas tournaments, he has batted well, hit fours and sixes. He has the ability to bat and that is why he bats at number 8. Against Chennai (Super Kings) also he hit a couple of sixes. So we don't doubt his ability and were not surprised," Yusuf Pathan quoted at the post-match press conference.

"He batted and bowled really well, and when the team needed that he delivered. He deserves credit for performing consistently well throughout the season. We have seen him bowl well but today we saw him bat well too. The team benefited from that and we reached the final," he added.

With this comprehensive 14-run victory over KKR, SRH secured their berth in the IPL 2018 final and will take on MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings in the summit clash on Sunday (May 27).

"Chennai are a good side that's why they are in the final, same applies for us. On Sunday, whoever plays better cricket will come out winners. We want to continue the good work," Yusuf remarked.

"We all trust in our abilities. The cricket we had played at the start, we wanted to continue that. Even after losing four matches, we were in pole position. We won important games in league stage so got the cushion," he further asserted.

Pathan has had a quiet IPL by his swashbuckling standards. However, he is not unfazed by it as he feels that the team management is pleased with his performance.

"If you look at games and how we have won our matches, hitting sixes is always not needed. We have to see what the team needs and how to play out 20 overs. Maybe sixes are not coming from my bat, but whatever I have played the team is benefiting from that. I am happy with the way I am batting and my coaching staff and skipper is also pleased," Yusuf Pathan concluded.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 26 May, 2018

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