Rising Pune Supergiant’s Ben Stokes might not be doing justice to his hefty price tag with the bat in the 2017 Indian Premier League [IPL], but his bowling has made up for it.
Against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday, Stokes picked up his second Man of the Match award in just eight days as Pune ended their opponents’ six-game winning streak.
The England all-rounder started off with a wicket maiden, which was followed by a wicket off the first delivery in his second over later in the innings. At that stage, he had two wickets to his name and had conceded zero runs from seven deliveries.
Stokes was later handed the responsibility of bowling the 19th over, with Mumbai needing 24 runs to win from two overs with two capable batsmen in Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya at the crease.
The Supergiant pacer, though, brought his A-game as he conceded just seven runs from the over as no delivery went for more than one run. This was followed by an excellent diving catch to get rid off Pandya in the final over as Pune won by three runs.
Earlier, Stokes had managed to score 17 runs from 12 balls with the bat.
SOCIAL CHATTER
Ben Stokes- proper cricketer.
— Jason Gillespie (@dizzy259) April 24, 2017
Yorker.#IPL10
— Mpumelelo Mbangwa (@mmbangwa) April 24, 2017
#MI has lost only two games...both to #RPS. Krunal's absence was felt. Stokes' 19th over made the difference in the end. #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 24, 2017
Ben Stokes is earning his riches today. With the ball and in the field.....
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 24, 2017
Match of twists & turns, but Pune prevailed thru moments of sheer individual brilliance. Most of the came from Stokes. He is my MoM
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 24, 2017
