PUNE // Ben Stokes, Rising Pune Supergiant's two million-dollar man, started to repay his hefty recruitment fee after guiding them to a win over Gujarat Lions.
The England all-rounder, who was hobbling because of the effects of cramp by the end, scored an unbeaten hundred as the home team claimed a five-wicket win with a ball to spare against the struggling Lions.
“We paid a big amount to get him, we know he is a quality player, and he certainly earned his cash tonight,” Steve Smith, the Pune captain, said.
“He has been hitting the ball really well, he has been involved in a few good partnerships, and we are really happy with where he is at.
“He said from the start he judges himself on the way he plays, and he is not going to put any extra pressure on himself just because he has a big price tag.
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Read more
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■ Kings XI Punjab keep play-off hopes afloat with win over Delhi Daredevils
■ Heroics of Stokes and Dhoni cap a fun night for Pune
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“I said before the auction to the guys, ‘Do what you have to to get him’. Allrounders are so valuable in T20 cricket. He bats, bowls and fields well, so he is a perfect fit for our team.”
Stokes’ effort belied the fact he had to undergo a fitness test on a shoulder injury that had kept him out of the team last time out.
To add to the pressure he already bears because of his price tag, he was restored to the line up in place of Lockie Ferguson, the New Zealand fast bowler who had been man of the match in the previous game for Pune.
“He looked pretty fit to me,” Smith said. “It was an amazing innings. Under pressure, coming in at three for 10, to play the way he did, he timed his innings perfectly.
“We missed him in the last few games, but guys stepped up and did a very good job.”
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What is graphene?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.
It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.
But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.
About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
COMPANY PROFILE
Ferrari
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
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Stars: Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie
Four out of five stars
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
US Industrial Market figures, Q1 2017
Vacancy Rate 5.4%
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New Supply to Inventory 0.4 per cent
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When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
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DSC Eagles 23 Dubai Hurricanes 36
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Replacements: 16-Fraser Brown, 17-Gordon Reid, 18-Simon Berghan, 19-Jonny Gray, 20-Josh Strauss, 21-Greig Laidlaw, 22-Adam Hastings, 23-Chris Harris
