Aggressive Caribbean batsman Chris Gayle enthralled the audience at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali, on his way to the 11th season’s first hundred against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Riding on Gayle’s brilliant innings (104* runs, 63 balls), the Kings XI Punjab defeated the Sunrisers Hyderabad by 15 runs and ended Hyderabad’s winning streak. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Punjab scored a 193/3 in the designated 20 overs. In response, Hyderabad could only make a 178/4 in 20 overs. This was Punjab’s third win in 4 matches, while it was Hyderabad’s first loss in as many matches.

Chris Gayle was adjudged the player of the match for his unbeaten century. Playing only his second match in the ongoing season, Gayle became the first player to score a century in the 11th edition. This was Gayle’s sixth hundred in IPL history. The left hander struck the number 1 T20 bowler Rashid Khan for four sixes in an over and lit the Mohali stadium on fire.

It is worth noting that Gayle was not included in the playing 11 for the first couple of games by the Punjab think tank. The Universe Boss, who remained unsold in the auctions, was picked by the Punjab franchise at his base price after he was recalled the third time at the auctions.  5 of his 6 hundreds have come while he was donning the RCB jersey.

Even in the 2011 edition of the league, the West Indian legend had gone unsold in the auctions. However, RCB picked him as a replacement player and the SIx Machine smashed a century in his first game.

Apart from the master innings, KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal chipped in with 18 each and Karun Nair made a quick fire 31. Aaron Finch made sure that KXIP finished off on a high with his 6 ball 14.

For the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Shikhar Dhawan’s injury was a major setback in the chase. Despite Kane Williamson (54 off 41) and Manish Pandey’s (57* off 42) half centuries, SRH could not cross the line.