Published: May 14, 2017, 07:43 PM (IST)
Edited: May 14, 2017, 07:27 PM (IST)
Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) locked horns with Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in match 55 of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2017 for a place in the playoffs. While many anticipated it to be a close affair, it turned out to be a one-sided contest with KXIP falling apart like nine pins. Opting to bowl, RPS restricted KXIP for 73 as Jaydev Unadkat and Shardul Thakur wreaked havoc of their line-up. Unadkat earned the Man of the Match award for his figures of 2 for 12 and stated that it was a team effort which helped them reach the last four. He also took a fine catch and effected Eoin Morgan’s run out. He also added that RPS will be prepared for Qualifier 1 versus Mumbai Indians (MI) and will be brilliant to knock them out in their own den. Full Cricket Scorecard: Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) vs Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), IPL 2017, Match 55 at Pune
After thrashing KXIP by 9 wickets, Unadkat stated, “It has been brilliant. We have been really good as a unit. The execution has been brilliant, does not happen often in a T20 game. If you see that has been there in the last 10-12 games, after we lost the first couple of games. We have been brilliant, and that has helped me. The seniors have been terrific, they have helped us a lot. Not just me, Shardul too bowled well today. You don’t underestimate the power of a modern-day fast bowler (on his catching). We have worked on our fitness and that has been helping during matches.”
On England and now RPS’ premier all-rounder, Ben Stokes, who will be leaving for national duty, the Unadkat concluded by saying, “Ben (Stokes) was an integral part, he is leaving tonight. That will be a big loss. But having said that we have won a game without him. The plan is to keep things simple. It will be brilliant to beat Mumbai in Mumbai.”
