Rahane, Smith clinch thriller for Pune
An ice-cool unbeaten 84 from Steven Smith steered Rising Pune Supergiant to a seven-wicket win against Mumbai Indians at the MCA Stadium
An ice-cool unbeaten 84 from Steven Smith steered Rising Pune Supergiant to a seven-wicket win against Mumbai Indians at the MCA Stadium
Scorer: Sanjay Murari | Commentator: Akshay Gopalakrishnan
After a slightly one-sided opening game, the IPL is back at its exhilarating best. Mumbai continue to show that they are slow starters. They have now lost their first match in every season since 2013. After the two teams exchanged away wins in the last season, the head-to-head now has a home winner. After a forgettable debut season, Pune return with a cracking start and the highest successful chase against Mumbai. That's all we have from this game. We hope you enjoyed our coverage. Be back tomorrow when Gujarat Lions kick off their campaign with a home fixture against two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders. Until then, goodbye!
"It's a nice place to bat, Pune," says Steven Smith, Pune captain and Man of the Match. "Fortunate to get over the line in the end. We always knew they would have to get an over in from a spinner or Pollard and we had to target them It was nice to hit a couple of sixes to hit the game. It was one of those wickets where it was hard to find timing as soon as you come in. Form is form anywhere, I guess, so you got to make the most of it when you're hitting the ball well. Imran Tahir was magnificent, probably called him on a little bit earlier than I would have liked to. Taking wickets through the middle overs was helpful and probably helped us in the end as well. Probably 180 was a par score on that wicket, pretty nice wicket with even bounce and slightly on the slower side."
Abdullah: "I would like to give some credit to Rajat Bhatia, he is one of the most under-rated all rounders in Indian Cricket, especially in the T20 format. He gave away just 14 runs off 3 overs, brilliant with his wobbly-dobbly medium pacers!!"
11.38pm Is there any stopping Steven Smith at this moment? First in the Tests and now in his first game of the 2017 IPL, he has stolen the show with an innings of poise. Smith hadn't played a T20 for Australia in a year, but in his first match as Supergiant captain, comes out and plays a blinder. Dropped on 36 by Nitish Rana and that is what happens when you let off good players. Not to forget Rahane's pristine innings at the top, laced with supreme timing that set the tone for the chase and Imran Tahir, who put behind his nightmarish last match against Mumbai Indians with three strikes in his first two overs. Presentations soon.
Arjun: "That is two matches in a row for Pune the captains have finished off the chase in the last over with consecutive sixes!!"
Shaan: "So it is not Indian team that cannot dismiss Smith, it is anyone in Indian conditions"
Saveed: "Now I cant decide whether relieving Dhoni of his duties was a bad decision or making Smith the captain a better choice on the base of individual performances"
Shankar: "Way to go Dhoni !! That's how you give transition to smith "
"I thought Smith batted really well. The kind of form he is in, he just took off from where he left," says Rohit Sharma, Mumbai captain. "The fielding didn't really help us. This is our first game and there is a lot of learning from this. Both bring very similar things to the table and Mitch McClenaghan has done very well for us which is why we picked him ahead of Mitchell Johnson. Mahela brings a lot of experience to the table, but we have a great squad and I am sure we will bounce back."
Fine leg and third man inside the circle.
Pollard in the 20th over in the IPL - 11.15 economy rate
Thirteen needed off the last over. Pollard to bowl
MS Dhoni has been reprimanded for a "minor" code of conduct breach after Rising Pune Supergiant's seven-wicket win in their opening match against Mumbai Indians
Steven Smith thumped a 54-ball 84 that helped Pune start their 2017 campaign with a last-over win at home
Imran Tahir, who went unsold at the IPL auction in February, has said how special it was to pick three early wickets to set up Rising Pune Supergiant's win against Mumbai Indians
Ashok Dinda has bowled three of the six worst 20th overs in IPL history. He has conceded 272 runs in 20 final overs, going at 13.6 an over
Steven Smith's unbeaten 54-ball 84 helped Rising Pune Supergiant start IPL 2017 with a last-over win at home