Mumbai Indians continued their poor form in the opening matches of the Indian Premier League as they were undone by Rising Pune Supergiants by 7 wickets on Thursday at the MCA Stadium in Pune.
Rising Pune Supergiants skipper Steve Smith hit a half-century continuing his great form while Ajinkya Rahane made 60 as PRS chased down MI’s 184 for eight with one ball to spare.
Smith made a brilliant 84 not out from only 54-balls with 7 fours and 3 sixes. He had earlier scored a match-winning hundred at Pune in the first Test match against India last month. He rotated the strike nicely during his partnership with Rahane, giving as much strike as possible to the latter. With 13 needed off the final over, Smith slammed two consecutive sixes to midwicket to finish the game in style.
After opener Mayank Agarwal fell early, Rahane and captain Steven Smith put on 58 runs for the second wicket as Pune's chase was steady.
Rahane's half-century came with a boundary on the square leg off Hardik Pandya. Tim Southee had him out for 60 as Nitish Rana took a brilliant catch at deep square leg.
Imran Tahir shone with the ball for Pune. He claimed three wickets for 28 runs in his four overs. Tahir’s wrong’un got him the wicket of Parthiv Patel for 19, bowled round his legs. Tahir’s second over saw skipper Rohit Sharma (3) and Jos Buttler (38) being dismissed.
Ashok Dinda conceded 30 runs in the final over of Mumbai’s innings as Hardik Pandya smashed four sixes and a four. But, Pune's batsmen ensured victory was theirs.
--By A Cricket Correspondent
