Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith, with a swashbuckling opening stand of 93, were the bedrock of the Gujarat Lions’ narrow three-wicket victory over the Rising Pune Supergiants in their Indian Premier League clash in Pune yesterday.
The Lions’ pursuit of the 196 runs, after restricting the Supergiants to 195 for three, began in earnest with Smith and McCullum taking the attack to the proverbial cleaners, putting on 72 in the power-play overs, continuing their record of having scored more runs in the first six overs than any other team this season.
The eighth over began with Rajat Bhatia achieving the breakthrough. McCullum went for the slog-sweep, but could only edge it to Albie Morkel at short-leg. The Kiwi’s 22-ball 43 contained five boundaries and two maximums launched into the crowd at cow-corner.
McCullum’s demise did not hold Smith back, as he continued on his merry way, powering to his 50 off just 28 balls. Smith’s adventurous innings was brought to a conclusion when he bottom-edged a Thisara Perera delivery on to his stumps. The West Indian clubbed nine fours and a six in a 37-ball 63.
Suresh Raina and Dinesh Karthik continued the assault on the attack with a 51-run stand for the third wicket. Ashok Dinda accounted for Karthik (33), caught at deep mid-wicket by Ajinkya Rahane.
The Lions lost four wickets for 13 runs, to ensure a nail-biting finish, needing one run off the last delivery. Birthday boy, the 26-year-old James Faulkner, held his nerve to bring home the spoils of victory.
Earlier, a maiden T20 century from Steven Smith and his second-wicket partnership of 111 with Rahane was the foundation of the Pune’s big total. Having been invited to bat, openers Rahane and Saurabh Tiwary failed to get the innings off to an effectual start, with Tiwary getting run out in the third over.
Smith joined Rahane at the wicket and together they instigated the recovery process. Smith hit some wonderfully timed straight drives as he hurried to a 29-ball half-century, with a single through mid-wicket off Dwayne Bravo.
Shivil Kaushik thought he had got Smith when the Australian captain chopped a delivery on to his stumps. However, it was a front-foot no-ball and the umpire called the batsman back.
Rahane dawdled in comparison, requiring 43 deliveries for his 50. Four balls later, the partnership was terminated when Rahane was run out. The batsman went for an imaginary single, Smith sent him back and the bowler, Bravo, gathered and threw down the stumps with a direct hit. It was the first century stand for the Supergiants in the season so far.
Dhoni joined Smith for the last six overs and they compiled 64 for the third wicket. Bravo proved what a good death bowler he is, bowling Smith neck-and-crop with three balls remaining. But it was a consummate performance from the Australian, who struck eight fours and five sixes in a 54-ball 101. Dhoni and Perera were the not out batsman at the death on 30 and three respectively.
Dhoni blamed his bowlers for the defeat. “First six overs, 60 runs, and it put a lot of pressure. I feel we definitely need to improve our new-ball bowling. We should crack the code. Otherwise, we will be at the receiving end. We have tried five-bowler combinations, six-bowler combinations... but it is not happening for us,” the Pune skipper said after what was his team’s fifth defeat in seven games.
Brief scores
Rising Pune Supergiants 195/3 in 20 overs (A Rahane 53, S Smith 101, MS Dhoni 30*) lost to Gujarat Lions 196/7 in 20 overs (D Smith 63, B McCullum 43, S Raina 34, D Karthik 33; A Dinda 2/40, T Perera 2/41) by three wickets