On This Day: Adam Gilchrist scored maiden T20 century vs Mumbai Indians

Adam Gilchrist scored maiden T20 century: The swashbuckling wicket-keeper batsman’s innings aided his team to chase a 155-run target in 12 overs.

On this day in 2008, former Australia wicket-keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist scored his maiden T20 century while playing for Deccan Chargers in the 14th match of the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League against Mumbai Indians at the Dr. D.Y. Patil Sports Academy in Mumbai.

Opening the batting with captain VVS Laxman in a 155-run chase, Gilchrist took on the opposition bowlers from the word go. Having hit six boundaries in the first four over, Gilchrist welcomed Mumbai all-rounder Sanath Jayasuriya by hitting his first six against him.

On the back of their wicket-keeper batsman’s 26-ball 47*, Chargers had scored 60 runs in the powerplay and were cruising towards the target. Showing no signs of slowing down after the powerplay, Gilchrist hit three sixes and a four of Indians captain Shaun Pollock in the seventh over to complete his half-century.

Pollock’s ploy of introducing all-rounder Dwayne Bravo in the next over didn’t change much as Gilchrist hit another six off him through the mid-wicket region.

A similar treatment was received by another Mumbai all-rounder in Abhishek Nayar as Gilchrist smashed him for three sixes in the 10th over.

Having hit most of his sixes on the leg-side, Gilchrist hit one elegantly over extra cover off Nayar. It was the third six off the medium-pacer which saw the southpaw scoring his maiden T20 century.

Gilchrist and Laxman (37) shared the then best opening partnership in the IPL as DC sealed a 155-run chase in 12 overs. Gilchrist, then 36, ended up scoring 109 (47) with the help of nine fours and 10 sixes.

Adam Gilchrist scored maiden T20 century

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