IPL Match 9, Match 6 Review: Aaron Finch, Brendon McCullum script a comfortable win for Gujarat Lions

Gujarat Lions made it two wins in two games after they beat Rising Pune SuperGiants by 7 wickets. It was a superb all-round display by the home team.

It was a battle between the master and his protégé when the Rising Pune Supergiants and Gujarat Lions met at Rajkot. The fans from both Pune and Gujarat were ready wearing their team colors. But, ironically, the Chennai crowd was left confused wondering whom to support in the Chennai Super Kings reunion. The atmosphere was amazing when the former MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina came out for the toss.

MS Dhoni won the flip of the coin and opted to bat first with an unchanged playing XI. The Lions, however, made three changes in the squad as Pravin Tambe, Shadab Jakati and Akshdeep Nath came in place of Pradeep Sangwan, Sarabjit Ladda and Ishan Kishan.

The start was decent for the home team as Ajinkya Rahane and Faf du Plessis began sensibly. But, Gujarat Lions did not have to wait long for their first breakthrough as Pravin Tambe, who was introduced in the 4th over, trapped Rahane leg before with a superb quicker one.

Rahane’s dismissal enabled Kevin Pietersen to come in the middle. Pietersen, who has been in tremendous form in the T20, combined with Faf du Plessis and took apart the Lions bowling attack. The pair scored runs freely but there was a lot of difference in the approach of the both the batsmen. Pietersen looked contented batting with a conservative approach and rotating strike. Whereas, Faf du Plessis looked fierce today and carted some breathtaking hits to the fence.

The duo put on 86 run stand for the 2nd wicket, taking Pune to a very comfortable position before DJ Bravo clean bowled Kevin Pietersen with a beautiful slow yorker and broke the partnership in the 14th over.

An over later, Tambe dismissed the man on fire Faf du Plessis in the 16th over, After making room and lofting the 2nd and the 3rd delivery of the over for a four and six, the South African missed the third attempt to loft and was stumped behind.

The Lions’ bowlers then pulled back wonderfully and bowled few tight overs to avert the Pune side reaching an 180+ score which looked like a big possibility at the half-way stage when Pune was at 87/1. The only big over for Pune side which came after the departure of Du Plessis was the last over of the innings where skipper MS Dhoni smashed 20 runs in a superb display of muscle power and swift running between the wickets. The fireworks in the final over by the captain Cool enabled the Pune side reach a respectable 163/5

The explosive duo of Brendon McCullum and Aaron Finch gave a handsome start to the chase. The target was relatively easy but McCullum and Finch batted with a killer intent. MS Dhoni’s decision to start with Ishant Sharma and RP Singh failed to bring any success as both the fast bowler were treated harshly by the duo.

The skipper then introduced spin by bringing in Ravichandran Ashwin in the 5th over who bowled tightly, giving only 4 runs. But, the loss for the dry 5th over was made up by Finch in the next over as he welcomed leg Spinner Murugan Ashwin with four boundaries in an over. The Pune bowling attack looked toothless at that moment.

The Lions at the end of the powerplay were at an authoritative 62/0. The onslaught continued for the next couple of overs before Finch lost his wicket just after reaching his half-century. Murugan Ashwin took revenge for the ruthless treatment which he got in his opening over by snapping up Finch in his comeback over.

McCullum, however, did not show any signs of slowing down as he continued to hammer the bowler. Suresh Raina, who came in at No. 3, played the anchor’s role to McCullum. He partnered with Baz for a useful stand of 35 runs.

McCullum was batting wildly and survived a lucky stumping chance in the 12th over. Unfortunately, luck did not favor him again as he was dismissed a couple of overs later after he top-edged Ishant Sharma the ball straight to Du Plessis.

The job by now was completely done and there was not much of a task left to complete. Dwyane Bravo (22 from 10 balls) did the remaining work as the Lions chased down the total with 7 wicket and two overs to spare.

Brief Scores: 

Rising Pune SuperGiants: 163/5 in 20 overs (F du Plessis 69; Ravindra Jadeja 2/18)

Gujarat Lions: 164/3 in 18 overs (Aaron Finch 50; Murugan Ashwin 2/33)

Man of the Match: Aaron Finch