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XtraTime Web Desk: Mumbai Indians Hardik Pandya once again lived up to the expectation of being the powerful hitter of a cricket ball at the moment along with Andre Russell. The all rounder recorded the fastest fifty (50 off 17 balls) of the ongoing Indian Premier League season at the Eden Gardens against Kolkata Knight Riders. Hardik’s fifty included seven lusty hits into the stands. The previous record for the fastest fifty was held by Delhi Capitals Risabh Pant who took 18 balls to reach his half century against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on March 24. Hardik, looked like taking the game away from the Knight Riders before being caught by Andre Russell off the bowling of Harry Gurney. He scored 91 runs off 34 balls at a staggering strike rate of 267.64, hitting 6 fours and 9 sixes. “I was just telling Krunal that I got close to 100 and that was something new for me. I guess I got time today and the situation demanded to just go all out and enjoy the game. I was lucky that everything was coming out except the ball I got out,” said Hardik after the match. He added, “In this kind of situation you don’t really think much. You just go there and express yourself, keep holding your shape and keep hitting. That’s the only way we could have won the game. I knew Polly (Kieron Pollard) was there but I can’t take time as the required run rate was going high. I just wanted to enjoy the game and keep hitting. If I get out its okay as the situation demanded for me to hit every ball.” Talking about his six hitting, Hardik said, “The confidence level is also helping. Once as a cricketer if you are confident it makes a huge difference and that was the only thing which I was focusing.” Earlier, Andre Russell took the Mumbai Indians bowlers to the cleaners. The powerful Jamaican scored 80 not out off 40 balls to help Knight Riders post a mammoth 232/2 in 20 overs. His explosive knock was studded with 6 hits to the boundary and 8 sixes. Mumbai Indians could manage 198/7 in their quota of 20 overs, handing Knight Riders a 34 runs win. The win tonight was also the 100th win for the Purple Army in the history of the cash rich league.