MUMBAI: Fast bowler Pat Cummins was an unlikely star with the bat after equalling the record for the joint-fastest 14-ball fifty in the Indian Premier League (IPL), leading the Kolkata Knight Riders to victory over the Mumbai Indians on Wednesday.
Having arrived soon after Australia’s tour of Pakistan, the Australian Test skipper walked in at 101-5 with Kolkata chasing 162 for victory and immediately went after the bowling to reach his half-century in 14 balls, equalling KL Rahul’s record.
Pat Cummins finishes things off in style!
Also brings up the joint fastest half-century in #TATAIPL off 14 deliveries.#KKR win by 5 wickets with 24 balls to spare.
Scorecard – https://t.co/22oFJJzGVN #KKRvMI #TATAIPL pic.twitter.com/r5ahBcIWgR
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 6, 2022
Cummins smashed four boundaries and half a dozen sixes to lead Kolkata home in 16 overs, leaving five-times champions Mumbai winless after three games. Kolkata are top of the standings with three wins in four matches.
Cummins’ effort equalled KL Rahul’s 50 off 14 balls for Kings XI Punjab – now Punjab Kings – in 2018. Cummins was unsurprisingly named the player of the match having also taken two wickets in the first innings.
“I think I’m most surprised by that innings,” he said. “I’m glad it came off, I was thinking of having a swing if it was in my area, wasn’t trying to overthink it. That’s really satisfying to do in my first game this season.”
“We never expected him to come and play like that. Lot of credit to him for the way he played,” Mumbai skipper Rohit Sharma said, adding: “We thought we could have them. This will be hard to digest.”
Fastest fifties in IPL:
Players Balls Against (Year)
KL Rahul (KXIP) 14 DC (2018)
Pat Cummins (KKR) 14 MI (2022)
Yusuf Pathan (KKR) 15 SRH (2014)
Sunil Narine (KKR) 15 RCB (2017)
Suresh Raina (CSK) 16 KXIP (2014)
