Photographs: BCCI
Australian Aaron Finch gave Pune Warriors a flying start as he blasted a quickfire half-century against Chennai Super Kings in the Pepsi Indian Premier League in Chennai, on Monday.
Finch went on the attack right from the start as he hit 13 runs from Dirk Nannes' opening over which included three boundaries. He completed his 50 off 32 balls with a top-edged pull-shot off pacer Chris Morris that went to the fine leg boundary.
Pune Warriors stunned Chennai Super Kings by 24 runs for their second win of the tournament.
Uthappa struggles with the bat
Image: Robin UthappaPhotographs: BCCI
Robin Uthappa struggled to get going at the other end as he played second fiddle to Finch.
The right-hander played a sedate knock of 26 from 33 balls with two boundaries before he was caught by Ravindra Jadeja off pacer Chris Morris.
Jadeja gets the key wicket of Finch
Image: Aaron Finch is stumped by Mahendra Singh Dhoni off Ravindra JadejaPhotographs: BCCI
Ravindra Jadeja made the first breakthrough for Chennai with the key wicket of Finch.
The burly Victorian clobbered 67 off 45 balls with 10 fours and two sixes before he charged down the track but missed and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni completed an easy stumping.
Morris shines with the ball
Image: Chris Morris celebrates with Suresh Raina and Albie MorkelPhotographs: BCCI
South African Chris Morris had another good outing with the ball.
Pune stand-in captain Ross Taylor tried to heave Morris on the leg side but ended up holing out to Jadeja at long-on for eight.
Morris was the best bowler for Chennai as he claimed two for 25 in four overs.
Smith's fireworks lifts Pune to 159
Image: Steven Smith plays the reverse sweepPhotographs: BCCI
Steven Smith finally got a game as Pune's regular captain Angelo Mathews was forced to sit out of the match being played in Chennai.
Smith smashed 39 from just 16 balls having hit three fours and three sixes to give the Pune innings much-needed momentum in the final overs to finish on 159 for five in their 20 overs.
Bhuvneshwar's double strike rocks Chennai
Image: Bhuvneshwar KumarPhotographs: BCCI
Bhuvneshwar Kumar gave Pune Warriors the perfect start with the ball as he claimed two early wickets.
Kumar started with the wicket of Srikkanth Anirudha in the first over, getting him leg before wicket for a duck.
In his third over, the young pacer claimed the wicket of Suresh Raina, who was caught at mid-on for eight as Chennai were reduced to 23 for two in the fifth over.
The young pacer finished with remarkable figures of two for 12 in four overs including a maiden.
Nayar gets the wicket of Vijay
Image: Murali Vijay is caught on the off-sidePhotographs: BCCI
Murali Vijay tried to repair the early damage with a few boundaries before he was dismissed by Abhishek Nayar.
He tried to heave it on the leg side but ended up top edging it to be caught by Ross Taylor in the covers for 24 from 22 balls.
Marsh shines with the ball
Image: Mitchell Marsh (left) celebrates the wicket of S Badrinath with team mates Steven Smith and Ross Taylor (right)Photographs: BCCI
All-rounder Mitchell Marsh hampered Chennai in the middle overs with the wickets of Subramaniam Badrinath and Ravindra Jadeja in successive overs.
Badrinath holed out to Steven Smith at long-off after scoring 34 (26 balls) and Ravindra Jadeja miscued one to short fine leg to be dismissed for 27 from 22 balls.
Sharma celebrates in style
Image: Rahul SharmaPhotographs: BCCI
Leg-spinner Rahul Sharma came up with another good performance with the ball for Pune.
Sharma got the wicket of Dwayne Bravo (1) who hit one straight into the hands of Smith at long-off to finish with good figures of one for 24 in four overs.
Smith named man of the match
Image: Steven Smith (centre) is congratulated by team mates Aaron Finch and Ross Taylor after taking the catch of Mahendra Singh DhoniPhotographs: BCCI
After his good showing with the bat, Smith took some good catches in the outfield to play a stellar role in the victory.
The Australian took three catches in the deep as Chennai folded up for 135 for eight in their 20 overs to lose by 24 runs.
Ashok Dinda made up for his horror showing in the previous match against Mumbai Indians as he took two for 34, including the key wicket of Chennai captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Smith was deservedly named the man of the match for his all-round showing.
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