On this day, May 16, 2017: Washington Sundar heroics leads Rising Pune Super Giants to the Final. It was the Qualifier 1 of the Indian Premier League 2017 played between Rising Pune Super Giants and Mumbai Indians. It was Rising Pune Super Giants who were batting first and they lost a couple of early wickets. Rahul Tripathi fell for a duck in the first over and they were in early trouble.
Steve Smith also fell in the next over as Malinga picked up the wicket and RPS were in all sorts of trouble at 9/2. Ajinkya Rahane and Rahul Tripathi stitched up a partnership for the third wicket to bring them back in the game. They put on a partnership of 80 runs and batted with a lot of intent. Both batters completed their half centuries and Rahane was dismissed for 56 as RPS lost their third wicket with 89 runs on the board. MS Dhoni joined Manoj Tiwary in the middle and the game was nicely in the balance at the 12th over mark.
MS Dhoni and Manoj Tiwary put up another excellent partnership with Tiwary going past a half century while MS Dhoni finished unbeaten on 40 as Rising Pune Super Giants finished with 162/4 at the end of the innings. It was a good recovery after the initial blows and they had posted a par total on that surface. Chasing the target, Mumbai Indians started well with Parthiv Patel taking on the attack in the powerplay.
Mumbai Indians lost their first wicket wit 35 runs on the board as Lendl Simmons was run out. Washington Sundar completely dominated the powerplay as he picked up three wickets and Mumbai Indians were under immense pressure at 51/4. The lower order tried to put up a fight but 3 wickets from Shardul Thakur ensured that Rising Pune Super Giants got the win and qualified for the Finals. Washington Sundar was the player of the match.
