Rahul Tripathi’s blitz propels RPS to 3rd spot in IPL 2017
Rookie batsman Rahul Tripathi played a breathtaking knock of 93 to singlehandedly take Rising Pune Supergiant to a four-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Wednesday.
The Pune bowlers put up a disciplined effort to limit KKR to 155 for eight before Tripathi fashioned his team’s win with a 52-ball blinder.
The visiting team got home with four balls to spare with Tripathi missing out on a well-deserved hundred.
The pick of the Pune bowlers was Jaydev Unadkat, who ended with figures of 2 for 28 after bowling a wicket-maiden in the first over of the game.
It was all Tripathi in the chase as he stood out in Pune’s star-studded batting line-up. His sensational innings was studded with seven sixes, three off them coming in succession off chinaman Kuldeep Yadav in the 13th over to reduce the equation to 26 off the last 42 balls. He also struck nine fours.
He, however, could not stay till the end as he pulled one straight to midwicket in the penultimate over with six runs needed to win. Daniel Christian then sealed the win with a six off Colin de Grandhomme.
Born in Ranchi and raised in Maharashtra, the 26-year- old Tripathi, who made IPL debut this season, showed fine composure as he held on despite wickets falling around him – Ajinkya Rahane (11), Steve Smith (9), Manoj Tiwary (8), last match’s hero Ben Stokes (14) and MS Dhoni (5).
