Published: Apr 24, 2016, 09:31 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 25, 2016, 05:13 PM (IST)
Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) set a target of 161 runs against the rampaging Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), in the 20th game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2016 tournament at Pune. It was Kolkata Knight Riders, who won the toss, and their spinners did extremely well in the middle overs to strangulate RPS from gaining any momentum with the bat. Ajinkya Rahane and Steven Smith combined to add more than 50 runs, and thanks to some late blitz by their captain MS Dhoni, the Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) were able to set a target of 161 in their IPL 9 match, at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Ground in Pune on Sunday night. Let us take a look at the highlights from the first innings. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Rising Pune Supergiants vs Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL 2016, Match 20 at Pune
Faf du Plessis’ early dismissal: The right-handed batsman was unlucky to get a delivery angled into him by the Bangladeshi spinner Shakib Al Hasan. The left-arm spinner came wide of the crease, and angled one into du Plessis. The ball pitched in line of the off stump, and did not turn much. Du Plessis has missed these straight ones in the past as well — during the tour of India 2015-16 — and to see him falling in the same passion somewhat rekindled the memories of the horror that South Africa went through.
56-run stand between Ajinkya Rahane and Steven Smith: Du Plessis’s early fall meant Steven Smith had the opportunity to make big runs. He started off well, going run-a-ball and giving ample amount of strike to the in-form Rahane. Maybe it was due to some tight spin bowling by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), but these two batsmen failed to hit boundaries at regular intervals, which put lot of pressure on the batsmen to follow. Rahane and Smith were excellent in picking singles and doubles, but there was none to take up the challenge of hitting boundaries and sixes.
Ajinkya Rahane’s rich form: Rahane continued to make most of his rich form as he cracked his third half-century in IPL 9. However, he too found it tough hitting the big ones. He consumed 42 balls, striking four boundaries and a six to bring up his half-century. The third six of Rahane’s innings was special, though. An Umesh Yadav full toss on the leg stump was smacked over short fine leg for six, but Rahane fell in the next over to Sunil Narine.
MS Dhoni’s late blitz: The Rising Pune Supergiants’ captain provided his side some much-needed quick runs towards the fag end of the innings. Dhoni smashed 23 off 12 balls, striking two boundaries and a six to help RPS not only cross the 150-run mark but also set a target that looked daunting.
(Devarchit Varma is senior writer with CricketCountry. He can be followed on Twitter @Devarchit)
