Archives for 2016

Pune: Leading from the front, skipper Rohit Sharma smashed a match-winning unbeaten 85 off just 60 balls to guide defending champions Mumbai Indians to a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Rising Pune Supergiants in the Maharashtra derby of the Indian Premier League (IPL) here on Sunday.

Batting first, Pune posted 159/5 in 20 overs, thanks to opener Saurabh Tiwary’s much-needed 57 off 45 balls.

In reply, Rohit came up with another impressive knock which included eight boundaries and three sixes, as Mumbai chased down the total posting 161/2 with nine balls to spare.

After win, Mumbai climb to second position in the points table with 10 points from nine games, having won five and lost four.

Chasing a challenging target of 160, in-form openers Rohit and Parthiv Patel got Mumbai off to a good start scoring 24 without losing any wicket in the first three overs.

But the fourth over witnessed a see-saw battle as Parthiv after striking Ashok Dinda for three consecutive boundaries eventually got a thick edge off a wide off stump delivery which was collectively well by a diving wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, leaving Mumbai at 39/1.

Despite the wicket, Rohit and incoming batsman Ambati Rayudu (22) played positively to take their team to a comfortable position.

The duo brought up 50-run partnership for the second wicket to take the team past 75-run mark in the 10th over and stay on course for a good run chase.

But as Rayudu was looking set for a big innings, the right handed-batsman gave his wicket away cheaply in the 12th over to put Pune back into the game.

But skipper Rohit played sensibly as he continued his good form in the ongoing tournament also bringing up yet another half-century in just 38 balls.

He was well supported in the other end by Jos Buttler (27 not out).

The duo batted through to ensure the visitors went past the victory line at ease.

Ashok Dinda and Ravichandran Ashwin picked one wicket each for Pune.

Earlier put into bat, Pune got off to a poor start losing opener batsman Ajinkya Rahane (4) in the second over itself with just eight runs on the board.

From there on, his opening partner Tiwary and incoming in-form batsman Steve Smith (45 off 23) held on without losing any more wickets to score at a good pace and help team reach 54/1 after completion of the powerplay.

Smith, who scored his maiden IPL ton in his last match, showed his class with the willow yet again as he used his experience to best effect to close his on another half-century.

But as he was looking set after striking four boundaries and three sixes, seamer Jasprit Bumrah bowled cleverly as the Australian edged one past him to carry it safely to wicket-keeper Patel, bringing a 84-run partnership for the second wicket to an end in the 10th over.

The home side suffered their third blow in the 13th over when Peter Handscomb (6) trying to sweep Harbhajan Singh was caught by Buttler at deep square leg, to have Pune reduced to 105/3.

Despite wickets falling at the other end, Tiwary made the most of the time spent at the crease to bring up his half-century in just 39 balls.

Following the wickets of Handscomb and Tiwary in the 18th over, skipper Dhoni (24) and Thisara Perera (12 not out) helped their team cross the 150-run mark.

Bumrah (3-29) was the pick of the bowlers for Mumbai while Harbhajan Singh and Mitchell McClenaghan claimed one wicket each.

Brief Scores: Rising Pune Supergiants 159/5 in 20 overs (Saurabh Tiwary 57; Jasprit Bumrah 3-29) vs Mumbai Indians 161/2 in 18.3 overs (Rohit Sharma 85 not out; R Ashwin 1-21)

(IANS)

Pune: Gujarat Lions rode on a collective batting effort by Dwayne Smith (63 off 37) and Brendon McCullum (43 off 22) which helped them edge past Rising Pune Supergiants by three wickets in a nail-biting Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium here on Friday.

Batting first, Steve Smith (101 off 54) struck up his maiden IPL ton as Pune posted an impressive 195/3 in 20 overs. He was well supported by Ajinkya Rahane (53).

In reply, openers Smith and McCullum set the perfect platform as middle order batsmen delivered in bits and pieces as the visitors chased down the total posting 196/7 in 20 overs.

Chasing a challenging target of 196, hard-hitting Smith and McCullum got Gujarat off to a rollicking start scoring 72 runs without losing any wicket after completion of powerplay.

The duo put on a 93-run stand for the first wicket, before McCullum gave his wicket away trying to step up the scoring rate.

Despite losing his opening partner, Smith played his natural game by scoring runs at good pace to take his team to the 100-run mark in the ninth over itself.

As he was looking set after striking nine boundaries and one six to take the game away from the home side, Perera stuck in the 11th over to send Smith packing and have Gujarat reduced to 115/2.

Dinesh Karthik (33) too departed in the 17th over after giving good support to skipper Suresh Raina (34).

But there after wickets fell one after the other but in the end, James Faulkner (9 not out) and Praveen Kumar (0 not out) remained unbeaten to take team to victory off the last ball.

Ashok Dinda (2-40) and Thisara Perera (2-41) were the pick of the bowers for Pune.

Earlier put into bat, Pune got off to a disappointing start losing opener Saurabh Tiwary (1) in the third over itself, with Raina coming in steaming with a diving effort to run the left-hander short of the crease.

But his opening partner Rahane and incoming batsman Smith held on to not lose anymore wickets to post 48/1 after completion of powerplay.

The talented duo used their experience to best effect to sneak in with ones and twos followed by a couple of boundaries and big hits to bring up their 100-run partnership for the second wicket in the 13th over itself and help their team reach 118/1.

But the 14th over saw a twist in the game as Dwayne Bravo ran Rahane out to break the partnership and have the home side reduced to 124/2.

Smith kept on playing his natural game as he stayed on course for a superb ton in IPL.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (30 not out off 18) did what he is known for, as the right-handed batsman played a cameo in the end to power his side to a competitive total.

Bravo (1-40) was the pick of the bowlers for Gujarat.

Brief Scores: Rising Pune Supergiants 195/3 in 20 overs (Steve Smith 101, Ajinkya Rahane 53; Dwayne Bravo 1-40) vs Gujarat Lions 196/7 in 20 overs (Dwayne Smith 63; Ashok Dinda 2-40, Thisera Perera 2-41)

(IANS)

New Delhi: Gujarat Lions edged out a spirited Delhi Daredevils by one run in a thrilling Indian Premier League (IPL) clash that went right down to the last ball at the Ferozshah Kotla Stadium here on Wednesday.

Chris Morris produced a superb all-round performance for Delhi and almost snatched victory for the hosts before falling short in an exciting last over.

Chasing a competitive target of 173 runs, Delhi seemed to be in trouble after losing early wickets before Morris and his South Africa teammate J.P. Duminy produced a superb comeback.

Morris smashed an unbeaten 82 runs off just 32 balls, entertaining the home crowd with four hits to the ropes and eight towering sixes. The South African all-rounder was effective with the ball as well, returning fairly economical figures of 2/35.

Duminy played a patient knock of 48 runs off 43 balls, hitting three boundaries and a six along the way. He was unlucky to miss out on a half-century and was caught and bowled by Dwayne Bravo after offering an uncharacteristacally poor shot.

Wednesday’s victory took the lions to the top of the IPL table with 10 points. The IPL debutants have five wins from the six matches they have played so far. The Daredevils, who suffered their second defeat in five matches, are at the third spot with six points.

Delhi had a rocky start as Dhawal Kulkarni struck the crucial early blows, removing the top three Delhi batsmen in his first two overs. The Mumbai-born pacer eventually finished with figures of 3/19 in his four overs. James Faulkner (1/23) and Dwayne Bravo (1/40) were the other wicket-takers for the Lions.

Delhi opener Sanju Samson made a hash of what should have been an easy flick off his pads to a poor delivery on his legstump by Dhawal Kulkarni. What he did manage was to offer the leading egde to Faulkner at mid-on.

Kulkarni then removed Quinton de Kock and Karun Nair in his next over to leave the Daredevils struggling at 3/16 after four overs.

Duminy and Morris then came together to smash the Delhi bowlers all around the ground. But Duminy’s dismissal was the turning point. The young Pawan Negi — the most expensive Indian player at the IPL auction — was unable to provide the necessary support to Morris with the hosts needing 29 runs off 17 balls when he came in to bat. But an undaunted Morris continued to produce the big hits.

With the Daredevils needing four runs off the last ball, Bravo came up with an accurate delivery into Morris’ blockhole. Morris’ swing only carried the ball to Ravindra Jadeja at long-on and the batsmen could only complete two runs much to the disappointment of the home crowd.

Earlier, put into bat by Delhi, Gujarat Lions rode on quick-fire half-centuries from Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith to post 172/6 in their 20 overs.

McCullum plundered 60 runs off a mere 36 balls while Smith raced to 53 off 30 as the duo put together an opening partnership of 112 runs off just 63 deliveries to give the Lions’ innings a flying start.

At one stage, the Lions seemed to be heading for a total of around 200 runs. But a remarkable batting collapse that saw Gujarat lose six wickets in the space of just 30 runs broke the scoring momentum.

Leg-spinner Imran Tahir played a crucial role in the Delhi bowlers’ fightback with excellent figures of 3/24 in his four overs. South Africa pacer Chris Morris returned a fairly economical 2/35 while his compatriot Jean-Paul Duminy (1/4) bagged a wicket in the only over he bowled.

Smith was finally dismissed when he was trapped leg before by Imran Tahir with one that kept straight after pitching. The West Indies batsman played for the turn, only to see the ball hit him on the pads right on middle and leg.

McCullum followed his opening partner back to the pavilion in the very next over thanks to some strange shot selection. Faced with a slowish full toss from Chris Morris that kept slightly high, the Kiwi veteran attempted a wild cross-batted swing that was neither accurate nor well timed only to lose his stumps.

Morris struck another crucial blow off the last ball of the same over when he got Gujarat captain Suresh Raina with a well directed short pitched delivery. Ravindra Jadeja then fell to Duminy when he misjudged the bounce of one that was slightly wide of off-stump.

Tahir then dismissed Ishan Kishan and Dinesh Karthik off successive deliveries to plunge Gujarat into further trouble. James Faulkner attempted a late fight back with a 13-ball 22 to help the visitors to a competitive total.

Brief scores:

Gujarat Lions 172/6 in 20 overs (Brendon McCullum 60, Dwayne Smith 53; Imran Tahir 3/24, Chris Morris 2/35) vs Delhi Daredevils 171/5 in 20 overs (Chris Morris 82 n.o., J.P. Duminy 48; Dhawal Kulkarni 19/3).

(IANS)