Well! Gujarat need ONE-SIX-FOUR to make it two in two. But they are up against MSD's men mind you! Dhoni should try his hand in Rio Olympics I reckon. Obviously for a 100-metre sprint. Might just come close to Usain Bolt...Crikey! That's some running in the final over. Bhatia might need a few gatorades to get his breath back. Okies! Enough fun! Baz is back in the middle. So, is RP Singh and the rest of his colleagues. The senior Ashwin is standing at 1st slip. Only one slip in fact. Right then! Off we go...
"It's just the start of the T20 League, lot of hard work left for me and the team [on winning the orange cap]. We have posted a par total on that wicket. The track is good, the new ball came on for the first 9-10 overs before slowing down," says Faf du Plessis. Well, he looked sublime for his half-century. But this is a brilliant comeback from Gujarat, Dhoni's late assault notwithstanding. With Faf and KP going great guns till around the halfway mark, Pune seemed on course for a much bigger score. But some canny spin bowling from Tambe and Jadeja, and excellent variations from Bravo and Faulkner, pulled things back. The way this innings unfolded, bore an eerie resemblence to Gujarat's previous game where the opposition got off to a flier and scored 87-1 in the first 10 overs before being strangled to a sub-par total around 160. Can the batters hunt this one down, like they did the previous time?
19.6 -
Dwayne Bravo to Dhoni, FOUR, very full ball outside off, and Dhoni has sliced it past backward point. He's finished with 22 off 10 balls and propelled them to above 160
19.5 -
Dwayne Bravo to Dhoni, 2 runs, very full and Dhoni can't get under it, all along the ground to long-on. Wants two again and gets it as Karthik can't gather Jadeja's throw
19.4 -
Dwayne Bravo to Dhoni, SIX, whacked over long-on. Sizes up a slower length ball outside off, and brutalizes it with a massive heave
19.3 -
Dwayne Bravo to Dhoni, 2 runs, near yorker on the stumps, Dhoni can't get under it despite a helicopter slog, squeezes it down to long-on. Come hell or highwater, he's running for two. And he gets it
19.2 -
Dwayne Bravo to Dhoni, 2 runs, drilled straight to long-off, and Dhoni is racing back for the second. Bhatia hesitates and is not sure, but has no choice seeing his captain hurtling towards him, buckles in and takes off. The throw is decent but Bravo fails to collect it
19.1 -
Dwayne Bravo to Dhoni, FOUR, Dhoni winds up big time and swings like crazy at a full ball, the outside edge flies past a diving Karthik, escaping his outstretched hand
18.6 -
Jadeja to R Bhatia, no run, fast and full, slung in around off, Bhatia chops it onto pad off an inside edge beside the pitch
18.5 -
Jadeja to R Bhatia, no run, slows this one and nearly gets a return catch. Bhatia is early into the push, and bunts it in the air, drops just short of Jadeja
Rajat Bhatia, right handed bat, comes to the crease
18.4 -
Jadeja to Mitchell Marsh, out Bowled!! Bowled him! Jadeja keeps it straight, flat and fast, and rattles into the timber. Skids under Marsh's attempted heave and terminates his misery. Mitchell Marsh b Jadeja 7(11)
Jadeja to Mitchell Marsh, THAT'S OUT!! Bowled!!
18.3 -
Jadeja to Mitchell Marsh, no run, rifled on a length outside off, Marsh is swinging at everything but not connecting well with many. This time, he can't connect at all
18.2 -
Jadeja to Mitchell Marsh, 2 runs, mistimes the slog on a full toss and belts it wide of long-on. It's between two fielders and an easy couple
18.1 -
Jadeja to Mitchell Marsh, no run, darts in a yorker well wide of off, Marsh can't lay bat on ball
17.6 -
Dwayne Bravo to Mitchell Marsh, 1 run, slower low full toss, pushed down to long-on
17.5 -
Dwayne Bravo to Mitchell Marsh, 2 runs, very full ball, the conventional seam-up delivery, Marsh drills it hard forcing long-on into a sprint to his left to cut it off
17.4 -
Dwayne Bravo to Dhoni, 1 run, excellent change-ups. This one is a dipping slow full toss outside off, which hoodwinks Dhoni. He gets into an awkward tangle and pats it wide of extra-cover
17.3 -
Dwayne Bravo to Mitchell Marsh, 1 run, slower ball, on the shorter side and Marsh swats the pull to deep mid-wicket
17.2 -
Dwayne Bravo to Mitchell Marsh, no run, now this is the actual variation from Bravo. Pacy yorker which bursts past Marsh, as he tries to crash it through the covers. Too late on it
17.1 -
Dwayne Bravo to Mitchell Marsh, no run, slower dipping full toss, Marsh doesn't pick it out of the hand which takes out all aggressive avenues out of the window. Blocks it tamely
Dwayne Bravo [2.0-0-18-1] is back into the attack
16.6 -
Jadeja to Dhoni, no run, fired on leg, punched to the left of Jadeja who runs across to stop
16.5 -
Jadeja to Mitchell Marsh, 1 run, nudges a slider down to long-on
16.4 -
Jadeja to Mitchell Marsh, no run, chopped to extra-cover
16.3 -
Jadeja to Dhoni, leg byes, 1 run, darts it in and hits the pad after seeing Dhoni come down, contains him to a leg-bye through mid-wicket
Jadeja wants to rush in but Dhoni is just not ready. Oh, the irony! This pair has irritated opponents to the point of an outrage with similar tactics, while playing for the same team. Dhoni knows him too well.
Mitchell Marsh, right handed bat, comes to the crease
16.2 -
Jadeja to Smith, out Caught by Faulkner!! It's been a real good comeback from Gujarat. And really, it's been spin (not that they are looking to turn the ball) which has swung the momentum their way. Fires it full and wide outside off, forces Smith to reach out and he can only slice it straight to deep extra-cover. Smith c Faulkner b Jadeja 5(6)
Jadeja to Smith, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!
16.1 -
Jadeja to Smith, no run, darts in a shortish ball wide of off, it's a real quickie and Smith is beaten for pace on the cut
Ravindra Jadeja [2.0-0-15-0] is back into the attack
15.6 -
Tambe to Smith, 1 run, pulled to deep mid-wicket
15.5 -
Tambe to Dhoni, 1 run, hares down the pitch and clips it behind square
MS Dhoni, right handed bat, comes to the crease
15.4 -
Tambe to du Plessis, out Stumped!! Gone, comes well down the track and misses it. Tambe cleverly slips in the slider, and gets it to sneak between bat and pad to foil Faf's slog. DK is neat behind the stumps. du Plessis st D Karthik b Tambe 69(43) [4s-5 6s-4]
Tambe to du Plessis, THAT'S OUT!! Stumped!!
15.3 -
Tambe to du Plessis, SIX, tipped over the fence! Oh, and it's Baz. You would usually expect him to take these. Not a conventional chance, but catchable by McCullum's standards. Lofted wide of long-off, Baz runs across, looks for an overhead reverse cup but palms it over the ropes
15.2 -
Tambe to du Plessis, FOUR, steps to leg, and drives a leg-break over extra-cover. The length is nowhere close to being full, but Faf trusts the bounce and hits it on the up
15.1 -
Tambe to Smith, 1 run, dances down the track and clips it through square leg
Pravin Tambe [3.0-0-20-1] is back into the attack
14.6 -
Faulkner to du Plessis, 2 runs, flat-bats a short of length delivery wide of long-off and a much more comfortable couple
14.5 -
Faulkner to du Plessis, 2 runs, it's almost an action replay of the 3rd ball, just that I think Faf was in this time. Tucked in front of Jadeja at deep mid-wicket who rifles in another poor throw
14.4 -
Faulkner to Smith, 1 run, short ball rising over the shoulder, pulled through mid-wicket
14.3 -
Faulkner to Smith, 2 runs, Smith should have been gone. He really should have. Short of length ball which is tucked in front of deep mid-wicket, they risk a second run despite Jadeja swooping in quickly on the ball. Smith is gone for all money, but the throw is wide of the keeper who fails to collect. It's a rocket throw but not an accurate one
14.2 -
Faulkner to du Plessis, 1 run, strides out of the crease, converts it into a low full toss and drives it to long-on
14.1 -
Faulkner to du Plessis, no run, slants it in on middle from round the wicket, stays a touch low and Faf crouches to block
James Faulkner [1.0-0-7-0] is back into the attack
Steven Smith, right handed bat, comes to the crease
13.6 -
Dwayne Bravo to Pietersen, out Bowled!! Bravo dupes the bejeezus out of KP with a slower ball, and is off to shake a leg in celebration. What a brilliant slower full toss. Dips on KP as he tries to flick it from outside off, and he chops it back on middle stump off a thick inside edge. Pietersen b Dwayne Bravo 37(31) [4s-2 6s-1]
Dwayne Bravo to Pietersen, THAT'S OUT!! Bowled!!
13.5 -
Dwayne Bravo to Pietersen, no run, excellent variations. Not sure if this is a variation actually. The slower ball is like a stock ball. KP expects the slower ball to cut off the pitch, and plays inside the line of it. A couple of bounces on the way to the keeper
13.4 -
Dwayne Bravo to du Plessis, 1 run, another cutter which is banged into the pitch, Faf waits on it and gently cuts it wide of point
13.3 -
Dwayne Bravo to du Plessis, no run, slower ball once more, wide of off, and loops over Faf's slashing bat
13.2 -
Dwayne Bravo to du Plessis, no run, slower, fuller and wider outside off, Faf is slightly beaten for the lack of pace and can only push it tamely towards point
The foundation has been laid. Expect them to really crank it up .. right about NOW
13.1 -
Dwayne Bravo to Pietersen, 1 run, full toss, normal pace, and is nudged down to long-on
Dwayne Bravo [1.0-0-16-0] is back into the attack
Pune go for the strategic time-out as soon as it's available.
12.6 -
Jakati to du Plessis, FOUR, shortish outside off, and Faf clatters it through the cover region. Sweeper cover is a bit too square and fails to get to it. Fifty for Faf
12.5 -
Jakati to Pietersen, 1 run, full toss which is softly bunted back to the bowler who can only make a half-stop
12.4 -
Jakati to Pietersen, no run, shortish and wide outside off, but KP tries to go very hard through the off-side and misses it altogether
12.3 -
Jakati to du Plessis, 1 run, driven through the covers
12.2 -
Jakati to du Plessis, FOUR, he has jumped out of the crease to get very close to the ball and then drills it powerfully down the ground. Lots of bottom hand. No chance for long-on
12.1 -
Jakati to Pietersen, 1 run, sliding on towards the pads, clipped through mid-wicket
11.6 -
Faulkner to du Plessis, no run, another slower ball, on leg-stump, and Faf can't quite judge the pace on it as he misses with a flick. Despite the boundary first ball, only 7 of the over. Gujarat are doing a fair job of pulling the rate back. A wicket here would be a big bonus as either of these batsman are capable of exploding without notice
Moves to over the wicket...
11.5 -
Faulkner to Pietersen, 1 run, KP slices the drive in the air and it's just wide of a diving Raina at cover. It was the back of the hand slower ball which held up on KP and drew the error. McCullum runs across from mid-off and tidies up
DK walks up to the stumps...
11.4 -
Faulkner to du Plessis, 1 run, driven powerfully on the up to sweeper cover
11.3 -
Faulkner to Pietersen, 1 run, slower ball on the stumps, KP moves inside the line of it and glances it towards short fine
11.2 -
Faulkner to Pietersen, no run, goes jabbing at a length ball outside off, and drags it to mid-wicket
11.1 -
Faulkner to Pietersen, FOUR, pace is back on, and so is the boundary - after a gap of 18 balls. Back of a length delivery outside off, one which leaves the captain helpless as third man is up in the ring. KP waits on it and deliberately dabs it late to send it fine of the man
James Faulkner, comes into the attack
10.6 -
Jakati to Pietersen, 1 run, works it to the right of Jakati who throws himself across but can only make a half-stop. Nevertheless, another good over. Gujarat are starting to stack them up now
10.5 -
Jakati to du Plessis, 1 run, very full and is pushed down to long-off
10.4 -
Jakati to Pietersen, 1 run, taps one in front of point and sets off. This is risky, taking Jadeja's arm on and KP would have struggled to make it in with a direct-hit
10.3 -
Jakati to du Plessis, 1 run, drives it in the air off the back foot, drops on the bounce to long-off
10.2 -
Jakati to du Plessis, 2 runs, steps out and hacks a full ball straight down the ground. Hares back for two before long-on cuts it off
10.1 -
Jakati to du Plessis, no run, sees Faf back away and fires it wide outside off. Faf lets it go presuming that it'll be a wide but it isn't
Shadab Jakati [2.0-0-23-0] is back into the attack
9.6 -
Tambe to Pietersen, 2 runs, clipped off the pads through mid-wicket, it's between two fielders and they have enough time to pinch two. Two decent overs back to back from Gujarat. They need to keep this going
9.5 -
Tambe to Pietersen, no run, turns slightly from a length, catches a soft leading edge as KP tries to work it through the on-side, and rolls back down the pitch
9.4 -
Tambe to du Plessis, 1 run, again, this is brilliant from Tambe. Knows what the batsmen are trying to do, and he is not allowing them to get under it. Yorks Faf again as he gives the charge, and keeps him down to a single to long-on
9.3 -
Tambe to Pietersen, 1 run, sliding on from a length towards middle and leg, nudged to long-on
9.2 -
Tambe to du Plessis, 1 run, ventures down the track and nearly yorks himself before jamming it to long-on
9.1 -
Tambe to du Plessis, no run, near yorker on the stumps, Faf moves to leg and squeezes a drive to cover
The strategic time-out has been enforced..
8.6 -
Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, crashes a full ball through the off-side but not past extra-cover
8.5 -
Jadeja to du Plessis, 1 run, bunted towards the mid-on region
8.4 -
Jadeja to du Plessis, 2 runs, this time it's Faulkner who finds himself diving around on the outfield. Pulled hard wide of long-on and the Aussie all-rounder runs across, dives and tosses it back to the converging deep mid-wicket fielder
8.3 -
Jadeja to Pietersen, 1 run, spears in a very full ball outside off, KP slices it wide of backward point who dives across and parries it to short third man. Excellent effort, saved 3 runs
8.2 -
Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, darted outside off, it's slightly short but KP goes so hard that the bat turns in his hands and he chops it into the off-side
8.1 -
Jadeja to Pietersen, 2 runs, fired down leg, and KP nudges it wide of long-on
7.6 -
Tambe to du Plessis, FOUR, there's the boundary for the over. Pune are playing this very nicely. Faf makes room and drives a flatter leg-break off the back foot past extra-cover. Baz makes a stunning effort running round from long-on but can't prevent the boundary
7.5 -
Tambe to Pietersen, 1 run, KP races out of the crease, Tambe has a hint and he fires it full cramping him for room. KP rushes his bat across and chops it onto pad off a thick inside edge before collecting a single through mid-wicket
7.4 -
Tambe to Pietersen, 2 runs, leans on the back foot and punches it hard past extra-cover, he has forced it wide of the sweeper and helped himself to a brace
7.3 -
Tambe to du Plessis, 1 run, flat and short outside off, cut away through the covers. Nothing more than a single
7.2 -
Tambe to Pietersen, 1 run, slides on from a length and catches a thick inside edge as KP is playing for turn, wanders away into the on-side
7.1 -
Tambe to du Plessis, 1 run, shimmies out and clips it behind square. Realized that the room wasn't there and was quite prepared to temper down
Pravin Tambe [1.0-0-5-1] is back into the attack
6.6 -
Jadeja to du Plessis, 1 run, shortish on the stumps and Faf has thumped a pull straight to deep mid-wicket
6.5 -
Jadeja to du Plessis, SIX, one step, two steps, and bang! Lovely batting this. They are getting a boundary every over, and Gujarat are struggling for control. Right to the pitch of the ball and pumps it straight back towards the sightscreen
6.4 -
Jadeja to du Plessis, no run, cramps him for room with a quicker slider, Faf can only tap it into the off-side
6.3 -
Jadeja to Pietersen, 1 run, very round arm this time, slides it in on the stumps, KP makes some room and cuts it through the covers
6.2 -
Jadeja to Pietersen, no run, targets the pads as KP hops out, keeps him down to a block
6.1 -
Jadeja to du Plessis, 1 run, Jadeja follows him down leg and is flicked through mid-wicket
Ravindra Jadeja, left-arm orthodox, comes into the attack
5.6 -
Dwayne Bravo to du Plessis, 1 run, pats it wide of backward point to retain strike. Sensible stuff. Despite the loss of Rahane, Pune are wheeling away
5.5 -
Dwayne Bravo to du Plessis, SIX, seam up ball this time, it's on a full length and Faf has lofted it over mid-off. Planted his foot down, swung his arms through the line and clears the ropes
5.4 -
Dwayne Bravo to Pietersen, 1 run, another slower fuller ball outside off, KP knocks it in front of backward point for a quick run
5.3 -
Dwayne Bravo to du Plessis, 1 run, does him in by a variation. Slows it up outside off, and Faf is way too early into the stroke, does well though to adapt and drags it through square leg
5.2 -
Dwayne Bravo to Pietersen, 1 run, pacy full toss around off which is chopped off a thick inside edge onto pad, and dribbles into the off-side
5.1 -
Dwayne Bravo to Pietersen, SIX, Bravo introduces himself with a real softie. It's neither this, nor that. Drops it on a nothing length on leg, sits up around KP's waist and he demolishes it with a pull over short fine leg. Flat six. Smashes into the ad hoardings
Dwayne Bravo, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack
4.6 -
Jakati to du Plessis, no run, shimmies down and hits it to mid-on
4.5 -
Jakati to Pietersen, 1 run, clipped with the angle wide of mid-wicket
4.4 -
Jakati to Pietersen, FOUR, good use of the feet, right to the pitch of the ball and drives it powerfully past mid-on, where Faulkner chooses not to put in the dive
4.3 -
Jakati to du Plessis, byes, 1 run, follows Faf with a quick slider as he moves to leg and skids past his stroke. Even Karthik is beaten for pace and can't gather cleanly. The ricochet is towards short fine leg, and KP's big strides enable him to get home
4.2 -
Jakati to du Plessis, SIX, skips out of the crease while stepping to leg, creates enough swinging room for himself - a little too much - as he has to reach out for the ball in the end. Hacks it over wide mid-on and just about clears the ropes
4.1 -
Jakati to Pietersen, 1 run, flatter and punched down to long-off after backing away a little
Shadab Jakati [1.0-0-11-0] is back into the attack
3.6 -
Tambe to Pietersen, 1 run, flows into an off-drive down to long-off to a full toss, KP is off the mark
Kevin Pietersen, right handed bat, comes to the crease
3.5 -
Tambe to Rahane, out Lbw!! Tambe has skid through Rahane's defence and struck him on the back pad, a big appeal follows and the umpire raises his finger quick enough. The trajectory was flat and it was quicker through the air, that dissuaded Rahane from pressing forward and he got caught in the crease. Plumb in front of middle and leg. Rahane lbw b Tambe 21(17) [4s-4]
Tambe to Rahane, THAT'S OUT!! Lbw!!
3.4 -
Tambe to Rahane, no run, it's short, it's wide, it's absolute filth. And Rahane has missed out on it. Think he tried to pull it, when the square cut would have been a better option
3.3 -
Tambe to Rahane, FOUR, dances down the track, covers a lot of ground enabling him to get close to the pitch and lofts it neatly over mid-on. He's looking sublime
3.2 -
Tambe to Rahane, no run, stays flat-footed to a flatter ball and taps it to cover
3.1 -
Tambe to Rahane, no run, Tambe comes on and drops it slightly short outside off, Rahane cuts well but picks out Baz at cover-point
Pravin Tambe, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack
Early indications are that this pitch is a beauty. All that green grass is just a mirage, its sole purpose is to hold the wicket together
2.6 -
P Kumar to Rahane, 1 run, picks a ball from just outside off and whips it through square leg
2.5 -
P Kumar to du Plessis, 1 run, similar ball, just a bit closer to off and Faf swats it towards mid-on
2.4 -
P Kumar to du Plessis, FOUR, Faf likes to use his feet and Raina knows him well enough, so the keeper is up. But he is so strong with that bottom hand. Nothing wrong with the ball, slightly on a back of a length outside off and he punches it crisply through the covers
2.3 -
P Kumar to Rahane, 1 run, waits on a back of a length delivery outside off and dabs it down to third man
2.2 -
P Kumar to Rahane, no run, back of a length delivery around off, worked away to mid-on
2.1 -
P Kumar to Rahane, no run, this is un-Rahane like. Charges at a medium pacer looking to play a forceful stroke, Kumar pulls his length back well and it also keeps a bit low to scoot under the willow
1.6 -
Jakati to Rahane, 1 run, drifting into the pads, clipped wide of mid-on
1.5 -
Jakati to Rahane, FOUR, that's excellent use of the crease. Didn't look all that short a ball, but he made his own length by utilizing the depth of the crease and pulls it over mid-wicket. Rahane is on 14 off 7 with proper conventional strokes. No risks
1.4 -
Jakati to Rahane, FOUR, punched back firmly past mid-on. Slides back in the crease to a ball sliding in from a shortish length, and times it crunchily
1.3 -
Jakati to du Plessis, 1 run, takes a couple of steps down and tucks it through mid-wicket, Faf is keen on the second but is sent back
1.2 -
Jakati to Rahane, 1 run, it's coming on nicely, not much turn. Rahane eases on the front foot and pushes it to long-off
There is one slip for Jakati..
1.1 -
Jakati to Rahane, no run, goes deep in the crease to a short ball and swats the pull to mid-on
Shadab Jakati, left-arm orthodox, comes into the attack
0.6 -
P Kumar to du Plessis, no run, shimmies down but is restricted to a defensive stroke back down the pitch as Kumar shortens his length
0.5 -
P Kumar to du Plessis, no run, stays leg-side of another attempted inswinger which doesn't GO as much, pats it to point
0.4 -
P Kumar to du Plessis, no run, the big inswinger from Kumar. Tails back in towards off from a good length, and Faf is apparently cramped for room but he does well to get his pad out of the way and block
0.3 -
P Kumar to Rahane, 1 run, much better. Draws Rahane forward with a fuller length outside off, nips away just a bit to take a thick outside edge and rolls down to third man
The gully has been whisked away after that trash of a ball...
0.2 -
P Kumar to Rahane, FOUR, that's a loosener and is duly dispatched. Short, wide and cut away through the point region. At his pace, PK can't afford this especially on a pitch as green as this. Oh yeah, if I didn't mention before - there's a lot of grass on the 22 yards
0.1 -
P Kumar to Rahane, no run, wobbles it on a back of a length outside off, and is blocked from the crease by Rahane after a shuffle across
Rahane and du Plessis are at the crease. Rahane is on strike. P Kumar will open the attack
Phewf! That brings curtains on the battle of K-NEWBIES. The Pune Supergiants smacked the leather at will but the Lions did well to halt the momentum. Finch and Baz gave a fiery start and MS's men never recovered. So, one more game ticked off in this mega cash-rich league. Hoping for some bang bang action in tomorrow's game - It's Punjab taking on Delhi in the capital city. Do remember to join us. Till then, sayonara from Raju Peethala, Sagar Chawla and our serene scorer Naga.
"Nice to start off well and contribute to the wins. Was a beautiful wicket out there. Started off scratchy and got a bit lucky in the middle. Nice to bat with Baz. He scores so fast and takes the pressure off. He is a special player. For some one to run down the wicket and smash a few off the back foot, it takes some skill. Very big game and Pune are a very strong side led by a great leader MS. If we can get some more wickets in the first six overs it will be nice. Jaddu, Bravo and Faulkner were outstanding in the middle overs. The bowlers did well towards the end again, pulled things back in our favour." Aaron Finch is all smiles as he receives the second successive Man of the Match award. Finchy is also the proud owner of the orange cap now.
"When you have Bravo and Faulkner, the game is never over. First game at home and we played really good cricket today. I thought we have to play 3-4 spinners but its not easy to hit sixes in this ground. Jaddu bowled exceptionally well and Tambe too bowled well.(Bravo) is the main player for us. We have to give chance to everyone. Finchy and Baz set the tone for us. When you have a start like that we always do well in the middle overs. We have Baz, Bravo and Finch - Lot of experienced players in the side," chirrups a smiling Suresh Raina
"I think it was a good score but what's important is to bowl well in the first six overs. It was forced (speaking about why the legspinner was brought in the powerplay) and I don't think the fast bowlers bowled well. I told them quite a few things and it stays within the team. We gave away too many runs in the powerplay. We need to look at the composition. Need to look at the players who suit us the best. First game we did well but we could have played with a few other players in this game. But credit to the players who have done well in the first game. It's a new team and you don't have the luxury of playing some fantastic all-rounders," murmurs a modest MS Dhoni who doesn't seem too content with the loss.
A stroll. That's all it was. Gujarat made a mockery of this run chase and won the game with 12 balls to spare. Gujarat were off to a dazzling start racing to 62/0 in 6 overs. MS Dhoni and Co. didn't have answers to the onslaught from Finch and McCullum. The deadly duo muscled the ball to all corners. It was high-octane stuff from Finch as he played a volley of superb shots. He tore apart M Ashwin in his first over slamming four boundaries. Finch completed his fifty off 33 balls and although the leggie picked him up in his next over, Gujarat had the match in their bag with the start they got. McCullum missed his half-century by a solitary run. Raina then got some runs before he was chugged down by M Ashwin. Bravo sealed the game alongside Jadeja. With this victory, Gujarat have wrested back the top spot from Pune in the points table.
18.1 -
RP Singh to Jadeja, wide, and RP Singh spoils the party! Ah, poor Jadeja! A misdirected short delivery, down leg and Gujarat make it two in two. Top-class stuff from them. Pulled things back in the last 10 overs and went crash-bang-wallop with the bat. This should get them going for the rest of the season....
RP Singh [2.0-0-20-0] is back into the attack
Jaddu, fittingly to hit the winning stroke at his home ground
17.6 -
R Bhatia to Dwayne Bravo, SIX, that should do! Just one run away from the victory now. Offers a length ball outside off and Bravo switches back to his favorite stroke. A classic inside-out loft for a 85-metre six over extra cover
17.5 -
R Bhatia to Dwayne Bravo, 2 runs, clever! Keeps it full and straight, Bravo stays still and lofts straight down the ground. Mistimed stroke and he could only manage a double
17.5 -
R Bhatia to Jadeja, no ball, 1 run, Bhatia is having a nightmare! Serves a front foot no-ball to Jaddu who eases one down to long-on. Free-hit button is buzzing....
17.4 -
R Bhatia to Jadeja, no run, punched towards extra cover
17.3 -
R Bhatia to Dwayne Bravo, leg byes, 1 run, around the pads, Bravo fails to tickle but scampers for a leg bye as the ball sneaks past MS
17.2 -
R Bhatia to Jadeja, 1 run, wrists the off-pace delivery towards short mid-wicket and sprints across in a rush, a fumble making things easy for the Lions
17.1 -
R Bhatia to Jadeja, no run, off-cutter on middle, tucked in front of mid-wicket, Jadeja yells a loud "no" for the single
Rajat Bhatia [2.0-0-19-0] is back into the attack
13 off 18 needed
16.6 -
Murugan Ashwin to Jadeja, 1 run, this time he gets the single - With a flick square on the leg-side
16.5 -
Murugan Ashwin to Jadeja, no run, Jadeja set off for a quick single after flicking one to short mid-wicket. Dwayne Bravo was never interested, sent back. The throw from Smith was accurate but Jadeja was well in
TV umpire pressed into service. Jaddu is the man. Looks safe to me. NOT OUT should be the verdict and is...
16.4 -
Murugan Ashwin to Dwayne Bravo, 1 run, legspinner outside off, Bravo lifts it on the bounce to long-off
16.3 -
Murugan Ashwin to Jadeja, 1 run, stroked down to long-on
16.3 -
Murugan Ashwin to Jadeja, wide, errant stuff! 50-50 call may be but the umpire deems it as a wide. Darted the googly and flirted with the wide tramline
16.2 -
Murugan Ashwin to Jadeja, no run, a muted appeal for lbw as Jadeja fails to flick one through the leg-side, might have been sliding down leg
Ravindra Jadeja, left handed bat, comes to the crease
16.1 -
Murugan Ashwin to Raina, out Stumped!! And Raina has found a way to get himself out. Against the run of play. Skips down the track and is beaten in the flight. Wanted to push one towards long-off but once he's beaten there's no way of getting back. Dhoni doesn't fumble this time. The ball skidded off the surface and went at a comfy height for MS who does the rest. Raina st Dhoni b Murugan Ashwin 24(24) [4s-1]
Murugan Ashwin to Raina, THAT'S OUT!! Stumped!!
Murugan Ashwin [3.0-0-27-1] is back into the attack
Well! The final strategic time-out with formalities left
15.6 -
Ishant to Raina, 1 run, dug in short again, pulled along the ground through mid-wicket
15.5 -
Ishant to Dwayne Bravo, 1 run, the rib-tickler from Ishant, Bravo hops and fends to the leg-side, hurries for a quick single
15.4 -
Ishant to Dwayne Bravo, FOUR, aww! You gotta love that from Deeeejaaay Bravo. Nonchalance at its very best. Wide outside off and Bravo goes boom over extra cover, same shot!
15.3 -
Ishant to Dwayne Bravo, FOUR, this time he gives width and Bravo repeats the uppish loft. Sheer power and timing. This one's clattered over extra cover
15.2 -
Ishant to Dwayne Bravo, FOUR, STAND AND ADMUMRE that shot from chaaampyaaan! How's that for confidence? Backs away a long way even before the ball was delivered. Ishant Sharma follows him and slips one in Bravo's arc. He swings it inside-out, just a mere extension of the arms and watch that racing away
15.1 -
Ishant to Raina, 1 run, back of a length on leg-stump channel, Raina rises on his toes and glances one towards fine leg
Last 5 overs coming up. Just 32 needed
14.6 -
Ashwin to Dwayne Bravo, no run, flighted on and around off, Bravo is early into the flick, ekes out a leading edge which lands well in front of an incoming Mitch Marsh (at short extra-cover)
14.5 -
Ashwin to Raina, 1 run, punched down the ground towards long-off
14.4 -
Ashwin to Raina, 2 runs, wristed through square leg, good running does the rest
14.3 -
Ashwin to Raina, no run, Raina taps one to the off-side and seeks a quick single. Sent back and he had to do some gymnastics to get back to the crease. Rushes back and puts in the full length dive to make his ground. Hurts his finger in the process, but looks all set after a fleeting period
14.2 -
Ashwin to Raina, no run, full on middle, swept straight to short mid-wicket, off the toe-end
14.1 -
Ashwin to Raina, no run, how did that miss the off-stump! Flat and aimed around off, Raina wanted to run it down to third man. The ball didn't turn and he ended up chopping it nearly back onto the stumps. Jussssssst bounced over....
Ravichandran Ashwin [3.0-0-23-0] is back into the attack
13.6 -
Ishant to Raina, 1 run, sensible stuff from Raina! Is happy to knock a single down to long-on
13.5 -
Ishant to Raina, FOUR, ah, shot! That's Suresh Raina at his very best. Puts the dancing shoes on and meets the full ball, off the meat, thumped over extra cover
13.4 -
Ishant to Dwayne Bravo, leg byes, 1 run, 141ks, back of a length darted down leg, Bravo jumps and fails to put bat to ball. Wanted to flick but could only fetch a leg bye
13.3 -
Ishant to Raina, 1 run, goodish length on leg-stump, worked off the pads to deep mid-wicket
13.2 -
Ishant to Raina, 2 runs, pacy back of a length delivery wide of off, Raina hangs back and steers wide of third man
Dwayne Bravo, right handed bat, comes to the crease
13.1 -
Ishant to Brendon McCullum, out Caught by du Plessis!! Brendon McCullum misses out on a fifty! But he's done the job. Gallops down the pitch in a bit to hit one straight down the ground. The length is short and to make matters worse, Baz had to fetch the flat-bat pull. Skews off the top-edge and Faf settles under a sitter at cover. Brendon McCullum c du Plessis b Ishant 49(31) [4s-3 6s-3]
Ishant to Brendon McCullum, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!
Ishant Sharma [2.0-0-16-0] is back into the attack
44 from 42. Should be just a matter of time, ain't it?
12.6 -
R Bhatia to Brendon McCullum, 1 run, McCullum gets closer to his half-century with another dragged pull behind square
12.5 -
R Bhatia to Raina, 1 run, bunted down to long-off
12.4 -
R Bhatia to Brendon McCullum, 1 run, very slow and kept low. The ball never got up, McCullum crouches low and fetches the pull from just outside off, not well timed but a single nevertheless (through mid-wicket)
12.3 -
R Bhatia to Raina, 1 run, 98ks fullish off-cutter on middle, lifted on the bounce towards long-on
12.2 -
R Bhatia to Brendon McCullum, 1 run, stump-to-stump line stuff from Bhatia, flat-bat spank to long-off
Some issues with the sightscreen....
12.1 -
R Bhatia to Raina, 1 run, length outside off, eased down to long-off
Rajat Bhatia [1.0-0-13-0] is back into the attack
11.6 -
Ashwin to Brendon McCullum, no run, stumping chance missed! Fired full and outside off as McCullum advanced down the track. Dhoni doesn't gather and B-Mac had ample time to get back. MS kicks the ball in frustration, the bails come off but McCullum was well in. When was the last time Dhoni missed a stumping? Go, figure...
11.5 -
Ashwin to Brendon McCullum, SIX, much better from Baz! Hounds down, gets to the pitch of this flighted delivery and wallops it into the wide long-on stands
11.4 -
Ashwin to Brendon McCullum, FOUR, waltzes down the pitch and takes it on the full, goes smack-back straight down the ground. Raced away!
11.3 -
Ashwin to Brendon McCullum, no run, driven to the right of Ashwin who slides and stops
11.2 -
Ashwin to Brendon McCullum, 2 runs, KP does well to save a boundary! Throws himself to his right and fields. Long-hop on middle, McCullum pings the pull off the middle. Had it not been for that valiant effort it would have been a boundary
11.1 -
Ashwin to Raina, 1 run, sat up on a length, Raina jumps and flicks square on the leg-side
10.6 -
Murugan Ashwin to Brendon McCullum, byes, 2 runs, this legspinner pitches on a length and turns a long way, Dhoni fails to read the turn and the ball races past him. 100 up for the Lions
10.5 -
Murugan Ashwin to Raina, 1 run, and when he flights it full Raina is happy to drive one towards long-off
10.4 -
Murugan Ashwin to Brendon McCullum, 1 run, hurled at 86ks, full on middle and leg, McCullum comes down the track and biffs off the toe-end, a single to long-on
10.3 -
Murugan Ashwin to Raina, 1 run, on the pads, picked away neatly towards square leg
10.2 -
Murugan Ashwin to Raina, 2 runs, slower and outside off, Raina camps back and cuts past a diving backward point, steals a couple of runs
10.1 -
Murugan Ashwin to Brendon McCullum, 1 run, leggie just outside off, McCullum rides the bounce and tucks towards mid-wicket
9.6 -
Ashwin to Raina, no run, looped up around off, driven gently to the same man
9.5 -
Ashwin to Raina, no run, sits inside the crease and pushes with soft hands towards extra cover
9.4 -
Ashwin to Brendon McCullum, 1 run, the carrom ball from Ash, McCullum uses his wrists to drag it wide of mid-wicket
9.4 -
Ashwin to Raina, 2 wides, errs in line again, too leg-side for Raina to get a tickle, off the pad this time in the same direction
9.3 -
Ashwin to Raina, 2 runs, delicate! Sees the ball zooming down leg and gets a fine tickle off the pads, a duo of runs to fine leg
9.2 -
Ashwin to Brendon McCullum, 1 run, stays back and flays one behind backward point
9.1 -
Ashwin to Brendon McCullum, no run, tossed up on leg, McCullum goes for a big swipe and drags it off the inside half behind him
Ravichandran Ashwin [1.0-0-4-0] is back into the attack
77 from 66. Should be easy peasy for the Lions
8.6 -
Murugan Ashwin to Raina, no run, legspinner on middle and leg, Raina manages to tap it off the inside half
8.5 -
Murugan Ashwin to Brendon McCullum, 1 run, swept powerfully through mid-wicket
8.4 -
Murugan Ashwin to Raina, 1 run, fullish just outside off, punchily driven through extra cover, Raina is off the mark with a single
Suresh Raina, left handed bat, comes to the crease
8.3 -
Murugan Ashwin to Finch, out Caught by Ishant!! Finally! A wicket for the Pune Supergiants. Finch throws his head back in disappointment but nonethelss it was one heck of knock from the Aussie. Aims to sweep a slider from middle and parcels it straight into the safe palms of Ishant Sharma at deep backward square. Good low catch that! Finch c Ishant b Murugan Ashwin 50(36) [4s-7 6s-2].
Murugan Ashwin to Finch, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!
8.2 -
Murugan Ashwin to Finch, no run, another leggie and this time Finch brings out the reverse sweep, still can't pierce the gap at point
8.1 -
Murugan Ashwin to Finch, no run, the legbreak outside off, Finch cuts and finds backward point
Murugan Ashwin [1.0-0-19-0] is back into the attack
7.6 -
Mitchell Marsh to Finch, 1 run, did Finch and B-MAC borrow some energy from Superman? Just see-ball and hit-ball mode from both the batters. Second successive fifty for Finch, gets there with a clip to square leg
7.5 -
Mitchell Marsh to Brendon McCullum, 1 run, a mistimed pull to deep mid-wicket
7.4 -
Mitchell Marsh to Brendon McCullum, FOUR, Carnival at Rajkot! Fullish and wide, McCullum throws every pound of his energy into the stroke. The leather kisses the outside edge and races past short third man
7.3 -
Mitchell Marsh to Finch, 1 run, keeps a tad low from a length, Finch tucks modestly towards square leg
7.2 -
Mitchell Marsh to Finch, 2 runs, goes leg-side and Finch flicks off his hip, RP Singh flings himself at deep backward square to save a certain boundary
7.1 -
Mitchell Marsh to Brendon McCullum, 1 run, length on middle, worked away to the right of the bowler
Mitchell Marsh, right-arm medium, comes into the attack
Strange stuff from MS. Standing upto the stumps to MUMTCHELahore MARSH - Yep! You read it right. It's Mitch Marsh
6.6 -
R Bhatia to Finch, SIX, are we in for an early finish? Certainly looks like so. Finch is in no mood to spare the dibbly-dobbly stuff from Mr. Bhatia. Moves to the leg-side and sends the gentle-paced cutter just over a leaping long-on
6.5 -
R Bhatia to Finch, no run, the leg-cutter just outside off, Finch makes room and chops it to the off-side
6.4 -
R Bhatia to Finch, no run, crashed off the middle, Rahanr runs across to his left to field
6.3 -
R Bhatia to Finch, SIX, too predictable from Bhatia! Finch sets himself for a slower one and when it arrives, he launches himself into the loft and sends it high into the night sky, well over the long-on fence
6.2 -
R Bhatia to Finch, no run, off-pace length delivery on the stumps, flicked straight to mid-wicket
6.1 -
R Bhatia to Brendon McCullum, 1 run, one of his many cutters arrive around middle stump line which Baz picks and flicks through mid-wicket
Rajat Bhatia, right-arm medium, comes into the attack
Huh! Time to regroup. Dhoni wants a strategic time-out. And it's the military medium Rajat Bhatia, who trundles into bowl his first over
5.6 -
Murugan Ashwin to Finch, FOUR, arrows down leg and pays the price. Finch goes for a big, booming agricultural swipe and gets it behind square leg. No-one's stopping that!
5.5 -
Murugan Ashwin to Finch, no run, finally some serene stuff, flighted delivery on off, Finch respects with a straight bat
5.4 -
Murugan Ashwin to Finch, FOUR, poor stuff from Faf! Should have stopped that. The legspinner just outside off, Finch punches to the left of cover who slides but fails to make a fine stop. The Lions are off and running...oh, no! Racing
5.4 -
Murugan Ashwin to Finch, 3 wides, jittery times for Jr. Ashwin. Slips one down leg and gets Finch into a bit of tangle as he misses on a wild swing, the runs keep coming - Courtesy byes
5.3 -
Murugan Ashwin to Finch, FOUR, full and down leg, Finch goes for a swipe and gets it off the meat, a four behind square to bring up the 50-run stand
5.2 -
Murugan Ashwin to Finch, FOUR, half-tracker sits up invitingly for Finch who clobbers the pull through mid-wicket
5.1 -
Murugan Ashwin to Brendon McCullum, leg byes, 1 run, gets the slider to skid off the surface and hurries McCullum into the pull, missed and is struck on the thigh pad, the duo pinch a leg bye
Murugan Ashwin, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack
And here's the Junior Ashwin...
4.6 -
Ashwin to Finch, no run, no spin from Ashwin, just spraying it flat and quick - Jadduesque. This one's nailed off the bottom half, straight to mid-off
4.5 -
Ashwin to Finch, no run, flat and quick outside off, drilled back to the bowler
4.4 -
Ashwin to Finch, no run, full again, flicked into the leg-side
4.3 -
Ashwin to Finch, no run, hoo! How quick was that stumping from MS? Finch though had his foot grounded. Slower and turns in from outside off as Finch makes room, missed and is lucky to have survived the stumping
4.2 -
Ashwin to Brendon McCullum, 3 runs, good stop from the other Ashwin at deep backward square. Ash slips one down leg and all McCullum needed to do was get some bat. Flicks and pierces the gap between mid-wicket and square leg
4.1 -
Ashwin to Finch, 1 run, flighted it around off and middle, Finch was winding up for a loft, ends up dragging it off the inside half over B-Mac
Ravichandran Ashwin, right-arm off break, comes into the attack
Here's Dhoni's go-to man. ASH...
3.6 -
Ishant to Finch, 1 run, on the stumps, Finch is content with a single to mid-on
3.5 -
Ishant to Finch, no run, better from Ishant! Keeps it in the corridor of uncertainty from a length, might have taken some pace too. Finch seeks to drill one through the off-side but was taken aback for lack of pace
3.4 -
Ishant to Finch, FOUR, an action replay of the first ball! Just that Finch made it looks much easier this time. Short, wide and smashed over backward point
3.3 -
Ishant to Brendon McCullum, 1 run, fraction short and arrowed in around middle, McCullum charges down the pitch and bashes it straight towards KP at long-on
3.2 -
Ishant to Finch, 1 run, gets too straight this time, flicked off the pads towards short fine
3.1 -
Ishant to Finch, FOUR, poor stuff from Ishant Sharma! Bowls it short and wide, Finch rises on his toes and flays it over backward point. No point chasing that lads! .... and that forces some changes in the field
2.6 -
RP Singh to Finch, 1 run, makes room but doesn't get the desired length, adjusts and push-drives to the off-side
2.5 -
RP Singh to Brendon McCullum, 1 run, angled in, fullish in length, McCullum clips to the leg-side and hustles
2.4 -
RP Singh to Brendon McCullum, SIX, and again! This time over the leg-side. Cannot bowl length to Baz, certainly not in the powerplay. In his slot and he spanks it over mid-wicket for a picture-perfect maximum
2.3 -
RP Singh to Brendon McCullum, no run, short of length outside off, McCullum cuts and misses
RP Singh shifts to round the wicket now
2.2 -
RP Singh to Brendon McCullum, SIX, Steve Smith, who is mic'd up on the field just said "WHOA" - That expression should tell you how brute that stroke was. Length and plenty of room on offer. Stand and deliver stuff from B-Mac as he deposits it with a flat-bat over deep extra cover
2.1 -
RP Singh to Brendon McCullum, no run, full and wide, McCullum sinks to one knee and throws the kitchen sink at it, straight to Jinx at backward point
MS is standing upto the stumps...
1.6 -
Ishant to Finch, no run, alters the pace this time, slower length delivery on the stumps, Finch was early into the on-side drive. Deceived by the lack of pace and tamely chips it in front of mid-on
1.5 -
Ishant to Brendon McCullum, leg byes, 1 run, fullish and drifted down leg, McCullum stays leg-side of the delivery and has a big "whooosh." Makes no connection whatsoever. Raced off the pad towards the square leg ump.
1.4 -
Ishant to Finch, 1 run, a relatively similar delivery from Mr. Sharma, this time Finch plays it to the right of mid-wicket and scampers across for an easy single
1.3 -
Ishant to Finch, no run, length around middle, wristed straight to mid-wicket
1.2 -
Ishant to Finch, no run, errs in line again, gets too leg-sidish and hurries Finch for pace, missed the flick
1.1 -
Ishant to Finch, FOUR, and Finch has no respect for him! Splayed into the pads and Finch whips it nonchalantly for a one-bounce four behind square leg
Ishant Sharma, right-arm fast, comes into the attack
Here's Ishant Sharma with a fancy pony tied over his head...
0.6 -
RP Singh to Finch, 1 run, angling into the pads, neatly tucked off the hip through square leg, Finchy keeps strike
0.5 -
RP Singh to Brendon McCullum, 1 run, drags his length back slightly and offers some width to work with, McCullum chops towards cover-point and sets off. Steve Smith aims and hits the timber at the bowler's end but Baz was well in
0.4 -
RP Singh to Brendon McCullum, FOUR, Welcome Baz! First match gone for a nought and here he is smoking the first ball for a boundary. Typical B-Mac stroke, dancing down and heaving a length ball over mid-on
0.3 -
RP Singh to Finch, leg byes, 1 run, sprays one around leg-stump and yet again Finch misses out on the flick, off the pad and they sneak a leg bye, no real appeal
0.2 -
RP Singh to Finch, no run, this time Finch gets into nice position as he modestly tucks one towards mid-wicket
0.1 -
RP Singh to Finch, no run, aaaaand action straightaway! Was that out? Looked really close to the naked eye. Back of a length delivery, pitched on middle and perhaps might have brushed the top of off. Finch came dancing down the pitch and fails to lay bat on the flick. A not-so-confident appeal is turned down...What drama!
Finch and Brendon McCullum are at the crease. Finch is on strike. RP Singh will open the attack