Sun, 10 Apr 2011 - IP Pune vs IP Punjab, IPL 2011, 5th Match - Bulletin

Pune debut with impressive win

Pune start their IPL campaign with an impressive seven wicket victory as he they out-played their opponents Punjab in all three departments of the game. Yuvraj Singh led Pune, playing its first game in IPL after added by the governing committee this season, chased down the target of 113 runs successfully without much of problem.

After a disciplined bowling performances, new ball bowlers in particular, to restrict Punjab to 112, Pune approached the target aggressively despite losing Graeme Smith on the first delivery of the innings.

It was second wicket partnership between Mithun Manhas and Kiwi Jesse Ryder of 60 runs that made sure that there was no comeback from Punjab. Both took the game to the Punjab bowlers playing some brave shots taking only 46 balls for 60 runs with Manhas hitting a 32-ball 35 and Ryder, who was in an attacking mood taking just 17 balls for his 31 including half a dozen fours.

There was some hope to Punjab as Manhas and Ryder went in a quick succession but fielders let Punjab bowlers down as they dropped two catches one each of Yuvraj and Robin Uthappa to contribute to team’s indifferent performance.

After getting the reprieve, Yuvraj and Uthappa unfurled some lusty blows to finish the chase as early in 14th over as both remained undefeated on 21 and 22 runs respectively. Punjab clearly looked under cooked for the big match as team couldn’t seize the moments they had in the field.

Pune’s brilliant performance was set up its new ball bowlers-man of the match Shrikant Wagh and Alfonso Thomas- who rattled Punjab early to reduce them to 9 runs for the loss four wickets including the big wicket of dangerous Adam Gilchrisht.

Losing the toss on a pitch that had some grass on it, Thomas and Wagh made most of the new ball getting two wickets each. Thomas had Gilly caught behind off a well directed bouncer while Wagh claimed wickets of Shaun Marsh and Dinesh Karthik to make life difficult for Punjab right from the word go.

Punjab lost two more wickets with score reading at one point read 45 for six but Punjab recovered well through the seventh wicket partnership of 35 runs between South African Ryan Mclaren and Piyush Chawla.

Mclaren was very sensible taking his time in early stages of his innings and exploding in last three overs to give some respectability to the scoreboard. McLaren’s 51 came off 43 balls hitting six fours and only six of the innings that came in the last over.

Wagh was the most successful bowler conceding only 16 runs in his three overs and took three wickets while Thomas had two wickets to his name.