Sunrisers Hyderabad traveled to Mohali to face Kings XI Punjab in a crunch match. Hyderabad went into the team unbeaten, while KXIP had lost just one match out of three played. The match was dubbed as KXIP batting might against SRH batting prowess.
R Ashwin won the toss and chose to bat first and went with an unchanged team. SRH, on the other hand, picked Chris Jordan in place of big Billy Stanlake.
SRH got KL Rahul early for 18 runs as he was caught in front of the stumps by Rashid Khan. Mayank Agarwal also scored 18 but was looking good for more, before he hit a short one straight to Hooda at point off Kaul. Karun Nair started picking the bowler out but got out for 31 off 21 balls to Bhuvneshwar.
But the innings belonged to Chris Gayle, who slammed his 21st T20 century, and first for KXIP and first in IPL 2018. This was his 6th century in IPL as well. He reached the milestone in 58 balls. He finished on 104* off 63 balls with 1 four and 11 sixes.
KXIP ended on 193/3 in 20 overs. Rashid Khan returned his worst figures in T20 cricket of 1/55 in 4 overs.
Twitter loved the way Chris Gayle went about his innings, as he hit both boundaries and big sixes; but also ran hard between the wickets.
Here are some tweets:
Gayle storm it is, never seen Rashid Khan been clobbered like this. Chris Gayle is a man on a mission. Delight to watch this @lionsdenkxip #KXIPvSRH
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) April 19, 2018
Finally a batsman has taken Rashid khan to the cleaners. Had to be @henrygayle. Monster Hitting from the Universe Boss. Gayle Storm at Mohali #KXIPvSRH
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) April 19, 2018
The game is so much more fun when @henrygayle is in and firing. Maybe you should pick him late everytime.......
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 19, 2018
11 sixes and only 8 fours in 16 overs. Gayle has hit only one boundary...9 sixes thus far. But strangely has also taken quite a few singles/doubles today... ???????? 21st Hundred in sight. #KXIPvSRH #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 19, 2018
Chris Gayle is giving this crowd at Mohali a treat. His new franchise home and they are showing him the love. His 6th @IPL century. WOW. Still box office the Universe Boss. #VIVOIPL_2018 ????????????.
— ian bishop (@irbishi) April 19, 2018
#UniverseBoss ????
— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) April 19, 2018
Champagne ???? batting from C.Gayle ???? 0ff 58 balls ????
— Damien Fleming (@bowlologist) April 19, 2018
6th @ipl ???? ????
Great call by boys in the #SelectDugout on @StarSportsIndia ???? pic.twitter.com/UI9rOYiloK
.@henrygayle is questioning all the franchise owners... proving why is called universe boss! #KXIPvSRH #VIVOIPL #RespectMaaan ????????
— Prragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) April 19, 2018
History repeats itself ,in 2011 #IPL #ChrisGayle was unsold and picked as replacement for injured Dirk Nannes by #RCB, this year he remained unsold in the first phase and then picked by @lionsdenkxip ,what decisions they are proving to be #IPL2018 ????????✅
— subramani badrinath (@s_badrinath) April 19, 2018