Chennai Super Kings (CSK) posted a huge total of 204 against Rajasthan Royals (RR) after being put to bat in Pune.
Shane Watson anchored the CSK innings as he recorded his third IPL century and first of this season. He smashed 106 off 57 after being dropped in the first over. He hit 9 fours and 6 sixes in the process. He stitched 50 plus partnership with both Ambati Rayudu and Suresh Raina.
Raina was replaced by Murali Vijay in the last match due to the calf injury he sustained in the clash against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). However, Raina was back in the squad on Friday and was looking in good touch. He smashed four consecutive boundaries off Ben Stokes in the final over of powerplay.
CSK were 69 with loss of one wicket end of the 6th over. It was in the 12th over when Krishnappa Gowtham took a brilliant catch off Shreyas Gopal‘s bowling dismissing Raina for 46 (29). The pair of Gowtham-Gopal struck again when MS Dhoni was caught near the boundary line on 5.
RR was running out of their bowling options from the start as they used five different bowlers to bowl the first five overs. When almost every bowler went for an economy over 10, Gopal finished with impressive figures of 4-0-20-3 at an economy of 5. He got the important wickets of Raina, Dhoni and Sam Billings. However, he could not save his team from the Watson rampage.
Here are some of the Twitter reactions:
A superb batting performance from @ChennaiIPL yet again. Must say they are blessed with a great team composition since someone or the rises to the occasion. Great hundred from @ShaneRWatson33 ! #CSKvRR #IPL2018 #WhistlePodu pic.twitter.com/MF6VUKbMDH
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) April 20, 2018
Another 💯!! Played @ShaneRWatson33 👏👏👏 @ChennaiIPL on for a biggie #entertainer #IPL
— Isa Guha (@isaguha) April 20, 2018
Age is just a number in this #VIVOIPL 38 = 💯@henrygayle & 36 = 💯@ShaneRWatson33 👌🏽👊🏽👍🏽👏🏽🙏🏽
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) April 20, 2018
— Jason Roy (@JasonRoy20) April 20, 2018
Fewer sixes than Gayle in his century, but also fewer balls to reach three-figure mark. This is a top class century by Shane Watson…
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 20, 2018
Only fitting I’m at the Australian High Commission Delhi @AusHCIndia to watch @ShaneRWatson33 chalk up a brilliant @IPL 💯 on @StarSportsIndi with a room full of Aussies #VIVOIPL 🇦🇺
— Mel Jones (@meljones_33) April 20, 2018
Kya bachhe ne kya khela hay aj 👏👏#CSKvsRR #watson #ucantbuyexperience
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 20, 2018
Jr. Watto is all whistles of course! #WhistlePodu #Yellove #CSKvRR 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/9lDADuiVsY
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 20, 2018
Some In-Shane hitting from namma Watto took us over the 200 run mark! #WattoKuWhistlePodu #WhistlePodu #Yellove #CSKvRR 🦁💛
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 20, 2018
A 💯 off 51 deliveries.
Take a bow @ShaneRWatson33! #CSKvRR pic.twitter.com/4Ye6Wi5n9p
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 20, 2018
Our first centurion, this season! @ShaneRWatson33 #WhistlePodu #CSKvRR #Yellove pic.twitter.com/gWudLZIyHw
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 20, 2018
Superb innings from Shane Watson as CSK post a total of 204/6 for RR to chase.#IPL2018 #CSKvRR #RRvCSK pic.twitter.com/8Mp0bigVWu
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) April 20, 2018
Most centuries in IPL:
6 Gayle
4 Kohli
3 ABD, Warner, WATSON#CSKvRR— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) April 20, 2018
Shane Watson #CSK registers #IPL's 49th hundred!
Individual 100s by IPL sides..
12 – RCB
10 – KXIP
7 – DD
6 – CSK
4 – MI/RR
2 – DC/RPS
1 – KKR/SRH
Note: Top three sides yet to win the #IPL 😱#IPL2018#CSKvRR— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) April 20, 2018
Shane Watson:
22/04/2013 – A century for RR while playing against CSK
20/04/2018 – A century for CSK while playing against RR#IPL2018 #CSKvRR— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) April 20, 2018
So @ShaneRWatson33 scores a century against #RajasthanRoyals having scored one for them against #CSK!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 20, 2018
Watto player.. Watttto Playaaaah .. Brute force ! @ShaneRWatson33 RR in early trouble #CSKVsRR
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) April 20, 2018
First @henrygayle and now @ShaneRWatson33…. older players are taking the ground by storm!! Vintage wine only gets better. Special mentions @msdhoni #CSKvRR #VIVOIPL2018 ✌🏼
— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) April 20, 2018
A 51-ball ton from Shane Watson powers CSK to 204/5 at their new home ground in Pune against RR. #CricketMeriJaan #CSKvRR
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) April 20, 2018
He has two centuries for @rajasthanroyals – now he's scored one against them for @ChennaiIPL! 💯
Congratulations to @ShaneRWatson33 on your 4th T20 century! 🔥#CSKvRR #IPL2018 pic.twitter.com/Szj806JdlH
— ICC (@ICC) April 20, 2018
“Aur fir aaya Watson…..” #CSKvRR pic.twitter.com/oCTs7xnxcO
— The Lying Lama 2.0 (@KyaUkhaadLega) April 20, 2018
Chris Gayle And Shane Watson. 2 Centuries In 2 Days. And Pakistanis Say #IPL Is Boring. 😂😂😂 #CSKvRR #CSKvsRR #WhistlePodu
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) April 20, 2018
Omg! Even wine doesn't age as better as #ShaneWatson has in his career! 🙌
Are you watching @CricketAus ?#IPL2018 #CSKvsRR #IPL— Naitik Soni (@naitiks07) April 20, 2018