RISING PUNE SUPERGIANTS (RPS) vs GUJARAT LIONS (GL) LIVE SCORES IPL 2016 RAJKOT MS DHONI SURESH RAINA

LIVE SCORES | RPS vs GL | IPL 2016 | RAJKOT

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FULL SCORECARD

  Superb performance by Gujarat Lions. First they restricted Rising Pune Supergiants to 163 and then timed their chase really well. McCullum and Finch were brilliant at the top. They finished the game with 85-run partnership in just 8.5 overs. Two wins on trot for Suresh Raina as captain. Gujarat Lions innings

• WIDE! and Gujarat Lions have won this match by 7 wickets.

• 18 overs: 12 runs from Bhatia's over. Gujarat now need just 1 run.

• 17 overs: It was a good over by all standards but it is of no use now. Only formalities are left in this match, unless there is a miracle. Gujarat Lions 151/3 (13 runs required from 18 balls).

• WICKET! Raina skips down the track but missed the ball. Dhoni had all the time in the world to remove bails. Murugan Ashwin has got his second wicket. Suresh Raina st Dhoni b M Ashwin 24 (24b 1x4 0x6).

• 16 overs: Bravo hit Ishant for three consecutive FOURs in the over to collect 15 from it. This over has almost won the game for Gujarat Lions. Gujarat Lions 147/2 (17 runs required from 24 balls). Raina 24 (23b 1x4 0x6), Bravo 13 (6b 3x4 0x6), Sharma 4-0-39-1, Ashwin 4-0-26-0.

• 15 overs: That was a good over by R Ashwin. Just 3 runs. Gujarat Lions 132/2 (32 runs required from 30 balls). Bravo 0 (2b 0x4 0x6), Raina 22 (21b 1x4 0x6), R Ashwin 4-0-26-0, Sharma 3-0-24-1.

• 14 overs: It could have been a fantastic over had Ishant not got hit for 9 runs because Pune can't afford to give too many runs. However, he got McCullum. Gujarat Lions 129/2 (35 runs required from 36 balls). Raina 19 (16b 1x4 0x6), Bravo 0 (1b 0x4 0x6), Sharma 3-0-24-1, Bhatia 2-0-19-0.

• WICKET! Ishant has the big man. McCullum missed his fifty by 1 run. Brendon McCullum c du Plessis b Sharma 49 (31b 3x4 3x6).

• 13 overs: Bhatia bowled a good over there. Just 6 runs from it. Gujarat Lions 120/1 (44 runs required from 42 balls). McCullum 49 (30b 3x4 3x6), Raina 11 (12b 0x4 0x6), Bhatia 2-0-19-0, R Ashwin 3-0-23-0.

• 12 overs: R Ashwin could have his revenge against McCullum but Dhoni missed the stumping. Before that McCullum smashed him for a FOUR and a SIX. So, Ashwin must be very disappointed. 13 off the over. Gujarat Lions 114/1 (50 runs required from 48 balls). McCullum 46 (27b 3x4 3x6), Raina 8 (9b 0x4 0x6), R Ashwin 3-0-23-0, M Ashwin 3-0-27-1.

• 11 overs: It was a fine over but Pune need wickets if they harbour any hopes of winning this match. 8 runs from it. Gujarat Lions 101/1 (63 runs required from 54 balls).

• 10 overs: Another good over. 6 runs off R Ashwin's over. Interesting contest between Ashwin and Raina. Gujarat Lions 93/1 (71 runs required from 60 balls). Raina 3 (5b 0x4 0x6), McCullum 32 (19b 2x4 2x6), R Ashwin 2-0-10-0, M Ashwin 2-0-21-1.

• 9 overs: Murugan Ashwin has come back well in this over. He was thrashed for 19 runs in the previous one. Just 2 runs and a wicket of Finch. Gujarat Lions 87/1 (77 runs required from 11 overs).

• WICKET! Finally, some respite for Dhoni and Co. Murugan Ashwin has dismissed Finch. Aaron Finch c Sharma b M Ashwin 50 (36b 7x4 2x6).

• 8 overs: 10 runs from Mitch Marsh's over. Finch and McCullum are running away with this match. RPS need a couple of wickets now. Gujarat Lions 85/0 (79 runs required from 12 overs). Finch 50 (33b 7x4 2x6), McCullum 29 (15b 2x4 2x6), Marsh 1-0-10-0, Bhatia 1-0-13-0.

• Second consecutive FIFTY for Aaron Finch. This one has come in 33 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes.

• 7 overs: Dhoni must be ruing the fact that two of his best bowlers -- Dwayne Bravo and Ravindra Jadeja -- are in the opposition camps. Another expensive over. Rajat Bhatia was hit for 13 runs. Gujarat Lions 75/0 (89 runs required from 13 overs).

• 6 overs: Poor bowling. One Ashwin earns, other wastes it. Murugan Ashwin was very expensive in his first over. 20 runs from the over. He was all over the place. You can't survive like that in the powerplays. Gujarat Lions 62/0 (102 runs required from 14 overs). Finch 34 (25b 7x4 0x6), McCullum 22 (11b 1x4 2x6), M Ashwin 1-0-19-0, R Ashwin 1-0-4-0.

• 5 overs: That was a brilliant over by Ravichandran Ashwin. He is MS Dhoni's ACE. Just 4 runs from it. Didn't let Finch play his shots. Gujarat Lions 42/0 (122 runs required from 15 overs. Finch 18 (20b 3x4 0x6), McCullum 22 (10b 1x4 2x6), Ashwin 1-0-4-0, Sharma 2-0-16-0.

• 4 overs: Another expensive over. 11 runs off Ishant's second over. This is what Pune Supergiants feared and it has come true. Last over McCullum hit RP Singh, this over Finch hit Ishant. Gujarat Lions 38/0 (126 runs required from 16 overs). Finch 17 (15b 3x4 0x6), McCullum 19 (9b 1x4 2x6), Sharma 2-0-16-0, RP Singh 2-0-20-0.

• 3 overs: Expensive over by RP Singh. 14 runs off it. You can't bowl short against McCullum with fielders inside the circle. Bad bowling. Gujarat Lions 27/0 (137 runs required from 17 overs). Finch 7 (10b 1x4 0x6), McCullum 18 (8b 1x4 2x6), Singh 2-0-20-0, Sharma 1-0-5-0.

• 2 overs: Ishant Sharma also bowled a good over. So, two good overs to begin with. There are no wickets yet but restricting McCullum and Finch in the powerplay is a very tough task. 6 runs from the over despite a FOUR on the first ball. Gujarat Lions 13/0 (151 runs required from 18 overs). Finch 6 (9b 1x4 0x6), McCullum 5 (3b 1x4 0x6), Sharma 1-0-5-0, RP Singh 1-0-6-0.

• 1 over: Good over by RP Singh. He moved the ball well. Good use of the new ball. But when McCullum is there, you can't expect a better over. Just 7 runs from it. Gujarat Lions 7/0 (157 runs required from 19 overs).

• Players are in and we are set to go anytime. Aaron Finch and Brendon McCullum to open for Gujarat Lions. RP Singh has the ball.

  164 -- Is it going to be enough for RPS to stop Gujarat Lions? Considering the trueness in the pitch, RPS have probably scored 30 runs less than they should have. However, Dhoni has bowlers who can do the job for him. RPS innings

• 20 overs: MS Dhoni is so good in the end overs. He just proved himself once again. He hit Bravo for 20 runs in the last over. Rising Pune Supergiants 163/5. MS Dhoni 22 (10b 2x4 1x6), Bhatia 0 (2b 0x4 0x6), Bravo 4-0-43-1, Jadeja 4-0-18-2.

• 19 overs: Superb over by Jadeja that was. Penultimate over and just 2 runs. A wicket too. Rising Pune Supergiants 143/5. Bhatia 0 (2b 0x4 0x6), Dhoni 2 (4b 0x4 0x6), Jadeja 4-0-18-2, Bravo 3-0-23-1.

• WICKET! Bowled him! Jadeja sends Marsh back. Mitch Marsh b Jadeja 7 (11b 0x4 0x6).

• 18 overs: Just 5 runs from the over. RPS is not getting runs in the death. Credit should also go to Gujarat bowlers for being so accurate. Rising Pune Supergiants 141/4.

• 17 overs: Just 2 runs in the over and a wicket too. Jadeja bowled brilliantly in the over. It was nice to see bowl to Dhoni in the over. Rising Pune Supergiants 136/4. Dhoni 1 (3b 0x4 0x6), Marsh 1 (2b 0x4 0x6), Jadeja 3-0-16-1, Tambe 4-0-33-2.

• WICKET! Jadeja gets Smith. Outside off and Smith hit it straight down the throat of deep cover fielder. Steven Smith c Faulkner b Jadeja 5 (6b 0x4 0x6).

• 16 overs: 13 from the over. Good enough for RPS. Rising Pune Supergiants 134/3.

• WICKET! Good reply by Tambe there. Faf hit him for a FOUR and a SIX on consecutive balls. Tambe got him stumped off the third. Faf du Plessis st Karthik b Tambe 69 (43b 5x4 4x6).

• 15 overs: Gujarat Lions bowlers are mixing their balls so well that boundaries are hard to come by. So, Faf and Smith have decided to run doubles. Good strategy but not good for T20. 8 runs from the over. Rising Pune Supergiants 121/2. du Plessis 59 (40b 4x4 3x6), Smith 3 (2b 0x4 0x6), Faulkner 2-0-15-0, Bravo 2-0-18-1.

• 14 overs: Wonderful over. Bravo didn't let Faf or KP hit a single ball with the middle of their bats. Just 2 runs off it and a big wicket. Rising Pune Supergiants 113/2.

• WICKET! Bowled him! Bravo returned and dismissed Pietersen. What a ball it was. Slower, dipping yorker took KP's bat's inside edge and crashed into the stumps. Kevin Pietersen b Bravo 37 (31b 2x4 1x6).

• 13 overs: 11 runs from the over. Faf dissected the field perfectly twice in the over to collect two FOURS in the over. Rising Pune Supergiants 111/1. du Plessis 53 (33b 4x4 3x6), Pietersen 36 (28b 2x4 1x6), Jakati 4-0-40-0, Faulkner 1-0-7-0.

• 12 overs: Faulkner bowled an economical over to start his spell. Just 7 runs despite a FOUR in the over. Rising Pune Supergiants 100/1. du Plessis 44 (30b 2x4 3x6), Pietersen 34 (25b 2x4 1x6), Faulkner 1-0-7-0, Jakati 3-0-29-0.

• 11 overs: 6 runs from Jakati's over. Are Faf and Pietersen taking it too easy or Gujarat Lions bowlers are suddenly bowling well now? You can't rest in Twenty20 cricket. Faf and KP needs to keep pushing. Rising Pune Supergiants 93/1. Pietersen 28 (21b 1x4 1x6), du Plessis 43 (28b 2x4 3x6), Jakati 3-0-29-0, Tambe 3-0-20-1.

• 10 overs: Excellent over by Tambe. Just 5 singles. He may not have too many varieties in his bowling but he uses what he has very well. Rising Pune Supergiants 87/1.

• 9 overs: Jadeja bowled a quick over and a good one too. Just 6 runs from the over. Rising Pune Supergiants 82/1.

• 50-run partnership between Faf and KP in quick time. Just 27 balls they took.

• 8 overs: Tambe hit for 10 runs in the over including a FOUR. Rising Pune Supergiants 76/1. du Plessis 34 (19b 2x4 3x6), Pietersen 20 (12b 1x4 1x6), Tambe 2-0-15-1, Jadeja 1-0-9-0.

• 7 overs: Jadeja brought in by worried Raina and he was given the same treatment. Pietersen and du Plessis are looking dangerous now. 9 runs from the over including a SIX. Rising Pune Supergiants 66/1.

• 6 overs: Another big over to finish the powerplay. Pietersen and Faf hit a SIX each in the over to collect 16 runs from Bravo's over. Rising Pune Supergiants 57/1. du Plessis 20 (12b 1x4 2x6), Pietersen 15 (7b 1x4 1x6), Bravo 1-0-16-0, Jakati 2-0-23-0.

• 5 overs: Big over for RPS. Faf hit the first SIX of the match over the cow corner and then Pietersen played a nice back foot shot for FOUR. 13 runs from Shadab's over. Rising Pune Supergiants 41/1. du Plessis 12 (9b 1x4 1x6), Pietersen 7 (4b 1x4 0x6), Jakati 2-0-23-0, Tambe 1-0-5-1.

• 4 overs: Successful over it was. Just 5 runs and a big wicket. Rising Pune Supergiants 28/1.

• WICKET! Tambe strikes in his first over itself dismissing his Rajasthan Royals team-mate Rahane. He looked in great touch today. Ajinkya Rahane lbw b Tambe 21 (17b 4x4 0x6).

• 3 overs: Another good over by Praveen Kumar. Just 7 off it. It could have been even better had Faf not hit that brilliant backfoot drive for FOUR. Rising Pune Supergiants 23/0. Rahane 17 (12b 3x4 0x6), du Plessis 6 (6b 1x4 0x6), Kumar 2-0-12-0, Jakati 1-0-11-0.

• 2 overs: Raina brought in left-arm spinner Shadab Jakati. Rahane tackled him well and collected 11 runs from it with the help of two FOURS. Rising Pune Supergiants 16/0.

• 1 over: Good one to start with. Praveen moved the ball in and out and kept a good line. Just one bad ball that was sent to boundary by Ajinkya Rahane. Otherwise, what an over. 5 runs from it. RPS 5/0.

• The action is about to begin. Umpires have walked in and players of the Gujarat Lions followed them. RPS openers Ajinkya Rahane and Faf du Plessis are marking their guards. Praveen Kumar to bowl the first over.

• Both the teams have come in this match after winning their opening matches. So RPS and GL both are in good nick. But today one of them will lose.

  TEAMS Rising Pune Supergiants: Faf Du Plessis, Ajinkya Rahane, Kevin Pietersen, Steven Smith, MS Dhoni, Mitch Marsh, Rajat Bhatia, Ravichandran Ashwin, Murugan Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, RP Singh. Gujarat Lions: Aaron Finch, Brendon McCullum, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik, Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, James Faulkner, Akshdeep Nath, Praveen Kumar, Shadab Jakati, Pravin Tambe.

• Time for toss. MS Dhoni won the toss and he decided to bat first. Suresh Raina said he would also have batted first.

• DID YOU KNOW? In the only T20 International played at the SCA Stadium, Australia scored 201 for 7 batting first, after which India chased down the runs to win by six wickets, with two balls remaining.

• DID YOU KNOW? The Rising Pune Supergiants captain MS Dhoni needs 14 more runs to become the seventh batsmen to reach the 3000-IPL-runs milestone. Suresh Raina sits atop the list of top run-getters in the IPL, with 3719 runs.

• DID YOU KNOW? The Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot is going to become the 32nd venue overall and the 21st Indian venue to host an Indian Premier League match.

• DID YOU KNOW? In his last 13 T20 innings, MS Dhoni has been dismissed just once.

• DID YOU KNOW? Since November 2015, Kevin Pietersen has scored 960 T20 runs at an average of 45.71, including 7 fifties and 2 centuries.

• PITCH REPORT: Both the teams will need to be flexible here. Conditions are likely to be sluggish. Cutters and slower balls would be used a lot.

• We are two hours away from the toss.

SQUADS Rising Pune Supergiants: MS Dhoni (C), Ajinkya Rahane, Kevin Pietersen, Faf du Plessis, Steve Smith, Mitchell Marsh, Jaskaran Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ankit Sharma, Albie Morkel, Irfan Pathan, Ishant Sharma, Ishwar Pandey, Thisara Perera, Saurabh Tiwary, R P Singh, Rajat Bhatia, Ankush Bains, Baba Aparajith, Murugan Ashwin, Ashok Dinda, Deepak Chahar, Scott Boland, Peter Handscomb, Adam Zampa. Gujarat Lions: Suresh Raina (Capt.), Dwayne Bravo, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brendon McCullum, Dwayne Smith, Dale Steyn, Pravin Tambe, Ishan Kishan, Ravindra Jadeja, Shadab Jakati, Dinesh Karthik, Shivil Kaushik, Dhawal Kulkarni, Praveen Kumar, Pradeep Sangwan, Jaydev Shah, Umang Sharma, Andrew Tye, Sarabjit Ladda, Akshdeep Nath, Amit Mishra, Paras Dogra, Eklavya Dwivedi. Match starts at 8:00 PM.

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PREVIEW After making impressive debuts in their respective openers, Rising Pune Supergiants and Gujarat Lions will test each others' strengths when the two new entrants clash in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Rajkot. The two teams feature a lot of faces from the suspended Chennai Super Kings and at least six players, who played in the same side till last year, will now be in opposite camps. Close friends and CSK teammates Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Suresh Raina will now be devising strategies as rival captains. Both have admitted that playing in a jersey other than 'yellow' has been very "emotional" but have promised to give their all for their new teams. The Dhoni-led Pune Supergiants were very convincing and dominant when they handed defending champions Mumbai Indians a nine-wicket drubbing. They did not even require their middle order, packed with Dhoni himself and players such as Steven Smith, to come out with top-order delivering it for them comfortably. The Lions though needed a proper team effort in taming Kings XI Punjab, who batted well but were pretty ordinary when they bowled. Aaron Finch was in good touch but the wayward Punjab bowlers only made his job easy. The big positive for the Lions was the heart showed by the young Ishan Kishan. The Under-19 Indian captain played with a lot of gumption and his confident flick off Mitchell Johnson was a proof of that. Dwayne Bravo continued his impressive form in T20s as he became the only IPL player to have a combo of 1000 runs and 100 wickets. Overall, the Lions look like a good package but they will be tested by the Supergiants, who are looking the most formidable outfit this year in the League. RP Singh with Mitchell Marsh will test their batsmen together along with quality spinners such as R Ashwin and M Ashwin. But it will be interesting to see if Dhoni continues to underbowl R Ashwin or lets him complete his full quota of overs.