The Gujarat Lions, who are in first place and sit pretty on the top on the table standings have won five out their six matches, including the nail-biting 1 run finish against the Delhi Daredevils in their last game. Shivil Kaushik, the 20-year-old chinaman, with an action very similar to Paul Adams replaced Pravin Tambe who injured himself in the last match. Finch failed to recover from the hamstring strain he picked up two weeks ago.
Pune forced to make two changes
Supergiants, on the other hand, were forced to make two changes, first Faf du Plessis, who returned home after a broken finger, and Mitchell Marsh who injured himself during practice. They were replaced by Peter Handscomb, the Aussie who plays for the Melbourne Stars in the BBL, and Albie Morkel the South African all-rounder, with Saurabh Tiwary also coming into the side. Usman Khawaja who signed for Pune missed out on this game due to Visa issues.
"Fast bowlers will get some swing here, it's dry underneath," Dhoni said after losing the toss and being put into bat first by Raina. "I haven't played enough here, but whatever games I've played, the wickets have behaved differently. In the couple of games we've won, we have bowled well."
Raina looking forward to a strong performance
Raina said that he was expecting a strong performance from the Lions after the close finish against the Daredevils. "Praveen Kumar bowled a really good penultimate over, Bravo was equally good. We have to just keep pushing harder. There will be something in it with the new ball."
Lions won the first match that the two teams played, by seven wickets, in Rajkot.
Tiwary fails to impress
Saurabh Tiwary playing his first game this season opened the batting with Rahane, who has been extremely consistent this season. Some terrible running between the two resulted in a short stay for Tiwary who was run out by some athletic fielding by Raina. Steve Smith joined Rahane to the crease and started to take matters into his hands. Both of them looked dangerous, quickly brought up their 50 run partnership. With the score on 78 and Smith on 41, he played on a delivery by debutant Kaushik but was adjudged not out, due to Kaushik overstepping. Smith brought up his fifty in 29 deliveries and RPS also had their first 100 runs stand this IPL. Rahane played the anchor role and fell right after making his 53 off 45 deliveries.
Smith scores his first T20 century and guides RPS to 195
Smith took matters into his hands as he accelerated after the fall of Rahane’s wicket after being joined by Dhoni. The Aussie captain looked his best with some mighty blows straight back over the batsman’s head and exquisite timing. Smith brought up his first ever T20 century off just 53 deliveries in the 19th over but fell the very next ball trying to play Bravo through his legs. His innings consisted of eight fours and five maximums. Dhoni also played a good knock scoring 30 off 18 balls, with two fours and two sixes.
Lions get off to a rollicking start
The Gujarat Lions got off to an amazing start thanks to both Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum, who have been in great form this season. The Lions have put up 70 plus runs thrice this IPL and scored 73 this time around. It seemed like the two would take the Lions comfortably home without even losing a wicket, as they battered each bowler who came into bowl, including R. Ashwin who was hit for two boundaries in his first over. McCullum was the first to fall with 93 on the board, in the eight over. He scored 43 off just 22 deliveries with five fours and two sixes. Smith continued his onslaught but fell a couple of overs later with the score at 115. His 63 of 37 deliveries consisted of nine fours and a six.
Pune pulls the game back in the 18th and 19th over
Karthik, who came in at the fall of Smith’s wicket looked in great touch, he and Raina put up a fifty run stand in no time. It almost seemed like a cake walk when the two were at the crease, with Karthik being the most aggressive of the two. Karthik brought up his 33 in quick time off just 20 deliveries but perished while trying to finish the game. After this wicket, Pune pulled it back with a remarkable 18th over from M. Ashwin giving away just four runs. Dinda bowled a brilliant 19th over as well with the wickets off Bravo and Jadeja following off consecutive deliveries. Perera was given the responsibility, of bowling the last over, with just 9 needed to win for the Lions.
Last over nerves from both teams
Perera started off terribly giving a four of the first delivery and a wide off the second. He took bowled Raina off the third and Ishan Kishan getting run out off the very next ball. With 3 needed off 2 deliveries, Pune had the best chance to seal the game, but Rahane threw wide with the batsman a long way from the bowlers end. With 1 needed off 1, all the fielders came in to stop the single, but Faulkner mistimed his shot to short mid on but Steve Smith missed the catch giving the Lions their sixth win of the season.
IPL 2016 Points Table and Standings
| Pos | Team | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | N/R | Net RR |
| 1 | Gujarat Lions | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +0.038 |
| 2 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +0.611 |
| 3 | Mumbai Indians | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | -0.104 |
| 4 | Delhi Daredevils | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +0.244 |
| 5 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -0.086 |
| 6 | Rising Pune Supergiants | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | +0.265 |
| 7 | Royal Challenger Bangalore | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +0.230 |
| 8 | Kings XI Punjab | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | -1.174 |
IPL 2016 Schedule
| Date | Time (BST/IST) | Match | Venue |
| April 30 | 4 p.m. | Delhi Daredevils vs. Kolkata Knight Riders | Delhi |
| April 30 | 8 p.m. | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore | Hyderabad |
| May 1 | 4 p.m. | Gujarat Lions vs. Kings XI Punjab | Rajkot |
| May 1 | 8 p.m. | Rising Pune Supergiants vs. Mumbai Indians | Pune |
| May 2 | 8 p.m. | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs. Kolkata Knight Riders | Bangalore |
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