Chennai: Pune Warriors kept their cool during slog overs as they shocked title contenders Chennai Super Kings comprehensively beating them by 24 runs in the Indian Premier League, here on Monday.
Having managed 159-5 in 20 overs, courtesy Aaron Finch’s 67 and Steven Smith’s late surge, the Pune bowlers put up a commendable show keeping tight leash on a formidable CSK batting line-up restricting them to 135-8.
While this Pune’s second win in five matches, CSK tasted their second defeat at home, having lost to Mumbai Indians in their lung opener.
While Rahul Sharma (1/24) was brilliant in the middle overs, speedster Ashok Dinda (2/34) bowled a brilliant 18th over in which he not only gave away only four runs but also removed MS Dhoni.
Catching in the outfield was brilliant with Smith taking three catches and Finch also pulling off a stunner.
It all started when, Aniruddha Srikkanth, predictably looking out of place, couldn’t even get his bat down to a sharp incutter from Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/12). Suresh Raina (8) didn’t fire as his mistimed swat was taken by Tiru Suman at mid-on.
Vijay (24) was playing well but mistimed a lofted shot off Abhishek Nayar’s bowling to get out.
Subramanium Badrinath (34) added 46 with Ravindra Jadeja before he was caught in the deep off Mitchell Marsh’s bowling.
With 70-odd to get, the stage was perfect for skipper Dhoni to launch his assault at the death.
But the skipper lost a set partners in Ravindra Jadeja (27), who was caught at short fine-leg to give Marsh his second wicket, and Dwayne Bravo was sent back by Sharma caught in the deep. Dhoni never got going and once he was out for 10, the match was as good as over. (PTI)