Pune beat Gujarat with Stokes maiden T20 ton

Click Here for Fullscorecard

Ben Stokes smashed his maiden T20 hundred to guide his team Pune Supergiant to a 5 wicket win over Gujarat Lions. Chasing a target of 162, Stokes took the team home and remained unbeaten on 103.

Gujarat got off to a flyer through Brendon McCullum, whose two boundaries in the very first over put 11 runs on the scorecard after Pune won the toss and invited Gujarat to bat first.But just when it looked like Gujarat would run away with the game, Imran Tahir sent back Kishan for 31. Slashed that one straight to Washington at short third-man. Gujarat’s score read 55/1 after 6 overs. A poor judgment saw Raina take on the arm of Rahane and was caught short as Dhoni removed the bails in a flash. Gujarat scoreboard reading 146/6 and three overs to go, they looked set to post a competitive target. However, over the next three overs, the Lions could only manage 15 runs while losing their remaining 4 wickets setting Pune a sub-par target of 162. Imran Tahir and Jaydev Unadkat picked up 3 wickets each for Pune Supergiant.

Chasing the modest target, Pune got off to the worst possible start losing both Rahane and Steve Smith in the first over. Manoj Tiwary too got out without scoring a run. Pune were struggling at 3-10. Rahul Tripathi was runout as Pune were 4-42. Man of the match Ben Stokes(103*) along with MS Dhoni (26) brought Pune back in the game. Ben Stokes justified his 14-crore price tag as he scored an incredible 62-ball century and played till the end to take his side to victory.

Match Summary:

Rising Pune Supergiant 167 for 5 (Stokes 103*, Dhoni 26, Thampi 2-35, Sangwan 2-38)

beat

Gujarat Lions 161 (McCullum 45, Karthik 29, Tahir 3-27, Unadkat 3-29)

by five wickets