{ "id": "16542", "author": "13", "cnmid": "0", "title": "Dhoni's fireworks help Pune finish IPL 2016 on winning ", "lang": "en", "series": "99", "cup_year": "2016", "article_type": "General", "excerpt": "", "subtype": "", "editor1": "

Visakhapatnam, May 21 (CRICKETNMORE):<\/strong> Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's 64 not out off 32 deliveries turned it around for Rising Pune Supergiants as the debutants ended their Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign with a four-wicket victory over Kings XI Punjab here on Saturday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Dhoni, who smashed four fours and five sixes, clobbered left-arm spinner Axar Patel for three sixes and a four in the final over to not only take Pune over the line but finish at the penultimate spot in the IPL table. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Placed at the bottom and already out of contention for the play-offs, the match was an inconsequential affair for both sides.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Chasing 173, Pune were off to a poor start losing in-form opener Ajinkya Rahane and incoming batsman George Bailey in quick successions. That was before Dhoni's fireworks started.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The Ranchi stumper got ample support from Sri Lankan Thisara Perera, who chipped in with a 14-ball 23 to forge a 58-run sixth wicket stand to take the team to sniffing distance of a win.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Opening the batting, Rahane, who scored a 15-ball 19, fell to pacer Sandeep Sharma after forging a 35-run opening stand with Australian Usman Khawaja (30 off 29). Bailey failed, scoring a 11-ball 9 before being stumped by Wriddhiman Saha off Patel.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Next in, Saurabh Tiwary (17) added 31 runs for the fourth wicket with Khawaja before falling prey to off-spinner Gurkeerat Singh. He was caught by Farhaan Behardien at deep cover in the 12th over.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Gurkeerat, who smashed a 30-ball 51 in Punjab's innings, dealt another blow off the last ball of the same over to dismiss Khawaja.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Struggling at 80\/4, skipper Dhoni and all-rounder Irfan Pathan (2) joined forces but pacer Rishi Dhawan removed the latter with a slower delivery to be caught by Saha.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Next in Perera, whose 58-run stand with Dhoni turned out to be the cornerstone of Pune's win, was dismissed by pacer Mohit Sharma -- caught behind by Saha.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who joined Dhoni at the fall of Perera, was a mere spectator as the skipper went on the rampage.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

For Punjab, Gurkeerat was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets while Mohit, Sandeep, Axar and Rishi took one wicket apiece.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Earlier, riding on skipper Murali Vijay and Gurkeerat's brilliant half centuries, Punjab reached 172 for seven in 20 overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Punjab got off to a steady start with openers Vijay and Hashim Amla putting on 60 runs before the South African veteran fell prey to Ashwin.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

In his attempt to accelerate the scoring rate, Amla, who hit four boundaries and a six in his 27-ball knock, tried to hit a short ball over the in-field only to be caught by Bailey at midwicket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Leg-spinner Adam Zampa doubled the joy for Pune, packing off incoming batsman Saha (3).<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Gurkeerat then joined Vijay, who continued his brilliant run with the bat to notch another half century off just 35 balls. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Nearing his half century, Vijay changed gears, blasting Zampa for two sixes as the right-handed duo brought up the team's 100 in 14 overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Sensing danger, Dhoni brought in his old warhorse Ashwin, who responded well by breaking the 58-run third wicket stand.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Vijay, who tried to slog sweep Ashwin, found his middle stump knocked off to return to the dug-out for a 41-ball 59.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Vijay's dismissal, however, did not deter Gurkeerat, who smashed pacer Irfan for two sixes to get to his 29-ball 51. The Punjab batter then blasted Ashwin for a six and a four off consecutive balls. But the tweaker got the better of the batsman in the very next ball.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

South African David Miller joined Gurkeerat in the dug-out after being trapped plumb in front to give Ashwin his fourth wicket. Pacer Ashok Dinda then sent back Behardien (5) while Axar (1) perished to Perera. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Himachal Pradesh all-rounder Rishi Dhawan and Kyle Abbott played some lusty shots to take the side to 172\/7.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

For Pune, Ashiwn was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets while Dinda, Perera and Zampa bagged one wicket each.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Brief Scores: Kings XI Punjab 172\/7 (Murali Vijay 59, Gurkeerat Singh 51, Hashim Amla 30, R. Ashwin 4\/34). Rising Pune Supergiants: 173\/6 (Mahendra Singh Dhoni 64, Usman Khawaja 30, Thisara Perera 23, Gurkeerat Singh 2\/15).<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Agency.<\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2016\/05\/dhoni42.jpg", "alt_img": "Mahendra Singh Dhoni ", "alt_title": "Dhoni's fireworks help Pune finish IPL 2016 on winning", "image1": "", "video": "", "seo_title": "Dhoni's fireworks help Pune finish IPL 2016 on winning ", "seo_desc": "Dhoni's fireworks help Pune finish IPL 2016 on winning Visakhapatnam, May 21 (CRICKETNMORE): Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's 64 not out off 32 deliveries tur", "seo_keywords": "IPL 2016, Rising Pune Supergiants vs Kings XI Punjab, Match Result", "tag": "", "tagging": "", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "0", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": "0", "slug": "rising-pune-supergiants-beat-kings-xi-punjab-by-4-wickets-in-the-53rd-match-of-ipl-9", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": "0000-00-00", "ians_time": "00:00:00", "server_time": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "trash": "0", "view_count": "2260", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "0", "auto_link": "0", "created": "2016-05-21 22:19:00", "updated": "2016-05-21 22:19:00", "img_from": "", "img_source": "", "schedule_publish": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "news_keywords": null, "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "0", "google_feed": "0", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "1", "jio_date": "2016-05-21 22:19:00", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "0", "google_date": "2016-05-21 22:19:00", "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": null, "article_content_type": null, "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/rising-pune-supergiants-beat-kings-xi-punjab-by-4-wickets-in-the-53rd-match-of-ipl-9-16542" }