McCullum blasts unbeaten 100 to help CSK post 209/4 vs SRH

 New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum continued his rich World Cup form smashing his second Indian Super league (IPl) century (56-ball 100 not out) to help Chennai Super Kings (CSK) post a massive 209/4 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in a league stage match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here on Saturday.

CSK skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat and his decision was fully backed by McCullum who batted throughout the innings, bludgeoning seven fours and nine massive over boundaries.  Brendon earlier scored IPl's first century (158 not out) against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the first edition of the T20 tournament.

The right-hand dasher guided New Zealand to the World Cup finals only losing to champions Australia and he was at it again blasting the hapless SRH bowlers to all corners of the ground.  He put on a 75-run opening wicket stand with West Indian Dwayne Smith (27) and followed it up with a 60-run second-wicket partnership with newly married Suresh Raina (14).

That set up a strong platform for CSK to post a strong total and the McCullum-Dhoni third-wicket stand capitalised on it superbly, putting on a 63-run partnership. Dhoni took over the mantle of big-hitting from McCullum from there and contributed 53 runs of the third-wicket stand, hitting four boundaries and as many sixes.

CSK named an unchanged side that beat Delhi Daredevils on Thursday. SRH handed IPl debuts to Kiwi teammates Kane Williamson and Trent Boult while leaving out England batsman Eoin Morgan and South African pacer Dale Steyn.