IPL 8 CSK vs SRH: Brendon McCullum’s hundred powers Chennai Super Kings to comfortable win

Chennai: Brendon McCullum blazed his way to the tournament's first century as Chennai Super Kings outplated Sunrisers Hyderabad to seal 45-run win after scoring 209 for four in the eighth edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) here on Saturday.

Here is how the action unfolded.

After winning the toss, Chennai Super Kings were off to a sensational start as McCullum and Smith launched into the attack and pushed Sunrisers Hyderabad on backfoot.

The New Zealander carried his bat and scored a ton on the final ball of the Chennai Super Kings' innings. The Kiwi skipper scored 100 off 56 balls with the help of 9 sixes and 7 fours.

Although Kane Williamson played some pretty strokes, it was too late as Chennai Super Kings went on to seal a comfortable 45-run win.

While others failed to hang in for significant time, Warner stayed put to score a fifty. But Dwayne Smith's fine catch on the mid-wicket boundary saw Warner depart after scoring 53 from 42 balls.

Naman Ojha tried to accompany to Warner for a while. But a tossed-up delivery from Ashwin ended Ojha's patience and he was caught by Mohit Sharma in the deep.

Sunrisers Hyderabad were off to a solid start as Dhawan and Warner did not play any loose shots. But Mohit Sharma broke this partnership when he dismissed Dhawan in the fourth over after the left-hander had scored 26. Lokesh Rahul joined Warner in the middle but his stay in the middle only lasted for 8 balls.

Earlier, opting to bat at the M A Chidambaram stadium, McCullum reached his century in the last ball of the innings, the belligerent knock consuming just 56 deliveries.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni smashed 53 off 29 balls while briskly adding 63 runs for the third wicket with the New Zealander. McCullum had stands of 75 with his opening partner Dwayne Smith 60 with Suresh Raina, respectively.

Off a full length delivery by Trent Boult, McCullum jabbed it to the covers for a single to bring up a well-deserved century.

McCullum struck nine sixes and seven fours during his stay in the middle. Dhoni, who smashed Karn Sharma for three sixes in the 18th over, hit the maximum four times besides picking as many boundaries.

The hosts had a good start and exploded in the death. McCullum was his usual self, often running down the track to unsettle the bowlers.

Pace spearhead Dale Steyn missed out on the match and the others struggled with Ishant Shrama leaking 46 runs in three overs.

While Super Kings didn't tinker with the XI that beat Delhi Daredevils narrowly on Thursday, Sunrisers Hyderabad's Kane Williamson and Trent Boult made IPL debuts, Ravi Bopara got a game ahead of Eoin Morgan, and Steyn missed out.

Here are the playing XIs.