Not being able to finish matches a ‘crime’, says Pathan

Kolkata, April 20 (IANS) Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) most capped player Yusuf Pathan on Thursday said it's a "crime" for him not to finish a match and he would like to work on that aspect in the next games.

Pathan scored a match-winning 39-ball 59 for KKR in their previous victorious outing against Delhi Daredevils, stitching a 110-run partnership with Manish Pandey for the fourth wicket.

KKR won by four wickets after being in the dumps initially, tottering at 21/3 chasing Delhi's 169, but Pathan failed to remain not out and take his team over the fence.

The 34-year-old, who was part of India's both recent World Cup wins -- T20 World Cup in 2007 and 50-over one in 2011 -- top edged a Chris Morris delivery to be dismissed caught and bowled with his team still needing 38 runs to win.

"I should have finished the match," Pathan told reporters on the eve of KKR's match against wooden spooners Gujarat Lions.

"It's not easy for the new batsman to continue the good work straightaway after a set batsman is out. Sometimes when a set batsman is out, new batsman struggles. In the last match, after batting so well, I got out -- which was a crime. I will try to not repeat the same mistake," he said.

Pathan said that he is working on batting for longer periods now without changing his aggressive style of play.

"My game hasn't changed," the swashbuckling right-hander said.

"I have got more overs to play now, like 12-14. So, keeping that in mind, my shots won't change, but at the same time I would look to play a longer innings. I am enjoying a lot."

After three back-to-back defeats, Gujarat will look to turn it around at the Eden Gardens here.

KKR, on the hand, have won three matches on the trot and are high on confidence.

Quizzed whether the Suresh Raina-led side would be easy meat for the men in purple, Pathan said no team can be underestimated.

"There is no weak team in any competition in any sport. All teams compete against one another and every team wants to win. There are two-three teams in every competition that despite their efforts don't do so well like their other rivals. That doesn't make them a weak team," Pathan said.

Asked about KKR's opening conundrum since Australian Chris Lynn got injured, Pathan said: "If you say we cannot fix one slot (opening), we are doing well in all other slots. There are a lot of positives to take from. The more we will play, combinations will be forged. The coach and captain are thinking over opening slot and they will come out with a solution."

Off-spinner Sunil Narine and all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme have opened for the two-time IPL winners.

Pathan said KKR are playing good cricket at the moment and would like to continue their purple patch.

"When you come off a good away match, and at home also we are doing so well...the confidence level is very high. We are playing good cricket and will look to continue that."

"Of course, we won against them (Gujarat Lions by 10 wickets at Rajkot) handsomely and there is a certain confidence that is there. Our job is to play good cricket. We have nine matches to play, will look to continue good work," he added.