Century scorers in IPL 5

Two Indian cricketers - Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma; and three international cricketers - Kevin Pietersen, David Warner and Chris Gayle have crossed the three-figure mark in IPL-5.

In this must-win match for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Chris Gayle, as he has done during IPL-5 took time to play himself in before moving into fifth gear without batting an eyelid. At one stage Gayle was on 38 from 34 balls, but then he exploded with all the Delhi Daredevils bowlers being taken to the cleaners, especially Irfan Pathan and Pawan Negi, who he hit for three sixes each in an over. Gayle reached the three-figure mark in 53 balls; his third century in the IPL.


Gayle remained unbeaten on 128 from 62 balls; and hit seven fours and 13 sixes during his knock as he gave a tremendous display of power hitting at the Feroz Shah Kotla. Gayle also shared an unbroken 204-run partnership with Virat Kohli (73*) as Royal Challengers scored a mammoth 215 for 1. Though Virender Sehwag had rested himself for this match, the Daredevils made a contest of the run chase but ended their alloted 20 overs at 194 for 9. But, this match was all about the whirlwind Gayle show.




David Warner, who had just flown in from West Indies after Australia's Test series, quickly adjusted to the change in format and conditions as he stroked his way to a 54-ball 109* that made a mockery of the 188-run target set by Deccan Chargers at Hyderabad. Chargers' score of 187 for 4 was mainly thanks to the 126-run partnership for the third wicket between Shikhar Dhawan (84) and Cameron White (65).


The Chargers would have been delighted to get rid of Virender Sehwag in only the second ball of the Daredevils' run chase, but that was to be their last joy of the match as Warner and Naman Ojha (64*) shared an unbroken 189-run partnership for the second wicket as their team overhauled the stiff target of 188 with 20 balls remaining.




umbai Indians's Rohit Sharma had been getting starts in IPL-5, but failed to convert most of those into an innings of substance. That was change against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens, when he played a mature knock and showed the reason he is held in such high regard as far as pure talent and ability is concerned. Rohit hit 12 boundaries and five sixes in his 60-ball 109* as Mumbai Indians scored 182 for 1 in their 20 overs.


Sachin Tendulkar was dismissed cheaply; but Rohit and Herschelle Gibbs (66*) shared an unbroken partnership of 167 runs. Knight Riders made a brave effort to chase down the target despite being reduced to 3 for 2 with Jacques Kallis (79) taking centre stage, but in the end, Mumbai Indians cruised to an easy 27-run win.





Ajinkya Rahane scored the first century of IPL-5 as his 60-ball 103* laid the foundation for Rajasthan Royals' 59-run win against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Rahane and Rahul Dravid added 62 runs for the first wicket before the talented youngster and the experienced Owais Shah (60 from 37 balls) took the match away from the hosts with their 121-run partnership for the second wicket as Royals scored 195 for 2.


Rahane hit 12 boundaries and five sixes in his 60-ball 103*, and showed yet again that Twenty20 cricket is not only all about the aggressive and big shots. His knock proved there is place for sedate batsmen in the shortest format as well as the fact that taking risks aren't always necessary to score runs in T20 cricket. RCB were never in the hunt after Chris Gayle's early dismissal and were bowled out for 136 in 19.5 overs with Siddharth Trivedi taking 4-25. Brad Hogg also impressed with figures of 4-0-19-1.



Kevin Pietersen's 64-ball 103* made a mockery of the 158-run target set for Delhi Daredevils by Deccan Chargers at Feroz Shah Kotla. Morne Morkel and Shahbaz Nadeem took three wickets each to restrict the Chargers to 157 for 8.


The Daredevils were reduced to 23 for 3 inside five overs in their run chase, but Pietersen was untroubled despite wickets falling at the other end. Pietersen hit six boundaries and nine sixes, including one off Ankit Sharma, that won the match for the Daredevils and also brought up his century.