Shardul spell seals RPS playoff berth
LOPSIDED Seamer takes three as Steve Smith’s side crush Kings XI by nine wickets, end second in points table
Rising Pune Supergiant demolished Kings XI Punjab by nine wickets in a do-or-die contest for the final playoff spot on Sunday, chasing down the paltry 74-run target in style to finish second in the points table.
It was a terrific start from Steve Smith’s men, who opted to field at the Maharashtra Cricket Association stadium. Pacer Jaydev Unadkat (2/12) removed Martin Guptill with the first delivery of the innings, the Kiwi batsman hitting the half-volley outside off-stump to Manoj Tiwary at cover.
Kings XI Punjab gave a shocking batting display as they slumped to their lowest IPL total of 73 all out in 15.5 overs. RPS reached 78 for one in 12 overs. The win lifted RPS to second in the standings behind Mumbai Indians.
After the initial setback, Shaun Marsh (10) joined Wriddhiman Saha (13), but after a couple of boundaries holed out to Smith off Shardul Thakur. KXIP lost wickets at regular intervals with skipper Glenn Maxwell, Eoin Morgan and Rahul Tewatia all falling cheaply.
The visiting side lost five wickets inside the powerplay overs, the third time a team has collapsed that badly in this edition of the IPL, Delhi Daredevils faring that badly on two occasions. Axar Patel (22) provided a bit of resistance but after a couple of glorious hits to the fence, but had to head back after edging one to MS Dhoni behind the stumps. Apart from Patel and Marsh, only Swapnil Singh and Saha managed to reach double figures.
Mumbai Ranji pacer Shardul Thakur (3/19) was the star for the hosts, taking three wickets in his four overs, but it was an allround effort by Rising Pune Supergiant bowlers that helped restrict the power-packed batting line-up of Kings XI. Daniel Christian (2/10), Jaydev Unadkat and Adam Zampa (2/22) took two wickets each while Morgan was run out to a direct hit from Unadkat.
Rising Pune Supergiant started strongly after the break with the consistent Rahul Tripathi and Ajinkya Rahane taking on the Kings XI bowlers. Tripathi scored 28 off 20 balls before being cleaned up by Axar Patel in the last over of the powerplay phase.
Rahane (34no) and Smith (15) chased down the target with eight overs to spare. They didn’t take many risks and dealt mostly in singles before Rahane lofted Maxwell for six to get the winning runs.
RPS face MI in the first qualifier on Tuesday.