RAJKOT, India, CMC – All-rounder Dwayne Bravo’s unbeaten cameo kept new boys Gujarat Lions unbeaten as they defeated Rising Pune Supergiants by seven wickets with two overs to spare, in their Indian Premier League contest here yesterday.
Opting for first knock, Supergiants rattled up 163 for five off their 20 overs at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, with South African opener Faf du Plessis top-scoring with 69 and Englishman Kevin Pietersen getting 37.
Captain MS Dhoni chipped in with 22 with opener Ajinkya Rahane getting 21.
Left-arm spinner Ravi Jadeja was the best bowler with two for 18 while Bravo was expensive, conceding 43 runs from his four overs and taking just one wicket.
In reply, Australian Aaron Finch blasted 50 from 36 deliveries and Kiwi partner Brendon McCullum, 49 from 31 balls, as they put on 85 off 51 balls for the first wicket.
McCullum added a further 35 for the second wicket with Suresh Raina who struck a run-a-ball 24, before departing in the 14th over.
Bravo then compensated with the bat to make sure there were no stumbles, stroking a fluent unbeaten 22 off 10 balls with three fours and a six, to sustain Lions’ momentum.
It was his inside out extra cover drive for six off seamer Rajat Bhatia that brought the scores level, before a wide off the first ball of the penultimate over saw Lions home.
They top the standings with four points from their two games.
