Published: Apr 27, 2016, 12:36 AM (IST)
Edited: Apr 27, 2016, 05:51 PM (IST)
After four back-to-back defeats here is a victory finally for the MS Dhoni-led Rising Pune Supergiants’ name. The 22nd game of the ninth edition of Indian Premier League was interrupted by rain but when the match commenced, the pitch supported seamers massively.
After winning the toss, RPS asked Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to bat first and in the first over of the match, Ashok Dinda got the most precious wicket of David Warner. SRH lost their way completely as wickets kept tumbling like ninepins thanks to Dinda, Mitchell Marsh and Ravichandran Ashwin. They bowled excellently throughout the game. Shikhar Dhawan was the only man to stick to the crease and remained unbeaten till the end with a score of 56 runs from 53 balls. Bhuvneshwar Kumar too played a short cameo of 8-ball 21 and ensured a three-digit total.
Coming to chase, RPS too lost their first wicket in first over in the form of Ajinkya Rahane. Bhuvneshwar was the man to provide the first breakthrough for SRH. Further, Faf du Plessis and Steve Smith put up a much-needed partnership of 80 runs and ensured that SRH never made a comeback in the game. Later, du Plessis lost his wicket, followed by Dhoni’s dismissal in the 11th over of the game and then once again rain played the spoilsport. After some time, both the captains agreed to call off the game and RPS were declared as winners by 34 runs via D/L method.
Turning Point: After getting the prized scalp of Ajinkya Rahane, SRH bowlers should have attacked and went for the kill with wicket taking bowlers like Ashish Nehra, Mustafizur and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the line up. But they were unable to do so as a result of which the game drifted away. Faf du Plessis and Steve Smith stitched a match winning partnership of 80 runs and ensured a sound victory without any hiccups for RPS.
Brief Scores:
Sunrisers Hyderabad 118 for 8 in 20 overs [Shikhar Dhawan 56 (53)*, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 21 (8); Ashok Dinda 4-1-23-3, Mitchell Marsh 4-0-14-2, Ravichandran Ashwin 4-0-14-1] beat to Rising Pune Supergiants 94 for 3 in 11 overs [Steve Smith 46 (36), Faf du Plessis 30 (21); Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3-1-17-1, Ashish Nehra 3-0-21-1] by 34 runs (D/L method).
