Royals crush Knight Riders

Yusuf Pathan and Swapnil Asnodkar struck rapid half-centuries to lead Rajasthan Royals to a 45-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League.

Asnodkar, who was preferred in the Royals side to England all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas, plundered 60 and Yusuf 55 as Rajasthan posted 196 for seven on the way to their fourth win of the competition.

Sourav Ganguly and David Hussey offered some resistance with a stand of 71, but received precious little support from their team-mates as the visitors slumped to their third straight defeat.

Ganguly made 51 and Hussey 42 as the Knight Riders were bowled out for 151, their last five wickets falling for just eight runs.

Kolkata struck early as Graeme Smith (two) perished in only the second over, his leg stump sent cartwheeling by Ishant Sharma.

Mohammad Kaif and Asnodkar then began what threatened to develop into a sizeable partnership, the former cracking three fours from his opening six balls, crashing two through the off side and guiding one down to the third-man boundary.

But Kaif fell on 21 when he chipped a delivery straight back to Ajit Agarkar.

Asnodkar, who has a highest first-class score of 254 not out, continued to treat the bowlers with contempt, stroking the ball to all areas of the ground.

His new partner Yusuf, brother of Irfan, took a back seat as Asnodkar romped to a rapid half-century, making 60 from just 34 balls before he mis-timed an Umar Gul delivery and Hussey pouched a simple catch.

The Pakistan quick struck again almost immediately to dismiss Shane Watson lbw for a first-ball duck.

But the right-hand left-hand combination of Yusuf (55 off 33), who brought up his half-century with a maximum onto the canvas roof of the stands, and Ravindra Jadeja (33 off 19) proved profitable for the Royals before both fell late on.

Gul claimed his third dismissal of the innings by clean bowling Yusuf through the gate.

The Royals claimed three early wickets to pave their way to victory, Salman Butt (seven) and Agarkar (20) both heading back to the pavilion before Brad Hodge followed them after an unfortunate dismissal confirmed by the third umpire.

Hodge was run out by Siddharth Trivedi for one, on the day Lancashire signed Mohammad Yousuf to replace him as overseas player until the Australian returned.

Trivedi got the lightest of touches onto a Ganguly shot to deflect the ball onto the stumps at the non-striker's end, leaving Hodge stranded.

And when Ganguly was expertly caught in the deep by Kaif, who just managed to stop himself toppling backwards over the boundary rope, the writing was on the wall for the Knight Riders.