Published: Apr 14, 2017, 09:50 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 14, 2017, 10:23 PM (IST)
Suresh Raina, in his 150th match in Indian Premier League (IPL), took a blinder at third-slip to send Ajinkya Rahane back to the pavilion in the very first over of match 13 between Gujarat Lions (GL) and Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS). That one-handed stunner did not, by all means, put RPS on back foot. In came captain Steven Smith and the juggernaut scored 43 runs off 28 to set up the foundation. However, even though middle order failed to carry the momentum, Manoj Tiwary and Ankit Sharma made sure they put up a respectable 171 for 8 despite Andrew Tye becoming the second player to take a hat-trick in IPL 10. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Gujarat Lions (GL) vs Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS), IPL 2017 Match 13
GL have lost both their matches batting first, forcing Raina to bowl in this contest. After a few deliveries swung off the surface, the decision seemed right. Rahane edged one and gave Praveen Kumar his first wicket. With Basil Thampi coming from the other end, a few edged-and-gone were expect, but Smith shuffled and got into his own groove, unaffected by later movement. From the other end, Rahul Tripathi hit a six over mid-wicket followed by another down town and a drive past the umpire. In the same over, Smith hit consecutive fours. At the receiving end was Praveen. He leaked as many as 25 runs off the over.
The party did not last long for RPS. Both Smith and Tripathi were dismissed soon. Stoke, at No. 4, hit a couple of sixes and six before Andrew Tye outfoxed him with a slower delivery.
Surprisingly Manoj Tiwary had come ahead of MS Dhoni. When both started their partnership, scorecard read 106 for 4 off 12.1 overs. The track had enough for the batters to exploit, but Ravindra Jadeja outfoxed Dhoni with an arm-ball.
The onus was then on Tiwary and youngster Ankit Sharma. Both added 47 off 29, but only before Tye took a hat-trick on debut in the last over.
In the pursuit of going berserk, Ankit sent one into the orbit only to find Brendon McCullum at long-off. Tiwary then tried to do the same but smashed it into the fielder on leg-side. And tail-ender Shardul Thakur could very little to tackle the knuckle ball. However, Tye would have taken four in four had Jadeja at deep mid-wicket would not have dropped Lockie Ferguson. Had Jadeja held onto it, Tye would have become only the third player to take a six-wicket haul in IPL.
Rising Pune Supergiant 171 for 8 in 20 overs (Rahul Triapthi 33, Steven Smith 43; Andrew Tye 5 for 17) vs Gujarat Lions
