IPL Live Score: RPS vs GL Live Scoreboard and Commentary for Rising Pune Supergiants vs Gujarat Lions, Match 21, IPL 2016 | RPS 195/3 (20.0) vs GL 196/7 (20.0)

Gujarat 196/7 after 20.0 overs.

They’ve done it. GUJARAT WIN BY 3 WICKETS ! Mistimed shot from Faulkner but it gives him enough time to scamper to the other end for a victorious single. Perera looks down in dismay. So close yet so far for Pune.

Gujarat 195/7 after 19.5 overs.

SCORES LEVEL. Faulkner runs with everything he’s got for two. Gujarat need one for the win, else we go to a super over.

Gujarat 193/7 after 19.4 overs.

Oh they are making a hash of it, Gujarat ! ANOTHER WICKET ! Ishaan Kishan has to go run out by Tiwary! 3 needed off 2. Are Gujarat gonna pull off a Bangladesh here?

Gujarat 193/6 after 19.3 overs.

FOUR off the first ball from new man in Jimmy Faulkner ! A wide fro Perera follows that. Single off the next ball. And then WICKET ! Suresh Raina bowled to a jaffa by Perera ! It was full and slightly coming in, missed and crashes into the stumps. 3 needed of 3 then.

9 runs required off the final over. Fasten your seatbelts, everyone ! Here’s Perera with the ball.

Gujarat 187/5 after 19 overs.

FOUR ! Much needed for Gujarat after those twin wckets in the over. Raina glances one past fine leg.

Gujarat 180/5 after 18.3 overs

ANOTHER ONE ! Jadeja goes first ball ! He swings and misses at a fuller one. Then runs down for a single, Raina has no clue that a run is on and Jadeja ends up falling short by miles as Dhoni takes the bails off.

Gujarat 180/4 after 18.2 overs

WICKET ! Bravo ramps Dinda for a FOUR off the first ball but Dinda strikes right back getting him next ball ! Full, wide, outside edge, caught behind by Dhoni. 16 required off 10 then. Game On !

20 needed off 12 now !

Gujarat 176/3 after 18 overs

Murugan Ashwin with the ball for this one. Fine stuff from him, this. Just 3 off the first 5 deliveries. Down to 21 off 13. Last delivery goes for just a single. That’s just 4 off the over. Just the effort Pune needed.

Gujarat now need 24 runs off 18 deliveries. Their’s to lose !

Gujarat 172/3 after 17 overs.

Dwayne Bravo the new man in. 11 runs and a wicket off the over.

Gujarat 166/3 after 16.2 overs.

WICKET. Miscued loft from Karthik, it takes the bottom edge and loops over into Rahane's hands coming in from midwicket. Pune and Dinda have another vital wicket. But might be a couple over too late.

36 needed off 24 deliveries then. Getting closer and closer....

Gujarat 161/2 after 16 overs.

This is brill from Raina and Karthik. Put away the first 2 deliveries, good ones from Perera, for singles. Then couple of FOURs from the next 3. Cover drive from Karthik and clubbed over mid-wicket by Raina. Finish it up with a quick two 14 off that over.

Back from the time-out. Thisara Perera with the 16th over.

49 required off 30. Still 8 wickets in hand. And it’s a very welcome strategic time-out ! Finish up whatever you’ve to do right now, there’s no moving away for the next 20 mins or so. This one may well be a proper humdinger.

Gujarat 147/2 after 15 overs.

Murugan Ashwin back into the attack. Pretty decent stuff from him, nothing too fancy. Gujarat not taking any risks at the mo. Excellent running-between-the-wickets from Raina and Karthik for 5 runs off the first 5 balls. One bounce FOUR over long-off from Karthik makes it 9 off the over.

58 required off 36 now for Gujarat. Very much gettable with wickets in hand.

Gujarat 138/2 after 14 overs.

Ashwin continues. Singles off the first 4 deliveries, 2 off the fifth. And then a crunch drive for FOUR past mid-wicket by Karthik. 10 off the over.

Down to 68 off 42 for Gujarat to win this one now. Edge of your seats, folks !

Gujarat 128/2 after 13 overs.

Rajat Bhatia comes back into the attack. 5 off his six deliveries go on in ultra slo-mo. Raina and Karthik looking to do it in ones and twos. 7 off the over. Good over for Pune.

Gujarat now need 76 runs off 48 balls.

Gujarat 121/2 after 12 overs

5 singles off that over. Karthik and Raina running away with all they’ve got. Finally a quiet over from Ashwin.

Gujarat 116/2 after 11 overs

Dinesh Karthik the new man in. Top first over from Perera.

Gujarat 115/2 after 10.5 overs.

WICKET. Thisara Perera comes into the attack and he has Dwayne Smith out bowled 5th ball ! Toe crushing yorker, Raina ends up angling his bat, inside and edge and BAM onto the stumps. smith goes for 63 off 37.

Gujarat now need 86 off 60 deliveries.

Gujarat 112/1 after 10 overs.

Ravi Ashwin comes back into the attack and bowls another bunch of ordinary deliveries. There’s no stopping Smith, consecutive FOURs over fine-leg and mid-wicket respectively. 12 off the over.

Gujarat 100/1 after 9 overs.

FIFTY for Dwayne smith with a FOUR past mid-wicket. Far from flawless but good enough from the West Indian. It’s 29 April : Day of the Smiths.

Gujarat 93/1 after 8.1 overs.

WICKET ! Bhatia gets in one of his slower-than-a-snail deliveries, McCullum ends up playing too early and top edges to Morkel coming in from fine leg. Goes for an engaging 43 off 22. New man in, skip Suresh Raina.

Gujarat 93/0 after 8 overs.

The other Ashwin, Murugan Ashwin gets the ball. He doesn’t get a welcome first ball. But his third goes for a typical BMac SIX that’s cut over long off with power and panache in equal proportions.

Gujarat need 122 runs off 78 balls now.

Gujarat 84/0 after 7 overs.

Double change in bowling. Rajat Bhatia on from the other end. And he gets a Smithy welcome too. With a lofted SIX over long-on ! Slight chance third ball of that over. stumping appeal on BMac. Reviews show he’s safe. 12 off the over.

Gujarat 72/0 after 6 overs.

Ravi Ashwin into the attack and he’s welcomed with consecutive FOURs by Smith over mid-wicket and backward-point respectively. Seems if your last name is Smith tonight, you’re gonna have a blast with the bat. 10 off the over.

Gujarat 62/0 after 5 overs.

Yes, you read that right ! Gujarat are off to an absolute flier of a start ! 14 off this over. Short couple deliveries at BMac and he unleashes exquisite cut-shots past point and cover-point for consecutive FOURs. Even ends up damaging hit bat ! Smith chips in with a pull over mid-wicket. Four again.

Gujarat 48/0 after 4 overs.

15 off the over, another good one for Gujarat. Ordinary bowling from Dinda. A wide and a couple FOURs. Flick past fine leg and a drive through mid-off by Smith. He's getting some ugly runs right now but he's getting them all the same.

Gujarat 33/0 after 3 overs.

Massive over for Gujarat, 24 off it ! Two very close balls at McCullum and he somehow manages to get FOUR off both of them. Cut wide of backward point and glanced down to third man. A lot of luck going Gujarat's way in these early stages of the 2nd innings. However, Morkel does get in a poor 4th ball and gets creamed for SIX with a pull over mid-wicket. It gets worse for him as his last ball of the over, a full toss, gets smacked over his head for FOUR by Baz ! Some over that, happening as it gets !

Gujarat 9/0 after 2 overs.

Ashok Dinda on from the other end. And another 2nd ball chace there. Direct hit from Perera at the bowler's end and McCullum would've been back in the dug-out. Smith looking pretty edgy out there. Barely gets away with the last delivery of the over.

Gujarat 6/0 after 1 over.

Close chance the very 2nd ball. Dwayne Smith beaten off the top edge by a pacy, zippy one from Morkel. He does come back nicely from that and finisjes the first over with a FOUR cut through point.

Albie Morkel to open the bowling for Pune. Smith on strike. And away we go!

We’re back on ! 196 the total for Gujarat to get. Put come their openers, Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum.

I'll put it 70-30 in Pune's favour. We'll be back with the 2nd innings in just a while. Stick around.

So,a huge total by the Pune Supergiants courtesy a top notch hundred from Steve Smith. Solid stuff from Raahne upfront to lay down the foundation and good contributions by the rest. 195 certainly par and may well be sufficient for them. Pune will certainly be the happier side at the halfway mark. But Gujarat have been the form-side this season, so you never know !

Pune 195/3 after 20 overs.

Four past square leg brings up a HUNDRED FOR STEVE SMITH off 53 balls ! Stellar knock from him. His first T20 hundred it turns out. But. But. But. He's out clean bowled by Dwayne Bravo the very next delivery ! Drama, I know ! It was right in the blockhole from Bravo, Smith went for it with the touch he's shown today, misses, his stumps are a mess. Perera the new man in. A couple of singles. Dhoni faces the last ball of the innings. And he does what he does best on last balls of innings. Finishes off with a FOUR.

Pune 183/2 after 19 overs.

Two almost-yorkers from Praveen go for FOUR, such is the class of these two batsmen. Dhoni powers it past square leg and Smith sends it past his favourite-region-of-the-day, fine leg. 14 runs off the over. Brilliant from Pune. Just 6 balls to go then.

Pune 169/2 after 18 overs.

Bravo back into the attack. And Smith launches another one over long off for SIX. H emoves to 88 off 48. Real shot at a hundred here. 9 off the over.

Pune 160/2 after 17 overs.

LOOOONG over there ! And a very poor one too from Jadeja. Two wides and a couple of monstrous sixes. Consecutive ones from Dhoni, actually. First : Flat, over long-on with the helicopter shot. Second : Too much width on offer, clobbered over long-off.

Pune 144/2 after 16 overs.

Shivil back into the attack. Smith again. SIx again. Over long-off again. He's playing a blinder here. 79 off 44 now.Pune 135/2 after 15 overs.

Jadeja back into the attack. Decent first couple balls but he's smacked by Smith for SIX over long off on the third. Good comeback with three dots.

Pune 126/2 after 14 overs.

WICKET off the 4th ball of the over. Agile direct hit from Bravo at the non-striker's end brings an end to a wonderful innings from Rahane. Dhoni the new man in.

Pune 118/1 after 13 overs.

Faulkner again. Massive hit from Smith over deep mid-wicket for SIX ! And Rahane follows it up with a FOUR in the same region. It's FIFTY for him off 43 balls. Well in !

Pune 104/1 after 12 overs.

Bravo with the ball. Another beautiful strike for FOUR from Rahane and another one in the backward square region ! Has been really fruitful, that area, for Pune tonight. 12 off the over. good one for Pune.

Pune 93/1 after 11 overs.

Jimmy Faulkner into the attack. And rightaway, batsmen not able to get any boundaries.

They do, however, do extremely well on taking singles yet again. 8 runs off the over.

Pune 85/1 after 10 overs.

Eventful over that ! Lucky outside edge from Rahane runs down for Four. Front foot no-

ball from Shivil gives Pune a free hit last ball. And boy, does/smith make it count !

Launches a SIX over long-off.

Pune 70/1 after 9 overs.

Jadeja continues. 5 singles and a twoo off the over. Excellent running-between-the-

wickets from the Pune batters.

Pune 63/1 after 8 overs

Kaushik into the attack. Another lovely boundary for FOUR from Smith in the backward-

square region. The Aussoe skip is on song here.

Pune 55/1 after 7 overs

Ravi Jadeja into the attack. No turn but decent start from him. Three singles and a couple

of two's there.

Pune 48/1 after 6 overs

Kulkarni continues. Into his 3rd over. Boundaries to start and end the over. Rahane with

a rad flick just wide of mid-wicket. Smith with a neat FOUR just wide of backward square

leg.

Pune 35/1 after 5 overs.

Still no change in bowling. Praveen again. Two consecutive FOUR's from Smith. The first

driven past cover and the second nice;y timed past fine leg. He's looking good already !

Singles off the next 3 balls.

Pune 22/1 after 4 overs.

Singles galore ! Dhawan Kulkarni with very straight lines there.

Pune 18/1 after 3 overs.

Steve smith the new man in. Gets off the mark with a FOUR first ball. Clipped delicately past fine leg.

Pune 13/1 after 2.3 overs.

Raina with a very sharp and accurate throw. A bit of a confusion between Rahane and Tiwary. The latter significantly short of making his ground at the striker's end.

Pune 13/0 after 2 overs.

Praveen continues with the ball. Dhawan Kulkarni on from the other end. Lovely stroke straight down the ground from Rahane for FOUR 3rd ball of that over to follow a wide ball from the bowler.

Pune 5/0 after the first over. Brilliant cut for FOUR from Rahane off the second ball.

Rahane on strike. Praveen pacing in with the first ball of the match.

Tiwary and Rahane are out in the middle to open the innings for Pune. Praveen Kumar with the new ball. Two slips in. GO TIME !

RPS XI: A Rahane, S Tiwary, S Smith, MS Dhoni, T Perera, P Handscomb, A Morkel, R Bhatia, R Ashwin, A Dinda, M Ashwin

GL XI: DR Smith, B McCullum, S Raina, D Karthik, R Jadeja, I Kishan, DJ Bravo, J Faulkner, P Kumar, D Kulkarni, S Kaushik

MS Dhoni : Fast bowlers will get some swing. I have not played enough games here. Mitch Marsh is not fit. Handscomb and Albie Morkel comes in.

Suresh Raina : “It looks green, we have the bowling unit to exploit the conditions. Finch, Tambe not fit. He injured himself during the last game. Kaushik is in.”

TOSS : Gujurat have won the toss and they’re gonna have a bowl first.

RISING PUNE SUPERGIANTS: Pune, many believed to be a replica of the now disbanded Chennai Super Kings, but their performances on the field have been far from satisfactory, and they might now want to believe that the last encounter against Sunrisers Hyderabad in a rain-affected match will revitalise their campaign.The team which has been looking for impact bowlers, found one in an unlikely punt in Ashoke Dinda, and on a pitch which offered assistance to the seamers, Dinda provided the early boost that was instrumental in defining the course of the match. Follow live score updates here with us for today’s IPL match between Rising Pune Supergiants and Gujarat Lions.

Along with Dinda, Mitchell Marsh and Thisara Perera combined well, and in Rajat Bhatia, Dhoni has found a bowler on whom he can bank in the middle-overs.

For once Ravichandran Ashwin bowled out his quota of overs and against the many left-handers he found his control and picked up wickets. This performance might spur him on against the power-packed Gujarat batting line-up.

The batting is a more settled unit and Ajinkya Rahane and Faf du Plessis have been consistent run-getters for the side and they are the top-scorers with 223 and 206 runs respectively.

Faf, however is now ruled out of the IPL due to a finger injury, so that might change all the dynamics considerably. After Kevin Pietersen, this is another massive injury that Pune will have to factor in.

Dhoni himself seems to have found is hitting touch, and if the bowling holds their own, Pune can give Lions a run for the money.

GUJARAT LIONS:

Along with Kolkata Knight Riders, Gujarat Lions has been the team of the tournament so far. They have been on a rampage and have only had one blip against Sunrisers Hyderabad. They were pushed to a corner against Delhi Daredevils, but somehow held on and won the game by 1 run. Tight wins galvanise a team more, and Lions will hope that their character was moulded further.

In Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum, they have arguably the most belligerent opening duo in the IPL, and they have on many occasions for the Chennai Super Kings and twice for the Gujarat Lions. Once they get going, it is almost impossible to stop them and the odds of them clicking are quite high.

The middle order is a bit sketchy at the moment; Suresh Raina has not yet got going, DInesh Karthik always plays one shot too many and Dwayne Bravo’s batting seems to have lost the sheen. The pedigree is certainly there, they need the belief to gel well.

The bowling, however, is one of the best in the IPL, and the Indian duo of Praveen Kumar and Dhawal Kulkarni have emerged as a potent weapon. Dhawal has been penetrative with the new ball and Praveen has been sensational at the death. He conceded only 4 runs in the 19th over against Delhi Daredevils against a rampaging Chris Morris and set up the game beautifully for Bravo.

Suresh Raina has been quite good with his captaincy, but few of his decisions came under the scanner against Delhi Daredevils. He would love to assert his supremacy against MS Dhoni out of all people.

PITCH AND WEATHER:

The pitch at Pune generally is a true surface and might offer assistance to the spinners, and the boundaries are quite short, so that may bode well for the stroke-makers.

The day will be hot, but the stadium is on a highway and is quite open so there is nice breeze during the match.

STAT ATTACK: Dhawal Kulkarni is the only bowler to bowl two wicket maidens in IPL 2016.

Gujarat Lions will be the first team to win six out of their first seven matches in the season they make their IPLdebut if they win their match tomorrow.