Preview: Mumbai Indians (MI) and Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) take on each other in the second match of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) on Thursday in Pune, with the match being dubbed as the ‘Maharashtra Derby’. [caption id=“attachment_3371682” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Steve Smith and Rohit Sharma, captain of Rising Pune Supergiant and Mumbai Indians respectively. Sportzpics[/caption] With the match taking place in RPS’s home ground, the Steve Smith-led team will look to get off to a winning start in to boost their chances of posting a turnaround this tournament after finishing second-from-last in their debut season last year. The side boasts of a high-profile recruit in England all-rounder Ben Stokes, who sold for a record Rs 14.5 crore, as well established names such as veteran wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni, Ajinkya Rahane, Faf du Plessis, Usman Khawaja, etc. Click here for the full schedule of Indian Premier League (IPL) 10 Two-time champions Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, failed to reach the playoffs last year for the first time since 2009, and will look to put that disappointment behind when they take on their neighbours on 6 April. The Rohit Sharma-captained team retained most of their old match-winners — Harbhajan Singh, Kieron Pollard, Lasith Malinga, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, etc and their most notable purchase in the auction was that of former Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson, who enjoyed a season of success in the recent Big Bash League (BBL). Squads: Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma(c), Kieron Pollard, Lasith Malinga, Harbhajan Singh, Ambati Rayudu, Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Gopal, Lendl Simmons, Vinay Kumar, Parthiv Patel, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nitish Rana, Siddhesh Lad, Jagadeesha Suchith, Hardik Pandya, Jos Buttler, Tim Southee, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Deepak Punia, Saurabh Tiwary, Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Johnson, Karn Sharma, Asela Gunaratne, Krishnappa Gowtham, Kulwant Khejroliya. Rising Pune Supergiant: MS Dhoni, Steve Smith (Captain), R Ashwin, Mayank Agarwal, Baba Aparajith, Ankush Bains, Ankit Sharma, Rajat Bhatia, Deepak Chahar, Daniel Christian, Rahul Chahar, Ashok Dinda, Faf du Plessis, Lockie Ferduson. Usman Khawaja, Jaskaran Singh, Saurabh Kumar, Ben Stokes, Milind Tondon, Manoj Tiwary, Jaydev Unadkat, Adam Zampa. Click here to find out more about IPL 2017 opening ceremonies, coverage on TV and streaming
Highlights IPL 2017 RPS vs MI, cricket scores and updates: Smith, Dhoni guide Pune to 7-wicket win
Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) and Mumbai Indians (MI) take on each other in what has now come to be known as the ‘Maharashtra Derby’ in the second match of the ongoing IPL 2017.
 "Highlights IPL 2017 RPS vs MI, cricket scores and updates: Smith, Dhoni guide Pune to 7-wicket win")
The last time Steve Smith batted on this ground, he scored a scarcely believable 100 in the second innings of a Test match dominated by the bowlers to win his side the game. This time the pitch was different, but the result was the same. Another standout knock, another win for his team. Smith’s innings was a masterclass in pacing an innings; patient at the start, and belligerent towards the end.
The win means that RPS get their first win in Pune, and their new acquisition Stokes has provided some balance to the team. But the latecomer Tahir and old hand Rahane were the other stars on the night.
Some jitters there at the end but it was always Pune’s game to lose after that platform from Rahane and Smith, and Mumbai looking one bowler short. Dropped catches are a constant comic relief in IPL where the fielding standards regularly swing between outstanding and ordinary. That Dhoni drop in the nineteenth over could have deflated Mumbai Indians spirit at the end. It’s incredible how batsmen back themselves to clear the fence in the final over these days. There was a time when two sixes in the final over would count as a miracle but here we were expecting either Dhoni or Smith would connect one soon.
Pune did more things right in this game right from team selection to pacing their chase and were the deserving winners. Pune had won their first game in the last season as well only to follow it up with a dismal season. They look a more confident team this time round though and will look to string a series of wins from here and stake early claim at a playoff spot.
Highest targets successfully chased by teams against Mumbai Indians in IPL:
185 by RPS at PUNE in 2017*
184 by CSK at Mumbai in 2015
183 by KTK at Mumbai in 2011
177 by DD at Delhi in 2008
After 20 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 187/3 ( Steven Smith (C) 84 , MS Dhoni (W) 12)
Pollard to bowl the last over (seriously, Rohit?). Dhoni uproots the stump at the non-striker’s end with a pull in the first delivery, getting only a single. Just a single in the second ball as well, as Smith only sends it to the fielder at back of square. Single off the third over as well, and suddenly the excitement is back in the game. SIX! That was the one big hit that Pune needed, and it is Smith who does it for the hosts! Clears the slower ball over long-on! SIX! That’s it! Smith it is who does the finishing job for Pune, and he does so in style with a big hit over midwicket!
Rising Pune Supergiant win their first game on home soil by seven wickets!
Most runs in maiden innings as a captain for a team in IPL:
71* – STEVE SMITH (RPS)*
64 – Aaron Finch (PW)
55 – Murali Vijay (KXIP)
54 – Adam Gilchrist (DC)
49* – Suresh Raina (CSK)
After 19 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 172/3 ( Steven Smith (C) 71 , MS Dhoni (W) 10)
Bumrah into his last over, and given his death-bowling skills, Rohit might be hoping for a miracle now. Unsuccessful appeal for caught-behind in the third ball of the over after a couple of singles, which is then followed by another swing-and-miss. Just when the pressure seemed to be returning into the Pune camp, Dhoni smashed a back-of-length delivery towards back of square with a powerful pull for a boundary. DROPPED! Dhoni smashes the last ball towards midwicket, straight into Southee’s hands, only for the ball to somehow pop out and fall to the grass! There was your miracle Mumbai, and you just let go of it!
Pune need 13 off 6 balls.
After 18 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 165/3 ( Steven Smith (C) 70 , MS Dhoni (W) 4)
In a now-or-never over for Mumbai, McClenaghan ends up conceding 7. Dhoni heaves the second ball towards the leg side for a single. The Kiwi pacer then follows it up with a bouncer in the third delivery that somehow is not called a wide. Couple of singles exchanged between Smith and Dhoni, with the former smashing the last ball towards wide long-off for a boundary, reaching out for the shot from well outside off. Pune nearly there now. End of Mitch M’s quota of overs.
Pune need 20 off 12 balls.
After 17 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 158/3 ( Steven Smith (C) 65 , MS Dhoni (W) 2)
Slower ball by Bumrah to start off his third over of the innings. Couple of singles to start the over, with the 150 coming up for the hosts. Smith ends the over with a stylish late cut that carries to the third man boundary after waving McClenaghan goodbye along the way.
Pune need 27 off 18 balls.
After 16 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 148/3 ( Steven Smith (C) 56 , MS Dhoni (W) 1)
FOUR! Stokes now picking the gaps with remarkable ease, hammering the first ball towards cow-corner. He fails to connect from the meat of the bat two deliveries later, and sends the ball straight into Southee’s palms at deep midwicket. Dhoni walks out to play his first IPL innings as a regular member of the team. Nine runs and a wicket off the over. Maybe another wicket, and Mumbai might rekindle their hopes of a win.
Pune need 37 off 24 balls.
OUT! Hardik Pandya gets the wicket of Ben Stokes to bring some balance into the game! The all-rounder looked to smash the off-cutter towards midwicket, but did not quite get the elevation in his loft!
Cheers of ‘Dhoni! Dhoni’ echo around the stadium as the former Pune skipper walks out to join the current leader, and the fans will now obviously want him to finish the game as he always does.
Ben Stokes c Southee b Hardik 21(14)
After 15 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 139/2 ( Steven Smith (C) 52 , Ben Stokes 17)
FOUR! Southee from the other end, and Stokes smokes the first ball through extra-cover for his second boundary. Smith gets to his half-century in the third ball of the over with a double, bringing up the milestone in 37 deliveries in his debut match as the captain of an IPL team. Southee goes for 10 in this over, and the visitors seem to be losing the plot now.
Pune need 46 off 30 balls.
After 14 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 129/2 ( Steven Smith (C) 49 , Ben Stokes 11)
Pollard into the attack, and pulls out of his delivery in the first ball, perhaps to frustrate Smith, and gets hit for a boundary when he actually delivers. Beautiful use of wrists by Smith in the fourth delivery, simply standing and delivering to send the ball over the cow-corner fence. 15 off Pollard’s first over, and Pune definitely are staring at a win now.
Pune need 56 off 36 balls.
After 13 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 114/2 ( Steven Smith (C) 37 , Ben Stokes 9)
Smith looking more confident than ever, shuffling far right of his crease in the third delivery and pulling towards midwicket for his third boundary. The captain tucks one off his hip in the penultimate delivery to send the ball towards fine-leg. DROPPPED! Rana lets go of Smith in the final ball, and what a vital chance that was! Smith pulls it towards deep square-leg where the ball pops out of a running Rana’s palms.
Pune need 71 off 42 balls.
After 12 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 105/2 ( Steven Smith (C) 28 , Ben Stokes 9)
Bumrah returns to the attack, having bowled a good first over. Gets hit for his first boundary, which also happens to be the first for Stokes n his innings, reaching out for shot towards midwicket.
After 11 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 97/2 ( Steven Smith (C) 26 , Ben Stokes 3)
Rahane has to depart in the very first delivery of the 11th over, and it takes the umpires a few deliveries to confirm the dismissal. Superb over by the Kiwi pacer, with just four runs and a wicket coming off it. Meanwhile, Ben Stokes joins Smith at the centre.
Most 50-plus scores by openers in IPL:
29 – Gautam Gambhir
28 – David Warner
25 – Chris Gayle
22 – AJINKYA RAHANE*
21 – Shikhar Dhawan
Fastest fifty for RPS in IPL: (By balls)
27 – AJINKYA RAHANE v MI, Today*
29 – Steve Smith v GL, Pune, 2016
30 – MS Dhoni v KXIP, Visakhapatnam, 2016
OUT! Mumbai finally get the big wicket of Rahane, and it is Southee who gets the breakthrough! Rahane pulls the back-of-length delivery towards deep midwicket, where Nitish Rana pulls off a fine diving effort. Pune 93/2 after 10.1 overs.
Ajinkya Rahane c Rana b Southee 60(34)
After 10 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 93/1 ( Ajinkya Rahane 60 , Steven Smith (C) 25)
Another Pandya — Krunal this time — continues from the other end, and he gets hit for 11 runs, including a six down the ground off Rahane’s bat that Pollard gets a bit of his hand to after a leap.
After 9 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 82/1 ( Ajinkya Rahane 52 , Steven Smith (C) 22)
Quick couple of runs at the start of the over by Rahane, before he hooks the second ball towards backward square-leg to bring up his fastest-ever fifty! What an innings this is turning out to be for Rahane, who had shown glimpses of his readiness for the format in his innings during India’s chase in the final Test against Australia in Dharamsala. Nine runs off the over.
FIFTY for Ajinkya Rahane! And what a way for the India Test vice-captain to bring up the milestone, in just 27 deliveries, by hooking the short ball from Hardik towards backward square-leg! Pune are in the driver’s seat at the moment!
This is also Rahane’s fastest-ever fifty in IPL!
After 8 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 73/1 ( Ajinkya Rahane 44 , Steven Smith (C) 21)
Krunal Pandya into the attack for the eighth over, and the left-arm spinner concedes a double in his very first delivery thanks to some quick running between the wickets. Gracefully driven through point on the backfoot by Smith in the third delivery to get his second boundary.
After 7 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 63/1 ( Ajinkya Rahane 43 , Steven Smith (C) 12)
Hardik Pandya, whose heroic efforts in the last over of the Mumbai innings got them past the 180-mark, bowls his second over. Rahane and Smith rotate the strike between themselves for the most part in this over. Four singles off the over.
Number cruncher:
59 runs scored by RPS in powerplay overs today which is the second most for them in IPL. Their highest in PP overs is 60 v RCB at Bangalore in 2016.
After 6 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 59/1 ( Ajinkya Rahane 41 , Steven Smith (C) 10)
McClenaghan into his second over. FOUR! Clubbed away towards cow-corner by Steve Smith in the very first ball, and the Australian skipper shows that he is a man to be reckoned across formats. SIX in the fourth delivery, this time Rahane cutting a short, wide delivery over third man. Guides the fifth delivery to the same region for a four. What an over this has turned out to be for the hosts, getting them right back into the game, with 16 coming off it. Time-out at the end of the over.
After 5 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 43/1 ( Ajinkya Rahane 30 , Steven Smith (C) 5)
Jasprit Bumrah into the attack for the first time in the innings, and the Indian death overs specialist will look to keep a check on the Pune scoring rate in the remainder of the innings. Just four singles off the over.
Most catches by captains in IPL:
30 – Virat Kohli
22 – Virender Sehwag
19 – Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, ROHIT SHARMA*
18 – Sourav Ganguly
WWE SummerSlam 2025 Night 2 results: Cody Rhodes beats John Cena in wild title match
Brock Lesnar's return headlines Night Two of WWE Summerslam Cody Rhodes defeats John Cena to become the Undisputed WWE Champion Becky Lynch defeats Lyra Valkyria to stay Women’s Intercontinental Champion.
More Impact Shorts "US ready to ‘impose costs’ on Russia if war in Ukraine drags on, says Hegseth")
 "US tells Hamas to stop violence against Gaza civilians and disarm 'without delay'")
 "China seizes 60,000 maps mislabelling Taiwan, omitting South China Sea islands")
 "Syria’s Sharaa pledges to honor Russia ties, seeks economic and military support in Kremlin visit")
 "US ready to ‘impose costs’ on Russia if war in Ukraine drags on, says Hegseth")
 "US tells Hamas to stop violence against Gaza civilians and disarm 'without delay'")
 "China seizes 60,000 maps mislabelling Taiwan, omitting South China Sea islands")
 "Syria’s Sharaa pledges to honor Russia ties, seeks economic and military support in Kremlin visit")
](https://images.firstpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Steve-Smith-Rohit-Sharma-Sportzpics-380.jpg){kind=link}
Top Shows
