An emerging Indian batter Priyansh Arya scored his maiden century in the Indian Premier League (IPL) to steer Punjab Kings to an 18-run victory against Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday.
Arya, a left-hand batter who made his name for hitting sixes in domestic cricket, smashed 103 off 42 balls to propel Punjab to 219-6 at Mullanpur, near Chandigarh, where Chennai could only manage 201-5.
The 24-year-old Arya was picked up by the franchise for $440,000 in the November auction after he caught the eye of Punjab following a performance in which he hit six sixes in an over on his way to an unbeaten in a Delhi Premier League T20 match last year.
As expected, the big-hitter did not disappoint — pummelling the century — his second this season after the fourth match in the T20 tournament. He smashed to his hundred in 39 balls as he pulverised the opposition attack with seven fours and nine sixes.
The ton was the fastest against five-time champions Chennai and the joint fourth-fastest overall in the IPL. Chris Gayle is second on the list, who scored a century in 30 balls.
Punjab then slumped to 83-5 as opener Arya received little in the way of support. They added 71 runs in 34 balls for the fifth wicket before Shashank Singh joined the.
Arya finally gave way to the Afghanistan spinner Noor Ahmad, but Shashank, on 52, and South African Marco Jansen, who clubbed 34, added an unbroken 65.
Chennai did try and make a fist of the chase though, as the New Zealand left-handed duo of Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway added 61 runs for the first wicket.
Glenn Maxwell, Australia’s spinner, had Ravindra stumped on 36. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad perished to one from fast bowler Lockie Ferguson.
Conway was motoring along with in-form substitute Shivam Dube at the other end as they added 89 runs together, but Ferguson dismissed the left-arm Dube to bowl him for 42.
MS Dhoni who walked out to loud cheers during his innings, spent too much time watching even as Conway was retired out prompting Chennai’s batters to fall behind the increasingly higher run-rate.
Dhoni, 43, sparked slim hopes of reaching the target with his 12-ball 27 but fell early in the final over as Chennai suffered their fourth defeat in five outings.