IPL 2017: Ajinkya Rahane fifty steadies Rising Pune Supergiant vs Mumbai Indians

Ajinkya Rahane slammed a well-paced fifty for Rising Pune Supergiant in the Qualifier 1 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) against Mumbai Indians.

Ajinkya Rahane scored a brilliant half-century to keep Rising Pune Supergiant in the contest against Mumbai Indians in the Qualifier 1 of IPL 2017 at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday. (LIVE BLOG)

Rising Pune Supergiant opener Ajinkya Rahane celebrates his fifty during their Indian Premier League (IPL) Qualifier 1 match against Mumbai Indians. (AP)

Ajinkya Rahane scored 56 off 43 balls and it included five boundaries and one six. It was Rahane’s second half century in this IPL. His earlier knock had come in the very first match against Mumbai Indians at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. (LIVE SCORECARD)

Rising Pune Supergiant lost Rahul Tripathi (0) and skipper Steve Smith (1) in the first two overs but that didn’t deter Rahane from playing his shots. In the third over bowled by Mitchell McClenaghan the Pune opener his two crisp boundaries and scored 10 off that over the take the pressure off.

He continued to play his natural game thereafter, dispatching anything lose and pinching ones and twos to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Rahane completes 3000 runs

Earlier, Rahane had became the 11th player to score 3,000 runs in IPL. The Rising Pune Supergaint opener reached the mark with a singled on the leg side off the bowling of Lasith Malinga in the 11th over. Before the start of the match Rahane needed just 43 runs to reach the landmark in his 110th IPL match.

Rahane reached the mark with a singled on the on side off the bowling of Lasith Malinga in the 11th over. Before the start of the match Rahane needed just 43 runs to reach the landmark in his 110th IPL match.

During in his time in the IPL he has represented Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals and the Rising Pune Supergiant with bulk of his run scored for the Rajasthan Royals.