Dhoni makes sure Pune avoid wooden spoon

MS Dhoni smashed 23 runs off the final over to give the Rising Pune Supergiants a thrilling four-wicket victory over the Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League on Saturday.
Chasing a target of 173 after the King s XI scored 172 for seven, Dhoni ended on 64 not out off just 32 balls to make sure his side did not finish in last place on the IPL table.
Opening batsman Usman Khawaja contributed a brisk 30 runs while Thisara Perera played an important innings of 23 from 14 balls to initially give the Supergiants hope.
Dhoni though was the ultimate hero, the India limited-overs captain hitting three sixes, including two off the final two balls, and a four in the last over to seal the win.
Earlier, the Kings XI total was built around two half-centuries from captain Murali Vijay and middle-order batsman Gurkeerat Singh.
Vijay started the innings aggressively, making his way to 59 from 41 balls before he was bowled by spinner Ravi Ashwin in the 16th over.
Gurkeerat played well for his 51 off 30 balls but the Punjab innings was pegged back by Ashwin in the middle overs as the India slow bowler finished with figures of four for 34 in four overs.
The Kings XI finish the IPL campaign in last place having only won four of their 14 games while Pune did not are much better having won five matches all season.
Latest
-
News
Jonny Bairstow heading in the right direction in his recovery from injury
The 33-year-old Yorkshireman underwent successful surgery on a broken leg and dislocated ankle in September after a freak golf incident.
-
News
Jofra Archer enjoys new role as he bowls England to victory in South Africa
Archer did not open the bowling but produced career-best ODI figures.
-
News
Sir Andrew Strauss lauds ‘extraordinary leaders’ Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes
England’s men’s team have won nine of their 10 Test matches under the new regime.
-
News
Jofra Archer returns career-best ODI figures as England claim consolation win
England won the third and final match against South Africa but had already lost the series.
-
England
Dawid Malan and Jos Buttler hit hundreds as England fight back in South Africa
Buttler’s men are bidding to avoid a series clean sweep and a sixth successive loss in the ODI format.
-
County Cricket
Tom Curran taking break from red-ball cricket for ‘my body and my mental health’
The 27-year-old has endured injury problems in recent years.
-
The Ashes
Olly Stone hopes to play a role in an England pace trio during this year’s Ashes
Stone hopes to play a role this summer along with Jofra Archer and Mark Wood.
-
England
Olly Stone ready for whatever role is required to make England World Cup squad
‘Any way in the England team, I’ll snap someone’s hand off,’ said Stone.
-
Women's Cricket
Dane van Niekerk ‘absolutely broken’ to miss World Cup over fitness standards
The South Africa captain was unable to complete a two-kilometre run in the minimum required time.
-
England
Run of defeats has not damaged England’s confidence, insists Moeen Ali
The all-rounder is confident England will be in good shape for the defence of their World Cup crown.