Best Centuries In Successful Chases in IPL History

#3: Ben Stokes (103*, 7x4, 6x6)

For: Rising Pune Supergiant

Against: Gujarat Lions

Date: 1st May 2017

Stokes smashes his way to a match-winning innings

Ben Stokes arrived in the IPL with a fearsome reputation. Known as a big-hitter, and a dangerous, wicket-taking bowler, there was no doubting his all-round ability, when he signed for the Rising Pune Supergiants in 2017. In his very first season he showcased his abilities in destructive fashion.

In this battle of the two new franchises, against the Gujarat Lions at the MCA stadium in Pune, RPS captain Steve Smith won the toss and elected to insert the opposition. Although Gujarat openers Ishan Kishan and Brendon McCullum got off to a good start, putting on 55 for the first wicket, a middle-overs fightback from RPS, led by South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir, saw them slip to 135/6 in 15 overs, and eventually finished on a below-par 161 all out.

With 162 to chase, it seemed as though RPS would win this one comfortably, but things did not pan out as expected. With left-arm pacer Pradeep Sangwan sending both openers, Ajinkya Rahane and Steve Smith, back to the hut in the first over, and Basil Thampi trapping Manoj Tiwary in front of his stumps for a duck in the second over, Stokes was required to go in with just 9 balls of the innings bowled. Normally a finisher, Stokes was required to temper his game so as to take it deep and give his team a chance of winning. He, however, didn't help his cause by running out Rahul Tripathi to leave his side reeling at 42/4 in 5.3 overs, and 120 runs still required.

Joined by MS Dhoni, who played an unusually sedate innings (26 off 33), Stokes constructed his innings to perfection, picking and choosing which bowlers to target, and slowly accelerating before cutting loose in the final overs, to take his side to victory off the penultimate ball, in the company of Ozzie Dan Christian.

Stokes' performances would be vital in taking RPS to the final that year, which they narrowly lost to the Mumbai Indians.

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