A five-wicket haul by seamer Andrew Tye (5-17), which included a hat-trick and some brilliant batting performances from Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith with support from Suresh Raina and Aaron Finch saw Gujarat Lions defeat Rising Pune Supergiant by seven wickets at the SCA stadium on Friday.
McCullum made 49 from 32 balls with 5 fours and three sixes while Dwayne Smith hit 47 from 30 with 8 fours and a six as the opening stand added 94 in 53 balls.
Skipper Raina made 35 not out from 22 deliveries while Finch, who was unbeaten on 33, finished off the game with two sixes. With the victory, Gujarat got their first points on the table.
Earlier, Australian pacer Tye claimed a fifer, including a hat-trick in his final over, as Pune were held to 171 for 8.
Steve Smith 43 and Rahul Tripathy 33, were going well when Tye had the latter caught at mid-off. MS Dhoni’s poor form continued as the former skipper was one to Ravindra Jadeja.
The all-rounder himself did not have a great game, giving away 40 in his four overs, but the rest of the team ensured he gets time to settle in.
--By A Cricket Correspondent