Ben Stokes scored his maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) 2017 century for Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) against Gujarat Lions (GL) as he gives them a thumping victory to reach into top 4 of IPL 2017 standings. Stokes played an innings which will be remembered one of the best while chasing a target under pressure. RPS had tough luck when they started off to chase 162 at their home ground losing three wickets for 10 runs only.
Stokes took the innings forward scoring boundaries in the powerplays itself despite three early wickets. He was under pressure when MS Dhoni came to bat and struggling to score runs, let alone boundaries. Stokes was typically the flag-bearer of the chase. He took the chase forward scoring boundaries and taking off the pressure when needed despite required run rate peaking.
Mad, mad respect.
To Andrew Flintoff 2.0.
Aka Ben Stokes.
Koregaon Park is all yours.#RPSvGL— Sorabh Pant (@hankypanty) May 1, 2017
Out of RPS’s four win;
Three are because of these two #MSDhoni & #BenStokes
(2 MOM for Stokes; 1 MOM for Dhoni) pic.twitter.com/0oOXtmDmmZ— MSDhoniFansOfficial (@msdfansofficial) April 25, 2017
Just have to enjoy this innings from @benstokes38. Been the lone chaser in what seemed a lost cause.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 1, 2017
After a while, when Dhoni settled he too started hitting boundaries when after 14 overs RPS needed 72 from 36 balls. Dhoni too joined in the party and struck sixes to get RPS back on track, but, he departed midway leaving Stokes high and dry.
That was special.!! Congrats @benstokes38 incredible match winning innings. #newbalance #IPL10
— David Miller (@DavidMillerSA12) May 1, 2017
BIG BEN @benstokes38 what an inn that was.. congratulations super game @RPSupergiants vs @TheGujaratLions @IPL at its best now
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) May 1, 2017
English Champion lights up #IPL. Way to go rockstar @benstokes38 @RPSupergiants #RPSvGL pic.twitter.com/XDkNQQ16z7
— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) May 1, 2017
Ben The Beast.
What a knock! @benstokes38 #IPL2017 pic.twitter.com/EpI34JKyw5— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 1, 2017
Stokes took the inning forward as he hammered the ball all over the park as he raced towards his century with Daniel Christian supporting him on the other side.
That’s as good as a t20 hundred can get! Coming in at 5 in the 2nd over under pressure. Incredible @benstokes38! #wortheverycent #freak
— Glenn Maxwell (@Gmaxi_32) May 1, 2017
Ben strokes ! A serious knock @benstokes38 too much talent this guy possesses! Beautiful to watch as a left hander
— yuvraj singh (@YUVSTRONG12) May 1, 2017
Exactly why they paid all the dosh …. Best All rounder in the World by a country mile … @benstokes38 … #IPL
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) May 1, 2017
What a win @RPSupergiants absolutely marvellous innings by @benstokes38
— Gutta Jwala (@Guttajwala) May 1, 2017
Stokes took RPS home with one ball to spare, he reached his century off 62 balls, though, he scored his slowest half-century of his T20 career in 39 balls.
102 out of 158 coming in at 10-3. Will go down as one of the innings of the #IPL from @benstokes38
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 1, 2017
Ben Stokes Pune’s most coveted overseas player with good reason. But it is Imran Tahir who has kept them in hunt for place in play-offs
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 1, 2017
It was a pure class act from Stokes as he single-handedly changed the course of the match. People has already started calling him the new age Andrew Flintoff. Stokes battled through cramps and went back to the pavilion only after winning the match,
