Pune win by 20 runs, qualify for IPL final

Rising Pune Supergiant were the only team to have defeated Mumbai Indians twice in the IPL 2017 league stage.

Rising Pune Supergiant completed a remarkable comeback to book their spot for the IPL final after a 20-run win against Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday night.
Rising Pune Supergiant were the only team to have defeated Mumbai Indians twice in the IPL 2017 league stage, both home and away, and they made it a triple after teenage off-spinner Washington Sundar finished with figures of 4-0-16-3 - bagging the wickets of Rohit Sharma, Ambati Rayudu and Kieron Pollard to halt Mumbai's chase after Pune had put RPS to 162 for 4 in a slow surface.
For Mumbai Indians, they have to play the winner of the eliminator between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders, to progress to the final that will be played on May 21 (Sunday).
Earlier, Rising Pune Supergiant rode on fine half-centuries from Manoj Tiwary, Ajinkya Rahane and a cameo from MS Dhoni to post 162/4 against Mumbai Indians.
Tiwary showed his class when the situation demanded, smashing a 48-ball 58, but more importantly putting on two important half-century stands to help the visitors recover from a precarious 9/2 after the second over.
The Bengal right-hander first added 80 runs for the third wicket with Rahane, who scored a 43-ball 56 before stitching an undefeated 73-run fourth wicket stand with former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (40 off 26) to take the side to a healthy total. Put in to bat, Pune were off to an unforgettable start losing the in-form Rahul Tripathi (0) and Steve Smith (1) in the opening two overs before Rahane and Manoj steadied the ship on a tricky Wankhede track.
New Zealand pacer Mitchell McClenaghan drew first blood for the hosts, cleaning up Tripathi for his first duck of the IPL, on the last ball of the opening over before a leading edge off Sri Lankan Lasith Malinga got skipper Smith walking back.
With the visitors in desperate need of a partnership, Rahane and Manoj got their act together helping the odd ball to the boundary as Mumbai maintained a perfect line and length, without allowing any freebies.
The right-handed pair went on to add 50 runs off 44 deliveries with Manoj playing the perfect second fiddle to the local boy Rahane, who got to his half-century off 39 balls.
Just when things began to fall in order for Pune, leg-spinner Karn Sharma jolted the visitors, by trapping Rahane, who by now had helped the ball to the boundary on five occasions and once over it. - IANS
The fall of Rahane brought in Dhoni who, along with Manoj, played out five overs inconsequentially before the Bengal batsman took the attack to the opposition.
Continuing his fine run with the willow, Manoj first slogged at a good length ball off McCleneghan to get to his half-century off 45 deliveries before taking the bowler to the cleaners. Dhoni too joined the party, clearing the Kiwi twice in the penultimate over. - IANS
Mumbai skipper Rohit Sharma threw the ball to his death-over specialist Jasprit Bumrah for the final over, but with Dhoni at his attacking best, young Bumrah was clobbered twice out of the park as the final two overs yielded 41 runs for Pune.
SCOREBOARD
Rising Pune Supergiant
Rahane lbw b KV Sharma 56 43 5 1 130.23
Tripathi b McClenaghan 0 2 0 0 0.00
Smith c HH Pandya b Malinga 1 2 0 0 50.00
Tiwary run out (Bumrah) 58 48 4 2 120.83
Dhoni not out 40 26 0 5 153.84
Extras (lb 2, w 4, nb 1) 7
Total (4 wickets; 20 overs) 162.
Did not bat: DT Christian, Washington Sundar, LH Ferguson, A Zampa, SN Thakur, JD Unadkat
Fall: 1-6, 2-9, 3-89), 4-162.
Bowling: McClenaghan 4-0-46-1, Malinga 3-0-14-1, Bumrah 4-0-33-0, KV Sharma 4-0-30-1, Krunal 4-0-22-0, Hardik 1-0-15-0.
Mumbai Indians
Simmons run out 5
Patel c Christian b Thakur 52
Rohit lbw Sundar 1
Rayudu c Smith b Sundar 0
Pollard c Smith b Sundar 7
H Pandya c Christian b Ferguson 14
K Pandya c Christian b Thakur 15
McClenaghan c Unadkat b Thakur 12
K Sharma c Dhoni b Unadkat 4
Bumrah not out 16
Malinga not out 7
Extras (lb 2, w 7) 9
Total (9 wickets; 20 overs) 142.
Fall: 1-35, 2-41, 3-41, 4-51, 5-75, 6-101, 7-103, 8-111, 9-134.
Bowling: Unadkat 4-0-24-1, Sundar 4-0-16-3, Ferguson 3-0-21-1, Thakur 4-0-37-3, Zampa 1-0-9-0, Christian 4-0-33-0

• IPL 2019