Arya's 39-ball century for Punjab sends Chennai to fourth straight loss in IPL

KOLKATA, India (AP) — Opening batter Priyansh Arya hit the joint fourth-fastest century in the Indian Premier League as Punjab Kings handed Chennai Super Kings their fourth straight loss on Tuesday.

Arya’s (103) 39-ball hundred powered Punjab to 219-6 despite five of its top six batters falling for a combined score of 23 runs.

Chennai fell short for the fourth successive time in its run-chase and got restricted to 201-5 to lose by 18 runs as New Zealand left-handed opener Devon Conway top-scored with 69 off 49 balls.

Punjab’s third win in four games pushed them to No. 4 on the points table.

Earlier, Lucknow Super Giants clinched a thrilling run-fest against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens by four runs.

Nicholas Pooran (87 not out) and Mitchell Marsh (81), who notched his fourth half-century in five games, decimated the Kolkata pacers to put up 238-3, Lucknow’s second-highest IPL total.

Kolkata was on the verge of overhauling the tall target on the back of captain Ajinkya Rahane’s blazing 61 off 35 balls but four wickets in 14 deliveries undermined the chase and they fell short at 234-7.

The 24-year-old Delhi opener turned heads when he smashed six sixes in one over during Delhi Premier League last year and was later picked by Punjab at the IPL auction.

Arya whacked Khaleel Ahmed’s first ball for a six before the fast bowler couldn’t hold onto a regulation return catch of the next ball as Chennai was scratchy in holding onto catches.

The left-hander got another opportunity on 35 when Vijay Shankar dropped a difficult catch at mid-wicket before he completed his half century off 19 balls inside the batting power play.

While Arya capitalized on chances with his continuous aggression against both pace and spin of Ravichandran Ashwin, Punjab stumbled to 83-5 in eight overs.

But Arya didn’t hold back as he reached his maiden IPL hundred by smacking Matheesha Pathirana for 6, 6, 6, and 4. Chris Gayle holds the record of fastest IPL hundred — off 30 balls — followed by Yousuf Pathan (37 balls), David Miller (38 balls) and Travis Head (39 balls).

Arya smashed nine sixes and seven fours before he eventually holed out at long-on in the 13th over while going for another big shot against wrist-spinner Noor Ahmad of Afghanistan.

No. 7 batter Shashank Singh made unbeaten 52 off 36 balls and together with Marco Jansen (34 not out) carried Punjab past the 200-run mark with an unbroken 65-run stand.

The New Zealand left-handed pair of Rachin Ravindra (36) and Conway provided Chennai a decent start of 61 off 39 balls, but captain Ruturaj Gaikwad yet again faltered and was dismissed cheaply for 1 by Lockie Ferguson.

Conway and Shivam Dube (42) both got chances with the New Zealander twice getting dropped of Jansen’s successive deliveries and Ferguson couldn’t grab a simple catch of Dube at point.

Ferguson made amends and had Dube clean bowled of a knuckle ball in the 16th over and Conway got retired out as Chennai looked for counterpunch in the final two overs.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni struck three sixes and a boundary in his 12-ball knock of 27. But with 28 required off the final over, he was brilliantly snapped at short fine leg by Yuzvendra Chahal.

At their home, Kolkata was ahead of the run rate required for so long thanks to a whirlwind start from Rahane and Sunil Narine, who made 30 off 13 balls. They raced to 90-1 in the batting power play against wayward Lucknow pace bowling.

Rahane featured in another fruitful 71-run partnership with Venkatesh Iyer until Lucknow dented the chase with four quick wickets.

Shardul Thakur bowled five consecutive wide balls at the start of over No. 13, but he started the slide when yet another full toss was mis-timed by Rahane, who was caught in the covers.

When fast bowler Akash Deep got Iyer on 45 in the 16th over three wickets had fallen in nine balls. Then Thakur followed by taking out Andre Russell in his last over through another full toss and the odds were back in Lucknow’s favor.

With Kolkata seven down, all the pressure fell on Rinku Singh but his unbeaten 38 off 15 wasn’t quite enough.

Aiden Markram and Marsh flattened Kolkata with their opening stand of 99 runs off 62 balls, followed by Pooran’s blitz.

Markram was undone by Harshit Rana’s full delivery that nipped back into the South African’s stumps.

Marsh, who hit six fours and five sixes, and Pooran then smashed 71 off 30 balls until Marsh holed out to deep point.

Pooran continued the punishment, raising his fifty off just 21 balls. He hit eight fours and seven boundaries in his unbeaten knock and leads the IPL batting charts.

The game was rescheduled from Sunday at the request of Kolkata police due to religious festivities in the city.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Chennai Super Kings' Vijay Shankar, center, reacts as players of Punjab Kings celebrate after their win in the Indian Premier League cricket match between Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Cricket Stadium in Mohali, India, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Surjeet Yadav)

Chennai Super Kings' Devon Conway plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Cricket Stadium in Mohali, India, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Surjeet Yadav)

Punjab Kings' Priyansh Arya, left, celebrates with batting partner Shashank Singh after scoring a century during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Cricket Stadium in Mohali, India, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Surjeet Yadav)

Punjab Kings' Priyansh Arya, left, celebrates after scoring fifty runs during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Cricket Stadium in Mohali, India, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Surjeet Yadav)

Punjab Kings' Priyansh Arya plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Cricket Stadium in Mohali, India, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Surjeet Yadav)

Punjab Kings' Priyansh Arya celebrates after scoring a century during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Cricket Stadium in Mohali, India, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Surjeet Yadav)

Kolkata Knight Riders' captain Ajinkya Rahane plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Kolkata Knight Riders' Venkatesh Iyer plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Lucknow Super Giants' Digvesh Rathi, left, and Lucknow Super Giants' captain Rishabh Pant celebrates the dismissal of Kolkata Knight Riders' Sunil Narine during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Lucknow Super Giants' Digvesh Rathi bowls a delivery during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Kolkata Knight Riders' captain Ajinkya Rahane, left, and Sunil Narine greets each other during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Kolkata Knight Riders' Sunil Narine plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Lucknow Super Giants' Nicholas Pooran, left, celebrates after scoring fifty runs during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Lucknow Super Giants' Aiden Markram bowled out by Kolkata Knight Riders' Harshit Rana during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Lucknow Super Giants' Aiden Markram plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Lucknow Super Giants' Mitchell Marsh plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Lucknow Super Giants' Nicholas Pooran plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The St. Louis Blues signed defenseman Philip Broberg to a six-year, $48 million contract extension Saturday, hours before be sustained an upper-body injury just 1:35 into a 4-2 loss to Vegas.

He was hurt after getting checked near the boards by Golden Knights captain Mark Stone. Broberg lost his footing and hit the ice hard. He did not return to play, and Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said he’s day to day.

“He was really excited to play,” Montgomery said. “The team was excited for him after announcing his extension. Unfortunately, he got injured there. We had to go down to five (defensemen) three in four nights.”

Blues teammate Brayden Schenn fought Stone less than three minutes later, landing his share of blows and tearing Stone’s jersey. Stone went into the locker room to get a new jersey, and both players were hit with major fighting penalties.

The Blues led 1-0 at the time Broberg was injured. He had the primary assist on Robert Thomas’ goal 53 seconds into the game.

Broberg, who was recently named to Sweden’s team for the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, is in his second season with the Blues after signing as a restricted free agent in August 2024.

He has two goals and 12 assists in 45 games this season, after having eight goals and 21 assists in 68 regular-season games last season.

“It’s exciting to have him here for this year, plus six more,” general manager Doug Armstrong said. “That takes him right through the meat of his prime years. ... He’s a player, I think, on the back end that we can build around.”

Broberg, 24, has played in 194 career regular-season games, totaling 56 points (12 goals, 44 assists), 32 penalty minutes and a plus-16 rating.

He has also appeared in 27 career postseason games, including 10 in 2023-24 when he helped the Edmonton Oilers reach the Stanley Cup Final. He was drafted eighth overall by the Oilers in 2019.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone collides with St. Louis Blues defenseman Philip Broberg during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)