Shakib hits it big

Shakib Al Hasan hit his highest score in the Indian Premier League in Kolkata during his side’s game against the Gujarat Lions. The allrounder, who was under pressure due to his lean run with the bat in the competition, came back in style with an unbeaten 49-ball 66. While he did begin slowly, the ace all-rounder ended up smacking four fours and four sixes to make up for the cautious start.

It was an important innings under the circumstances as he helped Kolkata Knight Riders recover from a precarious 24 for 4 and post 158. He shared a 134-run stand with Yousuf Pathan, who remained unbeaten on 63 off 41 balls. This was the highest ever fifth-wicket partnership for KKR.

Shakib had taken a short break from the IPL and came to Dhaka for two days in order to speak to his longtime coach Mohammad Salahuddin and rectify his batting. Whatever advice Salahuddin gave him seemed to work as Shakib smacked his first half-century of the tournament.