We’re throwing back to IPL 2017 to a time where two of the biggest IPL franchises were out serving a 2-year suspension and we had two stopgap franchises filling in their boots – Gujarat Lions and Rising Pune Supergiant. Both these teams had a short-lived IPL career, playing two seasons each between IPL 2016-17 and the match we’re going to talk about today is one of only 4 times these two teams played each other during this time!
It’s May 1 2017 and a massive Indian audience is watching IPL 2017 Match 39 because it’s a labour day holiday in the country. Supergiant wins the toss and elects to field first, captained by none other than Steve Smith. They put Lions in to bat and restrict them to 161, all out in 19.5 overs. Englishman Ben Stokes bowled 0/36 in his 4 overs but the actual delight was going to be provided by his bat that night, as RPS aimed to complete a successful chase.
Stokes was paid a record Rs. 14.5 crore at the IPL 2017 auction but he sadly hadn’t really arrived with the bat that season, until this night! Usually sent in to do some big hitting towards the latter end of T20 innings, Stokes had a different role to play that day as his side was tottering at 10/3 in 1.3 overs, with all of Ajinkya Rahane, Steve Smith and Manoj Tiwary being sent back to the pavilion early, courtesy some good bowling by Pradeep Sangwan!
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At that point of time, Stokes wasn’t the man who won England the 2019 World Cup or the man who helped them win a magical Ashes Test at Headingley. He was a Stokes struggling to find form but that day, he found it and found it well. Having made a small partnership with Rahul Tripathi, things seemed to be getting back on track but the latter fell within the powerplay itself, reducing RPS to 42/4.
In comes the magician MS Dhoni who scored 26(33) and during that time, Stokes begins to power up and scores runs at ease, all the while keeping the required run rate in check. Eventually, he lost Dhoni too but they were now in a position where there was a chance to win! Stokesy hit 6 fours and 6 sixes, ending the 19th over on 98* and RPS were left to chase only 8 from the last over.
He began the final over with a boundary and that not only brought up his maiden IPL century but it also meant that the match was now almost sealed. It marked the beginning of his dominance in the IPL and he ended the innings with 103(63)* as his partner Dan Christian smashed a big six to complete the run chase, winning by 5 wickets with just 1 ball to spare!
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Stokes was the million dollar player at IPL 2017 and this was truly a million dollar innings, especially considering he played the innings through a bad calf; signs of a true warrior and the fighting spirit that creates champions. He owned the night at the MCA Stadium in Pune and he let out a massive roar when he got to the century and even wen they completed the win. He etched his name into the list of those who have IPL centuries!
Pretty naturally, Stokes was also awarded the Man of the Match award, which turned out to be his third of the season. “We lost quite a few early wickets… me and MS just tried to keep it ticking. Numbers game: we just tried to go big at the start of the over and cool it off,” he said about the crucial partnership with MSD which turned out o be the game changer! For more updates and similar throwback stories, stay tuned to ReadScoops.com…
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