IPL: Ben Stokes can stop Pune losing to Delhi

Match scores (Delhi)

Delhi won by seven runs.

Delhi: 168-8 (Nair 64; Unadkat 2-29; Stokes 2-31)

Pune: 161-7 (Tiwary 60; Khan 2-25, Mohammed Shami 2-37)

Match report

England all-rounder Ben Stokes demonstrated why Rising Pune Supergiant splashed out £1.7million for his services with another impressive all-round performance in the Indian Premier League.

The 25-year-old, the competition's most expensive foreign player, has become one of the stars of this year's tournament, hitting his maiden Twenty20 century earlier this month.

And Stokes (pictured) continued his streak of fine all-round displays in the seven-run defeat to Delhi Daredevils on Friday, taking two wickets, showing his athleticism in the field and hitting 33.

Stokes took two for 31 with the ball, dismissing Karun Nair for a 45-ball 64 and Pat Cummins cheaply, before running out Sanju Samson with a direct-hit from backward point and pulling off a remarkable catch to send Mohammed Shami packing.

The Durham all-rounder's momentum appeared to be taking him over the rope after holding on to a skier from Shami on the deep midwicket boundary at full stretch, but he had the presence of mind to throw the ball in the air and collect on his return to the field.

Stokes then weighed in with 33 off 25 balls, including three fours and two sixes, during Pune's unsuccessful pursuit of 169.