Australian batsman David Warner smashed a brutal century againt Chennai in the Champions League, propelling NSW into the semi-finals and cementing his status as one of the stars of the short format.
Warner’s breathtaking unbeaten 135 off 69 balls in a 46-run win over Chennai was the highest individual score in the three-year history of the tournament.
No bowler was spared, least of all Chennai’s NSW paceman Doug Bollinger who went for 48 from his three overs including one soaring Warner six right out of the ground.
Batting first, Warner added 54 in 6.4 overs with Shane Watson (21 off 19) and then 101 in 65 balls with Steve Smith (31 off 29).
But it was his remarkable dexterity that had everyone talking most with left-handed Warner hitting four fours and a six from a right-handed stance.
Warner said he’d discussed switch-hitting with Australian captain Michael Clarke before trying it in one of the recent international T20 matches in Sri Lanka, but had been working hard at it much longer than that.
“I’ve been practicing that for the last year and a half now,” Warner said.
“I just find if I can unsettle the bowler and get him to think about where to pitch the ball, it’s a good thing for myself.”
“Sometimes if it doesn’t come off you can look like a goose but I’ve practised it a lot.”
Warner said he didn’t exchange too many words on the night with feisty left-arm speedster Bollinger.
“It’s always good to come up against a fellow teammate and obviously he was trying his hardest to get me out and obviously I was trying my hardest to try and get some runs.”
Thanks largely to Warner, NSW scored 2-201 after winning the toss and they bowled out Chennai for 155 in 18.5 overs, clinching top spot in their group with their third successive victory following an opening loss.
Warner added two catches and a run out in his virtuoso display.
Chennai needed to reach their target in 17 overs to make the semi-finals and Australian Michael Hussey (37 off 27) got them off to a rousing start.
They raced to 55 off six and a half overs before Hussey was adjudged LBW to a delivery from Stuart Clark (2-34 off 4), that appeared to be going over the stumps.
Spinner Stephen O’Keefe (3-28 off four) removed the other opener Murali Vijay (17 off 16) and dismissed Suresh Raina (28 off 14).
Warner effectively ended Chennai’s hopes by helping to execute dismissals off successive balls in the 14th over bowled by O’Keefe, as the local team crashed to 6-112.
