Best Centuries In Successful Chases in IPL History

#2: Shane Watson (117*, 11x4, 8x6)

For: Chennai Super Kings

Against: Sunrisers Hyderabad

Date: 27th May 2018

Watson watches on as he dispatches one into the crowd

The 2018 IPL was special for one reason and one reason alone: the return of the Chennai Super Kings and the Rajasthan Royals after their two-year bans due to spot-fixing allegations. During the auction, CSK were ridiculed by many for buying players who appeared to be past their best-indeed, 9 of the starting XI were above the age of 30.

The strategy in the auction, however, paid off, as the experience in the side carried them through the group stage, with Andhra batsman Ambati Rayudu leading the run-scoring charts for a significant period of time. Opening for the first time in the IPL, he formed a devastating partnership with Australian Shane Watson, who saved his best for the big occasion.

After Faf du Plessis single-handedly took CSK over the line in the first Qualifier against the Sunrisers, the men in yellow met the same opponent in the final. Led by their captain, Kane Williamson, far and away the best batsman in last year's tournament, who made 47 off 36 balls, and supported by Yusuf Pathan (45* off 25), the Hyderabad outfit posted a competitive 178/6 from their 20 overs.

The CSK innings was off to an inauspicious start, as Watson played out a maiden off the first over, bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, before Faf du Plessis fell to Sandeep Sharma in the fourth over, with the score only 16. Watson was then joined by Suresh Raina, who played the perfect supporting knock with 32 runs off 24 balls, allowing Watson to occupy the crease more, and hammer the ball with devastating effect.

In an exceptional display of power hitting, Watson seemed invincible, muscling his way to an unbeaten 117 off just 57 balls. He was particularly severe on the young Indian pacers, Sandeep Sharma and Siddarth Kaul, who conceded a total of 95 runs in their 7 overs combined. By the time Raina departed in the 14th over, winning the game-and the title-was a mere formality. It seemed only fitting that Watson finished the rest of the game in the company of Rayudu, the man with whom he had built a lasting bond, and bring the title back to Chennai in their first year back.

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