IPL 10, Match 2, Rising Pune Supergiant v Mumbai Indians - 5 Tracking Points

The much awaited Maharashtra derby finally got underway with the Rising Pune Supergiant hosting the Mumbai Indians at the MCA stadium at Pune. The match began with a lot of hype as there was a lot of star attraction in both the participating teams. The fans flocked the stadium to watch MS Dhoni get back to action and also on the RPS roster was the most expensive buy of the season – Ben Stokes.

Coming in to the match, it was RPS skipper Steve Smith who won the toss and asked Mumbai Indians to bat first. The Mumbai Indians openers Parthiv Patel and Jos Buttler got off to a flying start and gave solid foundation to the Mumbai side. A couple of quick wickets including that of the skipper Rohit Sharma saw the midway collapse. However, Nitish Rana (34) and Kieron Pollard (27) then propelled the score to a decent total close to 150.

The last over from Ashoke Dinda was taken away for 30 runs by Hardik Pandya (35*) that took the Supergiant to 184/8 in their 20 overs. The run chase for Pune started with Ajinkya Rahane scoring a brilliant 60 off mere 34 deliveries. When he was dismissed, the baton was taken over by skipper Steve Smith who remained unbeaten on 84 to see his side home by 7 wickets.

Here are the 5 tracking points from the RPS v MI encounter:

1. Jos Buttler takes heavy toll on RPS bowlers

The Mumbai Indians sprung the first surprise of the night when they promoted English batsman Jos Buttler as the opener for the match. Buttler, along with Parthiv, added 45 quick runs in just 26 deliveries to give the visiting side a fitting start. He took special liking to the bowlers and looked in sublime touch. En route his 19 ball 38, he struck 3 sixes and 3 fours. He looked good for more as he hit with strike rate of 200.

He was unlucky to be given out in the 7th over off the bowling of Imran Tahir. He had clearly inside-edged the ball but was adjudged lbw by the umpire. A flourishing start to his campaign this year is one of the positives that the team will carry forward in the tournament. It seems that Buttler is ready to play the all important role for the entire season this year.

2. Imran Tahir dents Mumbai with triple strike

It was one of the biggest disappointments of the IPL auction when the limited overs specialist bowler Imran Tahir went unsold. It came as a big relief for the leggie when he was drafted as a last moment replacment player in the Rising Pune Supergiant side. He was then named straight in the playing eleven for this match and he managed to perform brilliantly on the day.

He provided a triple strike and was unplayable on the day. He bowled Parthiv Patel round his legs in the 5th over. In his next over, he got rid of the two big wickets. He sent the dangerman Rohit Sharma for just 3 and then sent Jos Buttler packing on 38. By the end, he returned with the figures of 3/28 in his 4 overs.

3. Hardik Pandya makes a mockery of Ashoke Dinda

The bowling figures of Ashoke Dinda looked decent enough when he had given 27 runs in his first 3 overs. He came in to bowl his fourth over in the 20th over of the Mumbai Indians innings. MI were placed at 154/7 when Dinda came in to bowl. When the over ended, the match had flipped upside down.

From RPS doing the dominating game, they were suddenly seen wanting. It was Mumbai batsman Hardik Pandya who clobbered 4 sixes in the over to see the figures of Dinda take a crash. Dinda went for 57 runs in his spell of 4 overs with an economy of 14.25. Meanwhile, Pandya starred with an unbeaten 35 off 15 balls with a four and four sixes.

4. Ajinkya Rahane lays the foundation

The target of 184 was a daunting one and never easy to get. The fact that Mumbai had never lost a match scoring in excess of 184 before was only making assumptions tougher. Also, RPS had never won a home match at the venue. They were dented early as Mayank Agarwal perished cheaply after scoring just 6. It was down to the experience of Ajinkya Rahane to take things into hand.

He kept the scorecard ticking and let Steve Smith settle at the other end. He soon brought up his fifty and looked good for more. He played a vital knock and was eventually dismissed on 60 that came off 34 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes to his name. It was his knock that set the launching pad for the likes of Smith and Ben Stokes.

5. Steve Smith finishes off in style

Former skipper MS Dhoni is renowned to be hitting the winning sixes but the roles were passed on to the new skipper Steve Smith on the day. Smith finished things off in style by hitting two consecutive sixes in the last over off the bowling of Kieron Pollard. Smith had walked in to bat early on in the innings when Mayank Agarwal was dismissed cheaply by Mitch McClenaghan.

Smith took his time to settle in but once he did, he ensured that he led the team from the front. His first 42 runs came in 34 balls. He soon switched gears to eventually finish with an unbeaten 84 off 54 balls. In his knock, he hit 7 fours and 3 sixes. Smith was well supported by Ajinkya Rahane early on in the innings and later Stokes and Dhoni played the second fiddle to him.