Australian Aaron Finch cracked a belligerent 64 and Robin Uthappa smashed a quick-silver 32 to help the Warriors get over their top-order woes and chase down Royals' competitive total of 145/5 comfortably.
It was Pune's first win in 12 games, their previous success coming against Delhi Daredevils at the Kotla last April. For the Royals, it was their first defeat in three games.
Uthappa and Finch, coming in for the injured Marlon Samuels, provided the rollicking start that the Warriors had been missing.
Finch, Australia's domestic one-day player of the year, smashed Sreesanth and debutant left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh over the ropes off successive overs.
Uthappa then plundered 20 runs from the Kerala seamer's second over, which comprised a four off a no-ball and a six from free hit. The fifty came from 23 balls. By the time Uthappa was dismissed, the partnership had swelled to 58 in less than five overs.
With the equation reduced to less than run-a-ball, Finch switched to cruise mode. When Faulkner finally saw his back in the 17th over, Finch - with six fours and three sixes during his 53-ball knock - had put the result beyond doubt.
Earlier, Rahul Dravid produced another age-defying knock, but the Royals couldn't capitalize on the solid start and their total didn't prove enough.
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