Published: May 01, 2017, 09:48 PM (IST)
Edited: May 01, 2017, 10:08 PM (IST)
Gujarat Lions (GL) had won all their games against Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) and did so while chasing. In match 39 of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2017, the Supergiant instead decide to chase at their home ground Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune. Steven Smith, at the toss, said the track won’t change in the second innings. That, however, did not stop the Lions from posting a respectable 161 all-out. The opening duo of Ishan Kishan and Brendon McCullum went all guns blazing and added 55 runs for the first wicket. Besides, what came as a surprise was, Kishan went bonkers and reduced the devastating McCullum to playing a second fiddle.Full cricket scorecard: RPS vs GL, IPL 2017, Match 39
Steven Smith was forced to pass the ball to leg-spinner Imran Tahir, in anticipation of breakthrough. Tahir, after conceding two boundaries, had the last laugh. He dismissed Kishan and started off his mandatory celebrations, running around the field. In came Suresh Raina, the highest run-scorer in IPL. All the same, the Supergiant pushed the visiting team to further trouble. Ajinkya Rahane’s accurate throw saw Raina fall short of the crease, with MS Dhoni taking the bails off in a flash.
Aaron Finch used the long handle to blasting effect to accumulate a four and a six, but Tahir’s leg-spinner had him caught and bowled. That was not it. Tahir removed Dwayne Smith for a first-ball duck, putting himself on a hat-trick.
McCullum, inching closer to his half-century, continued his rampage. He lathered 3 fours and 2 sixes to keep his team on course. Shardul Thakur, who replaced Lockie Ferguson, was rewarded for bowling in the right channel. He got the better of McCullum for 45. The Lions lost half their comrades for 109 in 11.5 overs. Full cricket updates: RPS vs GL. IPL 2017, Match 39
Dinesh Karthik and Ravindra Jadeja resurrected the fallen innings for a brief period. They took the bowlers to cleaners, but could add only 26 runs together. Dan Christian outfoxed Jadeja with a slower bouncer. The situation then got only worse. The Lions kept losing wickets, with Karthik still unbeaten at the other end. However, others failed to partner him to his team to a big score.
Tahir and Jaydev Unadkat ended with combined figures of 8-0-56-6.
Brief scores:
Gujarat Lions 161 in 19.4 overs (Brendon McCullum 45, Ishan Kishan 31; Imran Tahir 3 for 27, Jaydev Unadkat 3 for 29) vs Rising Pune Supergiant.
