NEW DELHI: Chris Gayle has become the first batsman to slam a century in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 as he smashed an unbeaten 104 to propel Kings XI Punjab to 193/3 against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Thursday.

Kings XI registered their third victory of the season with a 15-run win over Sunrisers at PCA Stadium in Mohali.

Gayle notched up his sixth IPL century and 21st in T20s overall off 58 balls which was studded with 11 towering sixes and a solitary boundary. The first 50 came off 39 balls and he took a mere 19 balls to complete the second 50.

Gayle moved to 99 with his 11th six hit off Bhuvneshwar Kumar over long-off. In Siddarth Kaul’s next over, he dabbed the ball towards point to complete a quick single. As a mark of celebration, Gayle gestured rocking a baby in a cradle, with his wife and daughter in the VIP box.

“A lot of people thought I’m too old. After this innings, I have nothing to prove. This hundred is dedicated to my daughter. Tomorrow is her birthday,” Gayle said immediately after his knock.

The 38-year-old Jamaican, who played his first game of the season against Chennai Super Kings, hammered 66 off 33 balls and raced to his second fastest half-century off 22 balls. His fastest fifty had come off 17 balls, against Pune in 2013.

He twice went unsold at the IPL auction held in January this year and was later picked up by the Punjab franchise for a base price of Rs 2 crore.