Pune Warriors beat beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 7 runs

Ranchi, May 15: Pune Warriors beat Kolkata Knight Riders by seven runs in their T20 League match in Ranchi on Wednesday.

Pune Warriors rode on a half century from Manish Pandey (66) and a cameo from Yuvraj Singh (30) to post a 170 for four in 20 overs against Kolkata Riders in their Pepsi IPL match in Ranchi today.

Pandey, who has been struggling for form this season, faced 47 balls in his knock while Yuvraj took 20 balls for his 30 to help Pune raise a challenging total after being put in to bat on a slow JSCA stadium pitch.

The duo shared a 65 runs for the third wicket in 40 balls.

Pandey hit eight fours and six before being run out in the final over.

Yuvraj too was dismissed on the last ball after hitting three big sixes in his knock.

Pune got off to a steady start with openers Aaron Finch (48) and Robin Uthappa (25) looking in good touch.

Uthappa hit Laxmipathy Balaji for two sixes in the third over to complete his 400 runs in this edition of the IPL.

However, Uthappa's innings did not last long as he was dismissed by Sri Lankan off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake for 25 off 21 deliveries.

The duo put on a 41-run opening stand.

Finch, who shared 56 runs with Manish Pandey for the second wicket, started to attack after nine overs when he hit Jacques Kallis for two consecutive sixes.

Pune were 57 for one at that time.

Just when Finch seemed to have settled down to set up a platform for a big total, Balaji removed him for the individual score of 48 in 32 balls.

His knock was laced with two fours and three sixes.

Yuvraj looked sluggish at the start as he took six balls to get off the mark while Pandey was the aggressor.

For Knight Riders, Balaji, Senanayake and Kallis picked up a wicket each.