MSD powers RPS to thrilling finish against Sunrisers
MS Dhoni lit up Match 24 of the Indian Premier League season 10 with a vintage finish to lead Rising Pune Supergiant to a six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad at Pune on Saturday. Chasing a target of 176, Dhoni scored a belligerent 34-ball unbeaten 61 and aided by opener Rahul Tripathi’s 41-ball 59, RPS moved to fourth on the points table. SRH slipped to sixth in the tally despite Moises Henriques valiant 55 off 28 deliveries.
Dhoni was joined by Ben Stokes in the middle, but Stoke failed to get going and departed for 10. The asking run-rate crept up and with 47 required off 18, Dhoni came to the fore. Mohammad Siraj was taken for 16 runs with Manoj Tiwary taking a boundary and Dhoni hitting him for a six and a four. With two overs remaining, RPS needed 30 off 12 deliveries. Dhoni then targeted the best bowler in IPL and took Bhuvneshwar Kumar to the cleaners with two fours and a six. Bhuvi leaks 19 runs off the over. In the process, he reached his fifty. Kaul had 11 to defend in the last over. With a four off the first ball, SRH were on the backfoot. Kaul though made a solid comeback to bring the equation down to 2 off 1, but Dhoni connected well to take a boundary off the last ball and take RPS to a close victory.
