IPL 2017: Ben Stokes justifies heafty price-tag with splendid show against MI

So as usual, it's time to bid goodbye again. As a MI fan it is really disappointing to see a loss after winning six games on the trot, but credit be given to the RPS for hanging in there and keeping their focus on the game. 

Thanks for tuning in and I hope you enjoyed the commentary. Goodnight and see you soon! 

So RPS win the second tie of the Maharashtra Derby with a yet another convincing win. The visitors were 20 runs short of the total they put up on board but bounced back into the game, especially with overseas players like Imran Tahir and Ben Stokes impressing with the ball. 

MI looked like they could get back in groove but lost some wickets in the middle that changed the tale of the game. For RPS on the other hand it's a big victory. Steve Smith's side have now won their third game on the run and the fact they've outplayed MI in their own den will make them much happier.  

MI will be disappointed that they could not present Sachin Tendulkar with a win on his birthday. It will be hard for the home side to forget this game, but they need to move on and focus on regaining their winning momentum. However, the result doesn't change the position for MI and RPS as both the sides retain their position at number 1 and 4 respectively on the IPL table. 

Ben Stokes has been adjudged man of the match for his all-round performance. 

Unadkat to bowl the final

19.1 STOKES TAKES A BLINDER! Bit short and Pandya gets a big edge off his bat. Stokes comes charging in from deep extra cover to get rid of Pandya. MI lose their 7th wicket and Bhajji comes onto bat. 

19.2 SIX! Length ball and Rohit moves to his off and connects sweetly to send it into the crowds

19.3 BIG WIDE but not given. Rohit cannot believe his eyes and is having a chat with the umpires

19.4 OUT! Rohit gets a top edge while trying to power it onto the leg. The MI skipper gets a top edge and it's taken by the bowler who hits his head to the ground while holding on to the ball. Is this the final nail in the coffin for the MI? McClenaghan comes onto bat. 

19.5 RUN OUT! Bhajji makes good contact and punches the ball towards deep extra cover. He wants the strike but McClenaghan is miles out of the crease and has to depart. 

19.6 SIX, but too late for MI. 

MI 157-8 

Ben Stokes to bowl the final. MI need a big over here

18.1 LEG BYE! Onto Rohit's pads, the skipper rotates the strike to Pandya. Field alterations for Stokes

18.1 WIDE! Can't do that, in the 19th over especially

18.2 Full and Pandya swings it towards long leg for one. 

18.3 Full and under the bat. Rohit smacks it straight to the man at cover. Single

18.4 Slower ball and Pandya gets an inside edge onto his stumps. Another single, but MI need boundaries

18.5 YORKER and just 6 off the over. 138 kmph and Rohit is not able to do anything. 

18.6 Just a single. MI need 17 off 6 

MI 144-5 

Unadkat back to bowl, Pandya on strike

17.1 LEG BYE! 

17.2 Rohit finds the man at backward point 

17.2 WIDE! Will need to re-bowl that one 

17.3 Rohit takes a single at off and brings up his 50. Will need to put that effort to seal another victory for the MI

17.4 CRUCIAL FOUR! Pandya slaps a slower delivery over the cover. MI need more of them.

17.5 BACK TO BACK BOUNDARIES! Short again from Unadkat, Pandya pulls and finds the gap at deep midwicket. 

17.6 Round the wicket, Pandya gets an inside edge. Dhoni does well to keep hold of the ball 

MI 137-5 

Tahir to bowl his third 

16.1 OUT! Pollard goes inside out and Pollard gets the toe of the bat trying to hit it against the turn. Smith at long off covers lot of ground towards deep extra cover to dismiss the West Indian. Pandya walks in at no.7

16.2 Rohit picks a quick single down mid on

16.3 Pandya gets off the mark with one 

16.4 Towards leg, Rohit plays it towards deep midwicket for one

16.5 Beaten by the turn. Dhoni has taken off the bails quickly as Pandya lifts his back foot. The umpire go upstairs, but Pandya's safe

MI 135-5 

Thakur back into the attack

15.1 Pollard plays it to long on for one

15.2 BANG! Short and quick, Rohit pulls it towards deep backward square leg for a biggie. 77 metres! 

15.3 Full toss but Rohit fails to place it past midwicket

​15.4 Length ball and over mid on. Smith at long on cuts it for two

15.5 Slower bouncer, Pollard pulls out at the last moment

15.6 On the up, Pollard guides it towards long off to keep the strike. 

MI 122-4 

Stokes to bowl the 15th 

15.1 Short and Rohit gets on one foot and finds the man at leg gully

15.2 Straight to the man at deep point, single 

15.3 Pollard steps back and powers it to Christian at long one. Just a single 

15.4 FOUR! Slower ball and Rohit picks the gap between the covers and lashes it for a boundary. ELEGANT!

15.6 Pollard pockets one 

MI 113-4 

Tahir back into the attack

13.1 Rohit beaten by the turn

13.2 CHANCE and FOUR! Short and Rohit plays it straight to Rahane at deep midwicket. Rahane has his eyes on the ball and gets his fingertips before it touches the boundary

13.3 INTO THE CROWD! Rohit picks up the googly beautifully and powers it over long on 

13.5 Played back at Tahir 

13.6 Rohit sweeps it towards deep square leg, single

MI 105-4 

Stokes back into action

12.1 BOWLED HIM! Outside off and angling into middle, Karn gets a thick inside edge onto his stumps. Pollard comes in at no.6 

12.2 Stokes concedes his first run as Pollard works his way on the leg side to get off the mark 

12.3 Rohit clips it down leg. Wants two but has to settle for just one 

12.4 FOUR! Power and placement by Pollard down deep midwicket. Right off the meat of the bat.

12.5 CLOSE! Pollard plays to Unadkat at deep midwicket. Rohit calls for a run at the last minute and is off the strikers end by miles, but a miss from Unadkat at the strikers end keeps him safe

MI 94-4 

Tahir to bowl his second 

11.2 PUT IT DOWN! Karn finds Tiwary at cover who drops a sitter

11.3 SIX! Close and tossed up, Karn backs it over long on for a maximum

11.4 Sundar at leg gully cuts it off for one 

11.5 Quick single 

11.6 It's the flipper from Tahir and Rohit places it past covers for an easy two 

MI 86-3 

Unadkat back into the attack

10.1 Wide, Karn smacks it straight to deep point for two 

10.3 Karn pulls a loose ball towards mid on for one 

10.4 Round the wicket to Rohit, the skipper guides it to third man for one 

10.5 Slow and wide but straight to deep extra cover. Single

10.6 FOUR! Fine leg inside the circle, Rohit bends on one knee and places it over the keeper to get a much needed boundary 

MI 77-3 

Karn comes into bat, Tahir to bowl his first

9.1 FOUR! Rohit guides it down third man after the ball turns away from him

9.3 FOUR AGAIN! Full toss and placed over midwicket 

9.5 SHOUT FOR LBW! Googly this time by Tahir, but it's struck outside the line and looks like it's guiding outside off

9.6 Dot ball to end the over 

MI 68-3 

Sundar back into the attack

8.1 Parthiv plays it towards the covers but is given a NO call by the skipper at the other end

8.2 Guided down leg for one 

8.3 Rohit plays it onto leg, single 

8.4 Parthiv sweeps towards leg gully. MI picks a quick single

8.5 Another single. The MI batsman are playing sensible here and are keeping the board ticking. 

8.6 BOWLED HIM! Quick and full and poor shot selection from Parthiv doesn't end up well, as the Gujarat batsman fails to slash at the quicker one. 

MI 60-3 

Christian introduced and round the wicket

7.1 Wide, Parthiv slashes it towards the covers for one

7.2 OUT! Christian bowls an off cutter and it's short. Rana goes for the swing but gets a top edge that finds Unadkat at third man. Rohit comes in at no.4, can the MI skipper rescue his side? 

7.3 Parthiv guides it down third man for a quick one 

7.5 Rohit defends it towards mid on

7.6 FOUR! Length ball and Rohit punishes it towards long on 

MI 56-2 

Spin back in again in the form of Sundar

6.2 Rana plays it down gully for one 

6.3 IN THE AIR! Parthiv looks to play it onto leg, but gets an outside edge thats just wide of the youngster. Single

6.5 Parthiv picks up two past deep extra cover 

6.6 Clipped towards leg for a single 

MI 50-1 

Meanwhile, Zaheer Khan has revealed that he has been engaged to Sagarika Ghatge a few moments ago. Wishes and congratulatory messages pouring in for the seamer. 

Thakur back into the attack, round the wicket

5.1 Parthiv plays it fine down leg for two 

5.1 BIG WIDE! 

5.2 FOUR! Sprayed on the pads and flicked by Parthiv between the keeper and leg gully

5.4 Off cutter, Rana takes a quick single down leg

5.5 Short and just short of the man at leg gully

5.6 Inside edge back onto the pads 

MI 44-1 

Stokes to bowl to his fellow countryman

4.1 Slower ball, angling into the batsman, Buttler plays it to the covers

4.2 OUT! Buttler makes some room and charges down the wicket. Buttler fails to time it well and finds the man at long on. Stokes is ecstatic after dismissing Buttler! MI lose their first wicket. Rana makes way

4.3 Round the wicket, Rana reaches out for the ball and straight to backward point 

4.5 BIG CHANCE! Quick and it's nicked by Rana, but it just falls a few inch short of Pandey at first slip. 

Wicket maiden, terrific from Stokes. MI 35-1 

Left arm seam in the form of Unadkat to bowl

3.1 Patel clips it towards deep square leg for one 

3.2 Off cuter, Buttler strokes it and the man at deep cover has some work to do. Single 

3.3 Angling into middle, Parthiv opens the blade and guides it to gully for one 

3.4 FOUR! Slower delivery, Buttler is deceived by the lack of pace and gets a thick outside edge. There's no first slip and Buttler gets four 

3.6 Round the wicket, Buttler clips it down deep square leg for one 

MI 35-0 

Shardul Thakur with the new ball

1.1 BRILLIANT FROM CHRISTIAN! Length delivery and outside off, Parthiv forces the drive that finds Christian who puts in the dive at cover

1.2 141 kmphs, Parthiv gets beaten by the pace

1.3 LEG BYE! Parthiv tries to clip in onto fine leg, but it misses the bat 

1.4 FOUR! Short and wide, Buttler reaches out and finds the gap to guide it at third man

1.5 FOUR AGAIN! Tailing down leg side, looking for the away swing. Buttler clips it towards fine leg

1.6 Buttler goes down the ground but an effort from the man at mid on keeps it down to 2 

Sundar back into the attack

2.2 FOUR! Parthiv gets under the ball and places it safely over the man at mid on

2.3 CLOSE! Flatter and quicker, Parthiv tries to play a late cut, but the ball nearly kisses the off stump

2.4 FOUR! Middle of the tinder. Short, Parthiv pounces onto in and past the man at backward point

2.5 FOUR! Short and gets the treatment. Patel pulls it towards deep square leg. 

2.6 Parthiv keeps the strike 

MI 27-0 

So we're back for the second innings. Parthiv and Buttler come into bat and Smith hands 17-year-old spinner Sundar the new ball

0.1 Pathiv gets off the mark with a single

0.2 Round the wicket, Buttler places it straight back at mid off

0.3 Flicked down leg for one 

0,4 Shot and smacked to backward point. Parthiv picks up a quick single 

0.6 EXCELLENT FIELD BY SMITH! Buttler clips it strongly past midwicket but Smith puts in a stunning dive to avoid four. 

MI 3-0 

Fine spell from @harbhajan_singh. 5/over and a wicket on a beautiful batting surface. Great to see @mipaltan

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 24, 2017

MI will be happy with the way they kept the score at 160 after a good start for the visitors. There's appreciation from the dugout as the MI players make their way back to the dressing room. RPS got on to a good start, but failed to steer the ship to post a challenging total at the Wankhede. 

MI came back into the game and conceded only 40 runs in the last 5 overs.

Remember, the stadium has been a fortress for the MI and it's require a special effort from the Pune outfit to avoid slipping in the second half of the table. 

Bumrah to bowl the final one 

19.1 FOUR! Tiwary gets into position early and shuffles it between the gap at deep midwicket

19.2 ONE BOUNCE FOUR! Attempted yorker, gets it full and Tiwary punches it in the same direction. Bad start for Bumrah

​19.3 Wide yorker, well executed! 

19.4 OUT LBW! Slower delivery and Tiwary tries to pluck it down leg. Tiwary fails to pick it up and the ball looks like it's crashing between middle and leg. RPS lose their 6th wicket. Sundar comes in

19.5 The left hander plunges it down the leg side, couple.

19.6 Tries to play the dilscoop, but it's in the block hole. Bumra closely misses the leg stump and straight to Patel. 

RPS 160-6 

 McClenaghan to bowl his final over

18.1 Slower ball, Tiwary plays it to third man and tries to run it down. Karn puts in the dive to give away just one 

18.1 WIDE! 

18.2 Short and wide. Christian has a go but makes no contact whatsoever 

18.3 BYE! Christian moves towards the off, trying to pull on the leg side. Misses and the keeper at the back fumbles with the ball to allow one for RPS

18.5 FOUR! Half folly outside the off stump and powered through the covers

19 gone RPS 150-5 

Bumrah to bowl his third

17.1 Wonderful slower ball and angling into leg, through Tiwary's pads and to the keeper

17.2 Slower one again, Tiwary takes one at backward point 

17.3 BOWLED HIM! Bumrah comes out on top in the battle with Dhoni. Short and outside off, Dhoni gets a big inside edge while going for the pull and guides the ball onto his stumps. Christian comes in at no.7

17.4 Christian flicks it down leg for two\

17.5 Fast and beats Christian

17.6 Yorker and Christian easily pushes for a quick two after the man at midwicket fumbles with the ball 

RPS 142-5 

Johnson round the wicket to Stokes

16.1 CLEANED HIM UP! Straight and Stokes go for the mighty hit. Stokes misses and it crashes onto his leg stump. Manoj Tiwary replaces Stokes

16.2 IN THE AIR AND FOUR! Pandey goes inside out and plays it to early, ball gets under Pandya's hands and through deep extra cover

16.3 FOUR MORE! Short and Tiwary gets early into position to pull it away

16.5 Short and McClenaghan at third man cuts it. Tiwary takes two

16.6 Played late by Tiwary in the same direction. Keeps the strike. 

RPS 137-4 

 McClenaghan to bowl the 16th

15.1 Dhoni plays it towards deep cover for one

15.2 Outside off and angling into Stokes, the Englishman squares it straight to backward point 

15.3 Played in the same region, but a BIG NO call by Dhoni and Stokes rushes back

15.4 Playing across the line and Stokes misses. 3 dots in a row and pressure building up

15.5 FOUR AND LUCKY! That'll relieve the pressure. McClenaghan comes down the wicket, Stokes takes a shimmy and through the legs, past the boundary at fine leg

15.6 Punched towards deep point for one

RPS 126-3  

200 wickets for Harbhajan in the IPL. Johnson back into the attack. Stokes comes out to bat

13.2 Slip in position. Dhoni slaps it straight to the man at mid off

13.3 On to leg, Dhoni clips it for an easy single

13.4 FOUR! Poor ball and gets the treatment. Straying on the pads, Stokes clips it down fine leg

13.6 Dhoni looks to play it on the leg side and pockets one 

Bumrah to bowl his second

14.2 Slower delivery, Stokes goes down the crowd. Dhoni pushes for a two and Stokes gets there easily in the end

14.3 Two. Towards the middle, Stokes clips in towards deep midwicket. Sensible batting the the RPS

14.4 Stokes goes for the big one but gets a top edge that is well over the man at backward point .Two again

14.5 Short and outside off, Stokes picks one down the leg side 

14.6 Dhoni plays it to the covers and picks up a quick single 

RPS 120-3 

Bhajji back into the attack

12.1 Pitched onto middle, Smith guides it to square leg for one

12.2 Dhoni defends one 

12.3 Dhoni gets back and plays it to cover for one 

12.4 IN THE AIR BUT SAFE! Smith clips it over the man at square leg for an easy single

12.5 Dhoni picks up a quick single at midwicket

12.6 BOWLED! Half tracker and slow. Smith miserably fails to pick it up and the ball crashes into off. 

RPS 104-3 

Karn to bowl his final

11.1 SLAPPED FOR FOUR! Smith takes a shimmy and crunches it again the turn past long off

11.2 Pitched on middle and turns away from Smith, the RPS skipper takes a quick single

11.3 OUT! Tripathi goes for the big one again and doesn't make good contact while charging down the track. Ball finds Pollard deep extra cover. Great knock by Tripathi comes to an end. MS Dhoni in at 4

11.4 DROPPED BY BHAJJI! Big miss! Flighted and Smith sweeps its straight at deep backward square leg. Bhajji drops a sitter and allows Smith an easy two

11.5 FOUR! Drops back and Smith crunches it towards deep midwicket

​11.5 Smith keeps the strike 

RPS 100-2 

Bhaji back into the attack

10.1 Swept towards deep square leg, one

10.2 Doosra, Smith attempts to play the cover, but it just misses the off stump

10.3 Smith takes one down fine leg

10.4 Short and Tripathi gets it straight to the covers

10.5 Right in the block hole, the batsman squeezes for one

10.6 Angling to middle and Smith clips it straight to deep square leg. Just 5 off it. 

RPS 88-1 

Bhajji to bowl his second 

8.1 Rahane plays it back to the bowler

8.2 Rahane charges down and takes a single towards long on

8.3 Outside off, Tripathi swings the blade but the man at backward point cuts it off

8.4 Turn and bounce, man at gully keeps it down to one

8.6 Rahane clips it easily on the leg side to keep the strike

Karn to bowl his third 

9.1 Turn and Rahane powers it to long on

9.2 Outside off and turning away from the batsman, Tripathi guides it to deep point

9.3 OUT! Top spinner and huge bounce. Rahane goes for the pull but is amazed by the bounce. Gets a top edge and straight into Karn's hands. Was looking good, but has to depart. Smith walks out to the middle

9.4 Nudged towards the on side for one. Smith pushes for two, but has to settle for one

9.5 CHANCE, BUT SIX! Flighted, Tripathi goes for the pull but it's well over Rana at the deep midwicket boundary 

RPS 84-1 

Mitchell McClenaghan back into the attack

7.1 Tripathi goes for the sweep, but misses

7.2 FOUR! Quick and wide, Tripathi fires it over backward point 

7.3 FOUR AGAIN! Tripathi charges down but gets a thick edge this time. The outfield is quick and it races off to third man

7.4 Wide and on the leg, Tripathi pulls one towards long leg

7.5 FOUR! Rahane doesn't budge an inch and flicks it down deep midwicket. Mitchell McClenaghan is proving to be expensive.

7.6 Clipped to third man for one 

RPS 69-0 

End of power play. Time for some more spin, this time, from Harbhajan

6.2 BRILLIANT STUFF FROM MCCLEANAGHAN! Tripathi plays it late towards third man and it's a bit of challenge for the Kiwi bowler who doesn't give up the chase and pulls the ball back a few metres off the fence

6.4 Strayed down leg and Rahane sweeps it down the fine leg boundary. Buttler at the rope cuts it in time and Rahane collects two

6.5 Single at mid off

6.6 Tripathi goes for the big one but misses. Tripathi keeps the strike. 

RPS 55-0 

Bumrah introduced

4.1 Rahane guides it to the fielder at third man for a single.

4.3 FOUR! Good length delivery outside off, Rahane camps back and punches it through the cover region

4.4 Rahane swings but fails to make contact.

4.6 Angling into middle, Rahane clips it to midwicket

​Karn to bowl his second

5.1 CLASS SIX! Pitched up, Tripathi gets low and powers it over long on

5.2 Quick single at cover 

5.4 Bit of turn after pitching on middle, Rahane can only find the man at cover

5.5 Down the leg, Rahane goes for a sweep but it hits the keepers pads. None

​5.6 FOUR! Bit short and beautifully flicked by Rahane towards deep midwicket

RPS 48-0 

Johnson back into the attack 

2.1 An exact replay of the Rahane shot but its stopped by Jonhson

2.3 Johnson comes round the wicket and bowls it on a fuller length. Rahane drives it straight down the ground with a straight bat. 

2.4 Rahane strokes another fuller length delivery but it's straight to the fielder at mid off

2.6 Tripathi dances down the track and gets a thick inside edge. Fielder at short fine leg cuts it off for one

Karn Sharma introduced

3.1 Tossed and wide, Tripathi plays an a drive past extra cover and Pollard cuts it off for two

3.2 Same direction and same runs by Tripathi 

3.3 Guided to gully for one

3.5 Another one tossed up outside off, Rahane drives it to the covers

3.6 Rahane clips it towards the mid on region as Karn sprays the ball onto leg. Rahane keeps the strike. 

RPS 31-0 

McClenaghan to share the bowling with Johnson

1.2 Lenght delivery and sprayed onto the pads, Tripathi defends it

1.3 FOUR! Tripathi takes a shimmy down the wicket and flashes at a quick delivery from McClenaghan. The pace is sufficient to guide it over deep point for a boundary.

1.4 CLOSE! Both the RPS batsmen take a quick single but Pollard makes a direct hit at the striker's end. The umpires have gone upstairs, but Rahane has arrived well in time. 

1.6 FOUR! Full and straight from McClenaghan, Rahane opens the face of the bat and the pace is enough to beat the man at mid on despite a desperate dive.

Rahane and Tripathi makes their way out to the middle. Johnson given the new ball straightaway

0.1 Good length delivery angling in at 144 kmph. Rahane clips it through the square leg region for a single.

0.3 Tripathi gets off the mark with a single down third man

0.4 Short and quick, Rahane goes for the pull but makes no contact. One bouncer for the over.

0.4 First extra of the eve. WIDE! 

0.6 FLAT SIX! Outside off, Rahane bends on one leg and powers it over the man at backward point for a maximum

RPS 9-0 

Here are both the teams: 

#IPL Match 28: Here are the Playing XIs for @mipaltan vs. @RPSupergiants #MIvRPS pic.twitter.com/kBiQjPk2kf

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 24, 2017

Good evening everyone. The wait is finally over and it's the match we've all been waiting for. What gets better than a Maharashtra Derby on a Manic Monday? Pune came out on top the last time both these sides met, but the results have been completely different for both the teams. Mumbai Indians (MI) have gone from strenght to strenght and are at the top while Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) have come off an incredible win in their last match over defending champions SRH and will be looking to win again. 

A Maha derby is quite interesting and I'm sure we all will be up for a treat. 

MI won the toss and have elected to bowl because of the dryness of the wicket. Just one change for the table toppers, spinner Karn Sharma makes way for Krunal Pandya. 

RPS captain Smith says he would have elected to bowl as well because the dew factor might come into play later on. RPS have stuck to the same team.