In the 16th game of IPL 2018, hosts Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) clinched a comfortable 15-run victory against the in-form Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium (Mohali, Chandigarh) on Thursday night. While KXIP put a total of 193/3 in 20 overs, SRH only managed to score 178/4 at the end of 20 overs.
KXIP captain Ravichandran Ashwin elected to bat first after winning the toss. Chris Gayle single-handedly built up that innings. The Caribbean left-handed batsman scored a brilliant century as he was unbeaten for 104 off 63 balls with 11 sixes and only four.
While Gayle put a superb 53-run partnership for the opening wicket along with KL Rahul (18 runs), he also delivered a game-changing 85-run partnership along with Karun Nair for the third wicket. Nair was the only other KXIP batsman to reach the 20-run mark in that innings as he scored 31 runs off 21 balls with 3 fours and one six. In the end, Aaron Finch provided a little blistering knock of 14 runs off just 6 balls as KXIP put 193/3 on the board at the end of 20 overs.
Star SRH leg-spinner Rashid Khan was totally destroyed in this game by Gayle as he had the bowling figure of 4-0-55-1. Gayle hit four consecutive sixes in Rashid Khan’s one over.
Apart from Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/25) and Siddarth Kaul (1/33) were the other SRH bowlers to claim a wicket.
In reply, SRH got a huge blow in the very first over as their opener Shikhar Dhawan was retired hurt after getting hit on his left elbow. Dhawan just faced one delivery and didn’t open his account yet.
Another opener Wriddhiman Saha also lost his wicket cheaply as he was bowled out by Mohit Sharma for just 6 runs. While Yusuf Pathan was the next batsman to depart after scoring 19 runs, skipper Kane Williamson and Manish Pandey provided an important 76-run partnership for the third wicket. However, that partnership was not enough to change the situation of the game.
After completing his half-century, skipper Williamson was dismissed on 54 runs off 41 balls. Manish Pandey also completed his half-century (57* runs off 42 balls) and Shakib Al Hasan played an unbeaten stormy knock of 24 off 12 balls at the final moment, but those were not enough to cancel their first defeat in this season. SRH finished their innings on 178/4 at the end of 20 overs.
Among the KXIP bowlers, Mohit Sharma (2/51) and Andrew Tye (2/23) were the only bowlers to claim at least a wicket.
Here are some Twitter reactions of the match:
First 💯 of this season by @henrygayle #Gaylestormsuper entertainment.👌👌 #KXIPvSRH #KXIP #KXIPVsSRH #SRH #SRHvKXIP pic.twitter.com/LziMfTT9xJ
— kanishka proothi (@imkproothi) April 19, 2018
Gayle has turned out to be clever, value-for-money buy by @lionsdenkxip. But Yuvraj & Finch, who've been duds yet, have to fire to beat SRH
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 19, 2018
Gayle to RCB after hitting 100 #KXIPvSRH pic.twitter.com/1vS3gHNHOl
— zebbaish (@imdfucc) April 19, 2018
Lots Of Similarity Between Chris Gayle And Me, Both Are Run Machine. 😂 #KXIPvSRH #KXIPvsSRH #SRHvKXIP #UniverseBoss #GayleStorm
— Sir Ishant Sharma (@SirIshantSharma) April 19, 2018
On paper it was 15 runs between the teams. But, truth be told, @sunrisers were never really in this chase.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 19, 2018
Gayle to RCB#KXIPvSRH pic.twitter.com/8VRa1Yq30O
— Now+win 🐵 (@Brahmeme) April 19, 2018
Meanwhile Preity Zinta's Reaction To People Who Were Laughing At Her When She Choose To Buy Unsold Chris Gayle. #KXIPvSRH #KXIPvsSRH #SRHvKXIP #UniverseBoss #GayleStorm pic.twitter.com/a4pvjBKu07
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) April 19, 2018
Must admit I was among those skeptical whether @henrygayle's prowess was intact. He's given a bludgeoning proof. Take a bow Universe Boss!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 19, 2018
That Gangnam Style Celebration Of Yuvraj Singh To Celebrate Chris Gayle's Century. 💪🙏 #KXIPvSRH #KXIPvsSRH #SRHvKXIP pic.twitter.com/aAdzh7qQbz
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) April 19, 2018
#KXIP seem to have cracked the 'How to defeat #SRH' code…This opens up the tournament a bit.. #IPL2018 #KXIPvsSRH
— Raghava (@raghava216) April 19, 2018
Chasing 193 even on a flat track not easy. With Dhawan injured early, Sunrisers badly missing a big striking batsman
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 19, 2018
Virat Kohli right now for not retaining Gayle & KL Rahul.#KXIPvSRHpic.twitter.com/dc3SmIo8Ye
— Sunil- The Cricketer (@1sInto2s) April 19, 2018
Virat kohli Right now #KXIPvSRH #Gaylestorm pic.twitter.com/4fT2aiHlSI
— 𝑀𝒶𝓃𝒾𝓈𝒽 𝟩𝟫(𝟦𝟦) (@Man_isssh) April 19, 2018
Sunrisers trying their best to avoid follow on.#KXIPvsSRH
— Peeyush Sharma (@peeyushsharmaa) April 19, 2018
Kohli to RCB owners for not retaining Gayle #KXIPvSRH pic.twitter.com/A8UejqYhL2
— zebbaish (@imdfucc) April 19, 2018
Manish pandey @im_manishpandey testmatch khel rha hae apna alag he #KXIPvsSRH #SRHvKXIP #IPL18
— . (@Jungleekabootar) April 19, 2018
RCB to their fans after Gayle's century.#KXIPvsSRH pic.twitter.com/EknEP2RuE4
— Abhishek (@SsupHolmes) April 19, 2018
I have to admit
The best batsman on hitting :Gayle
The worst batsman on running between the wickets : Gayle #KXIPvsSRH— हाइवे (@Highwaynep) April 19, 2018
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
I shouldn't have underestimated the universe boss.
He seems to be in great form. #KXIP#KXIPvsSRH— Agyat Luitel (@AgyatLuitel) April 19, 2018
Two minute silence for RCB #KXIPvsSRH #GayleStorm
— Sree Lakshmi (@sree_lakshmi8) April 19, 2018
Commentators enjoying themselves in the box.Great batting @im_manishpandey #KXIPvsSRH
— ntr (@Charan1M) April 19, 2018
Is Manish Pandey even trying to win this one? Strange batting @bhogleharsha @cricbuzz #VIVOIPL #KXIPvsSRH
— Abhinav (@asabhisays) April 19, 2018
Manish Pandey innings 🤣😂 #KXIPvsSRH pic.twitter.com/nE5olWwToa
— Yokesh (@ImYokEsH) April 19, 2018