Picture Credit : BCCI
Marauding Chris Gayle scored a blistering hundred as he helped Kings XI Punjab beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 15 runs in Mohali . It was also the first ton by a batsman in IPL 2018 .
Gayle’s blazing 63-ball-104, his 21st hundred in the shortest format propelled KXIP to 193 for 3 in 20 overs and they then restricted Sunrisers to 178 for 4 to give the Kings their third win in the tournament. It was typical signature Gayle knock minimum foot- work but stand and deliver. He hit some massive sixes to the delight of the home crowd and a very pleased Kings XI Punjab’s co- owner Bollywood actress Preity Zinta.
It was Gayle’s sixth IPL ton studded with 11 sixes and 1 four. It was the Sunrisers first loss in IPL 2018 .
While chasing , the Sunrisers suffered a huge blow as opener Shikhar Dhawan left the field after been hit on the elbow by Barinder Sran. The target was stiff and despite skipper Kane Williamson’s 54 off 41 balls and Manish Pandey’s unbeaten 57 off 42 balls, the Sunrisers fell 15 run short. Pacer Andrew Tye (2/23 in 4 overs) and 17- year-old Afghan spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman (0/26 in 4 overs) then stopped the run flow of the Sunrisers in the middle overs. It proved to be the match winning factor in the end
