England all-rounder Ben Stokes proved the $2.17 million that Rising Pune Supergiants splashed to secure his service in the Indian Premier League was a smart investment as he blasted a match-winning century against Gujarat Lions on Monday. Local media were amused by Pune's desperation in February's players auction to land the 25-year-old who was famously clobbered for four successive sixes by West Indies' Carlos Brathwaite in the final of last year's World Twenty20 at Eden Gardens. But the league's most expensive overseas player smashed a fifty in his second outing and won his first two man-of-the-match awards with clever bowling against Royal Challengers Bangalore and table-toppers Mumbai Indians. The batting pyrotechnics he is famous for finally manifested on Monday when he battled cramps to blast an unbeaten 103 off 63 balls and secure a five-wicket victory against the Lions. The hosts had been reeling at 10-3 in their chase of 162 when Stokes walked out to bat and the tattooed all-rounder went on to hit six sixes and seven boundaries. "That was an amazing innings — under pressure, came in at three for nothing and to play the way he did, he timed his innings beautifully and took the game on at the right time," Pune captain Steve Smith told reporters. It was a personal satisfaction for the Australia skipper who played an important role in roping in Stokes. "We were very excited to get him. I had said before the auction to the guys (owners), 'just do what you have to get him,'" Smith said. "All-rounders are so valuable in T20 cricket and he bats, bowls and fields well. He's a perfect fit for our team, particularly after Mitchell Marsh was ruled out as well. "He's done a terrific job for us," added Smith. "We paid a big amount to get him. We know he's a quality player. (He) certainly earned his cash tonight." Smith's view was echoed in a headline in Tuesday's Indian Express newspaper, which gushed: "Ben $tokes rupays faith with a bang-for-the-buck century" — 'rupay' being the plural of Indian rupees. England's Finn out to impress selectors in Ireland series England fast bowler Steven Finn is hoping to impress the selectors during the two-match one-day series against Ireland after being left out of the Champions Trophy squad. Mark Wood, Liam Plunkett, David Willey, Jake Ball, Chris Woakes and Ben Stokes will lead the England attack in next month's tournament on home soil. "These matches (against Ireland) are an opportunity," Finn told reporters. "They are going to be hard fought... and they are an opportunity for me to remind England that I am still there are ready to go if they need me at any stage." Finn, 28, was a regular in England's Test side last year but missed parts of the season through injury. "At the moment I am in and out and that is something that just happens as you go through your career," Finn said. "You will have peaks and troughs in form and when you are on the periphery of England all the time, you just have to deal with the disappointments, which sometimes can be hard to take — it is just the way it goes." The two one-dayers against Ireland will be played on Friday and Sunday. — Reuters
