Dhoni's brute force and Smith's one decision that turned the Qualifier in Pune's favour

Photo: BCCI

New Delhi: When the whole world was busy in hue and cry over Ben Stokes’s absence in the playoffs, Pune captain Steve Smith had a tough call to take. He decided to make up for Stokes’s bowling abilities by drafting in Lockie Ferguson, trusting his batsmen to fill for the left-hander’s batting prowess. It proved to be a decisive move.

The trio of Rahane, Tiwary and Dhoni stood up when it mattered the most. A bruised former captain again delivered the goods. Dhoni defied all odds; he used all his experience to nullify a visibly sluggish track.

For the better part of his innings on Tuesday night, Dhoni looked out of sorts. Deep within, Smith’s men had started to prepare for the second qualifier in May 19. But for the last 2 overs, that changed everything. Dhoni arrived and he did so with brute force.    

"The momentum shifted during the last two overs. We were struggling to get that until the 18th, 19th and 20th over where Mahi bhai played some outstanding shots. It was not easy against Bumrah, but he showed why he is such a highly-talented player," said Tiwary who played a crucial knock of 58 in 48 balls before being run out.

"He has so much of ability to hit the best bowlers in the IPL. Those sixes in the crucial overs helped us to put up a good total," said Tiwary who also put on 73 runs with Dhoni for the fourth wicket.

Pune took 41 runs in the last 2 overs. Dhoni hit 5 sixes in his innings of 40 off 26, 4 of them came in the last two. The second six he hit off McClenaghan’s over was a teaser for opposition skipper Rohit Sharma. He tried his best with a sky-high jump but the ball eluded his out stretched hands and landed over the ropes. All of this took place right in front of the RPS dug out.

 

Dhoni’s knock pushed the RPS total to 162 and in the end proved too much for Mumbai Indians, who could only manage 142 in their 20 overs. Pune booked their place for the finals on May 21.