Murali Vijay smashed the ongoing Indian Premier League's fastest century to propel Chennai Super Kings to an imposing 222 for five in the second qualifier, against Delhi Daredevils, in Chennai on Friday.
Vijay, who was run out on the last ball of the innings after scoring 113, took a mere 51 balls to reach the magic landmark when he flicked Varun Aaron off his pads behind square at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Vijay, who was run out on the last ball of the innings after scoring 113, took a mere 51 balls to reach the magic landmark when he flicked Varun Aaron off his pads behind square at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
CSK's total was also the highest in this edition of the league.
While he had bludgeoned 13 fours and four sixes before reaching the century, Vijay found the fence two more times following that after Daredevils skipper Virender Sehwag invited the hosts to bat on winning the toss.
CSK were off to a rousing start with Vijay finding the ropes with consummate ease.
The local boy was well-supported by Michael Hussey who contributed with 20 off 22 balls before Aaron had the Aussie caught behind by Naman Ojha.
But Vijay was his usual self as he continued his onslaught that left the Delhi attack -- sans spearhead Morne Morkel -- who was surprisingly benched, demoralised.
After kick-starting CSK's innings with a boundary off unheralded offspinner Sunny Gupta, a surprise choice playing his first-ever IPL match, Vijay did not look back, hammering the Daredevils bowlers with utter disdain.
If Vijay had put on 68 runs for the first wicket with Hussey in just 8.1 overs, his second-wicket stand of 69 with Suresh Raina consumed a mere 33 deliveries.
After his frontline bowlers were taken to the task, Sehwag tried his hand at checking the flow of runs, but to no avail.
Vijay, well set by then, smashed Sehwag for 21 runs with the help of two fours and a six over long-on.
After Raina got out to left-arm spinner Pawan Negi, CSK skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni continued the assault and it did not end even with his dismissal, as Dwayne Bravo produced another cameo.
While Dhoni smashed 23 off 10 balls, Bravo remained unbeaten on 33 off 12 with the help of three fours and two sixes.
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