Web Report
Dubai – The Rising Pune Supergiant started the IPL with a seven-wicket win against Mumbai Indians.
Ajinkya Rahane made his quickest IPL fifty, after which skipper Steve Smith scored an unbeaten 84 to finish off the chase, achieving Mumbai’s 185-run target with one ball remaining.
We break down the match in five passages of play that helped determine the outcome of the match.
Mumbai Indians sprung a surprise by making Jos Buttler open the batting with Parthiv Patel, and plenty of action unfolded early on. In three overs, both batsmen played some attractive shots, there was an overthrow that went for four and an easy catch was dropped by Rajat Bhatia of Parthiv.
Buttler in particular looked in terrific touch, striking consecutive sixes of Ben Stokes’ first over. He took Mumbai to 45/0 in 4.1 overs and the side looked set for a daunting total.
The Supergiant struck with their second bowling change. Imran Tahir came over the wicket to Parthiv and the batsman, who hit him for a four the previous ball, was bowled round his legs. Next over, he changed the complete complexion of the game. First ball, he cleaned up Rohit Sharma who couldn’t bring his bat down on time and followed it with the dismissal of the dangerous-looking Buttler two balls later even though there was a big inside edge. Come to think of it, Tahir wasn’t even originally chosen by any side during the auction in February.
Mumbai lost their way there onward and lost wickets in regular intervals. Bhatia made up for the drop catch with the wickets of Ambati Rayudu and Krunal Pandya. Nitish Rana and Kieron Pollard tried restoring order for MI with a few lusty blows but both lost their wickets just when they were looking to go big.