IPL 10, Match 24, Rising Pune Supergiant vs Sunrisers Hyderabad: 5 Tracking Points

Both Rising Pune Supergiant and Sunrisers Hyderabad were coming into this game with victories backing them while SRH had 4 wins RPS were struggling with just 2 but as MS Dhoni hit Siddhart Kaul for a boundary through the off-side Pune for the first time made theiSiddharth the top four of the points table.

Steve Smith won the toss and decided to field in the home game with 17-year-old off-spinner Washington Sundar making his debut. After a good start, steady middle overs and stunning finish SRH managed to post 176/3 in 20 overs. RPS were always in the hunt with Rahul Tripathi holding one end, that gave Dhoni the freedom to play his shots and eventually finish the game for his team on the last ball with 6 wickets in hand.

1. Sunrisers’ start well

David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan liked batting against Jaydev Unadkat’s gentle medium pace and Sundar’s spin from the other end, though the duo wasn’t at their best got the team off to a good start. They didn’t lose any wicket and managed to score 50 runs in 8 overs.

Dhawan was the first to be dismissed as he was bowled by Unadkat for 30 off 29 balls. Warner was there in the middle half way through the 17th over but couldn’t impose himself on the opposition and managed just 43 runs from 40 balls which is way under his own standards.

2. Henriques’ takes SRH to 176

The SRH innings was lingering around the 150-run mark with the RPS bowlers keeping things pretty tight but Moises Henriques changed the momentum of the inning with his half century. He walked out after Kane Williamson was dismissed in the 13th over. The Aussie found support from Deepak Hooda from the other end who also hit a few meaty blows.

Henriques hit 6 balls to the ropes and 2 over them in his knock of 55 from a mere 28 balls. This ensured SRH got to 176 which definitely appeared 15 runs over the par score at the half way stage.

3. Tripathi shines at the top

Ranchi lad Rahul Tripathi has relished the opportunity of opening the batting for the Supergiant with Ajinkya Rahane. Though his partner was dismissed quite early in the chase Tripathi build a crucial partnership worth 72 with skipper Smith to keep them in the hunt.

He played some fearless shots and the ball reached the boundary 6 times off his bat and was deposited in the stands thrice. Tripathi scored his maiden half century after a couple of 30s leading into the game and laid the foundation for Pune’s win.

4. Tough day at office for SRH pace trio

Sunrisers have a famed bowling line-up, their pacers were too hot to negotiate for all the oppositions in the previous edition of the league but they haven’t quite been able to reflect similar performance this season. Their prowess were reduced with Ashish Nehra, Barinder Sran and Mustafizur Rahman’s lack of form.

Two of their three pacers playing the game Mohammed Siraj and Siddharth Kaul the domestic performers had economies of 10.50 and 15.00 respectively. The Purple cap holder Bhuvneshwar Kumar was hit for 39 runs in his 4 overs against just 1 wicket and that tells the story of SRH’s bowling in the game today.

There was a strong wind in the MCA Stadium at Pune and the batsmen made best use of the pitch that had no assistance for the faster bowlers who tried their best to surprise the batsmen with change of pace as well.

5. MS Dhoni finishes off in style

He was under pressure, not from the outside but from his own team management. With runs drying off his bat Dhoni was subject to a lot of scrutiny on the social media but the man rose to the occasion when it mattered to the team and in his own style. Dhoni took his time to get used to the conditions but once he did and the chase was down to the most important part he had the boundaries and sixes coming at will.

Dhoni scored his first half-century in the season and after scoring 61 runs in the first five matches doubled it with his knock of 61 today from just 34 balls. RPS needed two from the last ball and as calmly as MS Dhoni does, hit a boundary to take his team over the line.