Lions overcome batting scare to consolidate top spot

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Apr-2016

Gujarat Lions, having elected to bowl, had an early breakthrough when Suresh Raina's acrobatic dive caught Saurabh Tiwary short of his crease BCCI

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Ajinkya Rahane's 53 in a second-wicket stand of 111 with Steven Smith helped drive the innings AFP

Smith was in imperious form and ensured Supergiants maintained a brisk scoring rate, bringing up his 50 off 29 balls BCCI

A second run-out gave Lions some respite when Dwayne Bravo's rocket throw found Rahane out of his crease at the non-striker's end BCCI

Smith continued to find the boundary with incredible regularity as he stroked his way to a maiden T20 century BCCI

But he fell immediately after, when he missed a flick off Bravo and the ball crashed off the pad onto leg stump BCCI

MS Dhoni provided the final touches with some clean strikes as Supergiants finished with 195 for 3 BCCI

Brendon McCullum's 22-ball 43 provided the early impetus as Lions blasted 72 without losing a wicket in the Powerplay BCCI

The loss of McCullum hardly proved a hindrance as Dwayne Smith continued to accumulate runs quickly AFP

That was until he chopped a Thisara Perera yorker on to the stumps to fall for 63 BCCI

Dinesh Karthik and Suresh Raina kept the runs ticking over to take the chase closer BCCI

Raina rode his luck and on 25 nearly holed out to Rahane at midwicket BCCI

Ashok Dinda removed Karthik and Dwayne Bravo to leave the game tantalisingly poised BCCI

Raina fell for 34 to leave Lions needing three runs from as many deliveries BCCI

A run-out of Ishan Kishan off the next ball added to the drama BCCI

With the equation down to 1 off 1, birthday boy James Faulkner sealed the win, taking Lions to 196 for 7 and their sixth win in seven matches AFP