Gayle storm hits Hyderabad in Mohali
Mohali : Chasing the target of 194 to win, Sunrisers Hyderabad could reach up to only 178 /4 to give Kings XI Punjab a victory by 15 runs.
Hyderabad’s run chase was thrown out of gear on very first ball, as their opener Shikhar Dhawan got injured and had to retire hurt. He was hit by a ball bowled by Barinder Sran. The ball was on good length, off stump and got big on Dhawan. He tried to cut but the ball came in sharply, cramped him for space and hit his left elbow.
After this initial shock, captain Kane Williamson tried his best to steady his ship, but Mohit Sharma got rid of Wriddhiman Saha and Yousuf Pathan to give his side advantage. Williamson scored 54 of 41 with 3 fours and 2 sixes. Andrew Tye (4-0-23-2) got rid of him as well as dangerous Deepak Hooda. Manish Pandey (57 no) and Shakib Al Hasan (24 no) tried their best, when their team needed 60 runs from last 3 overs. But it proved too much for them.
Earlier, Chris Gayle scythed through Sunrisers Hyderabad bowling attack with a 21st T20 hundred firing Kings XI Punjab to 193 for 3 in an IPL encounter.
Arguably one of the greatest exponents of T20 batsmanship, Gayle showed that he is far from finished en route his unbeaten 63-ball-104 that had 11 towering sixes and a solitary boundary.
Gayle’s 58-ball-hundred incidentally is the first of this edition of IPL and also against a bowling line-up that is being touted as the most balanced of all eight teams.
Gayle moved to 99 with his 11th six hit off Bhuvneshwar Kumar over long-off. In Siddarth Kaul’s next over, he dabbed the ball towards point to complete a quick single. As a mark of celebration, Gayle gestured rocking a baby in a cradle, with his wife and daughter in the VIP box. The first 50 came off 39 balls and he took a mere 19 balls to complete the second 50.
“A lot of people thought I’m too old. After this innings, I have nothing to prove. This hundred is dedicated to my daughter. Tomorrow (Friday) is her birthday,” Gayle said immediately after his knock.
A cornered tiger can be dangerous and Gayle showed why he has taken the initial lack of interest of franchises to his heart.
Each and every six was signature Gayle. Minimum footwork and maximum power behind the shots.
It was the 14th over of the innings when Gayle actually turned the heat on. Already batting on 51, he smote leg-spinner Rashid Khan for four consecutive sixes.
KXIP
Rahul lbw b Rashid…………………………18
Gayle not out……………………………….104
Agarwal c Hooda b Kaul…………………18
Nair c Dhawan b Bhuvneshwar………..31
Finch not out…………………………………14
Extras: (lb 5, w 3)…………………………..8
Total: (3 wkts, 20 overs)………………193
Bowling: Bhuvneshwar 4-0-25-1, Jordan 4-0-31-0, Rashid 4-0-55-1, Kaul 4-0-33-1, Hooda 2-0-16-0, Shakib Al Hasan 2-0-28-0.
