Stokes stars as Pune defeat Mumbai

Indian Premier League

The Rising Pune Supergiant snapped the Mumbai Indians’ lengthy winning streak in Monday’s key Indian Premier League fixture at the Wankhede Stadium.

Pursuing a seventh successive victory, the hosts restricted the visitors to 160 for six before slipping to an insufficient 157 for eight in a three-run loss.

An unchanged Supergiant XI enjoyed a brisk 76-run alliance from openers Ajinkya Rahane and Rahul Tripathi, before somewhat of a middle-order collapse left the hard-hitting Manoj Tiwary to ensure a final run-rate of eight per over.

Inspired by the surprise arrival of his father to India, England’s Ben Stokes was the pick of the Pune bowlers. The seamer’s first seven deliveries brought two wickets and no runs, with telling figures of two for 21 – and a superb catch in the deep – earning him the Man of the Match award.

Pune, meanwhile, ultimately didn’t need to pay for two dropped catches – both off the bowling of leg-spinner Imran Tahir.

Mumbai captain Rohit Sharma’s commanding half-century proved vain on the day, but his team remain at the top of the eight-team standings despite the result. The Supergiant have climbed to fourth position.

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