The Gujarat Lions recorded their second win of the 2016 Indian Premier League, chasing down the Rising Pune Supergiants' 163/5 with ease in Rajkot on Thursday, with seven wickets and two overs in hand.
Pune skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and decided to bat, and it seemed his decision was justified after Kevin Pietersen (37 off 31 balls) and Faf du Plessis (69 off 43 balls) put up an 86-run partnership for the first wicket in quick time. However, Pietersen's dismissal allowed the Lions to get back into the game. The hosts bowled well at the death to restrict Pune to just above 160.
Gujarat's swashbuckling opening pair of Aaron Finch and Brendon McCullum then got set into the Pune attack, scoring 85 in only 8.3 overs. Finch was then dismissed for 50 off just 36 balls and McCullum for 49 off 31 balls, but Dwayne Bravo took the Lions home with a flurry of big shots.
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