Priyansh Arya’s chancy yet audacious 103 (42b, 7×4, 9×6) was the highlight of Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) 18-run win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium in New Chandigarh on Tuesday.
There were plenty of catches grassed in this IPL fixture and at the end of it all, PBKS defended its 219 for six as CSK’s effort stopped at 201 for five.
ALSO READ | Priyansh Arya hits second-fastest hundred by an Indian batter during PBKS vs CSK
The first six of the chase came only in the 10th over when Shivam Dube muscled one off Lockie Ferguson. Conway then got two reprieves in two balls off Marco Jansen’s bowling with Yuzvendra Chahal and Yash Thakur being the culprits.
Ferguson castled Dube to redeem himself for dropping the left–hander’s catch off Arshdeep Singh.
A lot happened in Ferguson’s 18th over. M.S. Dhoni smoked a six over long-off. Ravindra Jadeja came in to bat after Devon Conway (69, 49b) was retired out. Dhoni then hit another maximum to make the equation 43 off two overs.
Yash Thakur, after putting down Dhoni during Arshdeep’s 19th, dismissed the wicketkeeper-batter off the first ball of the 20th and sealed PBKS’ victory.
Earlier, after choosing to bat first, the host lost early wickets at the cost of going big.
Priyansh, though, kept on playing shots. He started with two majestic maximums over the point region off Khaleel Ahmed. In between, he was dropped by the left-arm seamer who could not hold onto a return catch.
Priyansh found an able ally in Shashank Singh (52 n.o., 36b) and forged a 71-run partnership.
Punjab Kings’ batter Priyansh Arya celebrates after his century.
| Photo Credit:
SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR/The Hindu
Punjab Kings’ batter Priyansh Arya celebrates after his century.
| Photo Credit:
SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR/The Hindu
During this stand, the opener got another life as Mukesh Choudhary touched the boundary cushion after taking the catch off R. Ashwin.
Priyansh then went on overdrive, smoking Matheesha Pathirana for three consecutive sixes. His boundary right after the hat-trick of maximums signalled his 39-ball ton.
The vociferous crowd enjoyed that as Priyansh soaked in what he had just accomplished.
After Noor Ahmad got Priyansh caught at long-on, PBKS’ score read 154 for six in 13.4 overs. Shashank and Marco Jansen (34 n.o., 19b) took over from where Priyansh left off with a 65-run stand.
Even Shashank rode his luck as he was dropped by Rachin Ravindra in the 17th over.
While CSK’s lapses proved costly, PBKS walked away with the win.
