It’s been just over eight years since Hashim Amla made his T20 debut, and not long since the murmurs started in the IPL about KXIP wasting the openers’ slot on the South African veteran.
Thursday night in Indore though changed a few things. Amla finally added a century to his tally in the shortest format, also carrying his bat through Punjab’s innings of 198.
Playing shots that would delight the purists, Amla didn't spare any of the Mumbai Indians bowlers en route his unbeaten 104 off 60 balls, which included six sixes and eight boundaries. In fact five of his sixes were off Sri Lankan slinger Lasith Malinga deliveries.
The third wicket partnership between Amla and Maxwell in fact produced 83 runs in only 5.3 overs to send the Mumbai attack in complete disarray.
The 15th and 16th overs of Malinga and McClenaghan went for exactly 50 runs. There was more. The last six overs produced a total 87 runs, taking the home team a long way off their 111/2 in 14 overs.
While Malinga went for the most runs, other Mumbai bowlers weren't spared either.
Mumbai Bowlers
- Malina: 0/58 in 4 overs
- McClenaghan: 2/46 in 4 overs
- Bumrah: 1/30 in 4 overs
- K Pandya: 1/28 in 4 overs
- H Pandya: 0/18 in 2 overs
- Harbhajan: 0/12 in 2 overs
They might have all been tormented by Amla, but after the 20 overs, while walking back to the pavilion, all bowlers ran up to batsman and congratulated the 31-year-old on his first century in the format.
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