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Punjab Kings (PBKS) suffered another defeat in the IPL 2026 group stage. In the initial stage of the season, PBKS looked undisputed. But as the tournament progressed, they started to lose their momentum. On May 6, for the Punjab Kings, Cooper Connolly played a splendid knock, but that went in vain, as the home team, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), claimed a crucial win at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Cooper Connolly recorded a century, his first maiden century in the Indian Premier League. He touched the hundred-run mark in the very last over of the match. The Australian all-rounder, who came to bat at the number three position, remained not out for 107 runs, facing 59 deliveries. His innings was decorated with seven 4s and eight 6s, and his strike rate was 181.36.

Cooper Connolly's gallant fight went in vain

In tonight’s match, the well-decorated batting order of the Sunrisers Hyderabad performed as a unit. Hence, they got a massive total of 235 runs in 20 overs, in exchange for only 4 wickets. Apart from Cooper Connolly, the rest of the PBKS batting order could barely uphold any significant resistance against the SRH bowling attack. As a result, despite Connolly’s illustrious knock, Punjab Kings brutally lost the contest. SRH won by 33 runs. In response to Hyderabad’s 235, PBKS managed to get 202, with more than half of the runs coming from Cooper Connolly’s bat.

Cooper Connolly now owns multiple IPL records for PBKS

Through the century, Cooper Connolly has registered his name in the record book as well as a Punjab Kings batter. At the age of only 22, it was a world-class batting display by him. Ahead of the tournament, cricket fans mostly recognized him as a spinner who could add a few runs with the bat. But it is visible that the emerging talent has developed his batting skills as well. According to the stats published by Cricbuzz, after Chris Gayle, Connolly is now the second-best batter for the Punjab-based franchise to score a century. It is also worth mentioning that he is now the first-ever batter of the Punjab Kings to hit eight sixes in an innings as a 22-year-old batter. Highest scores for PBKS vs SRH in IPL 104* - Chris Gayle, Mohali, 2018 107* - Cooper Connolly, Hyderabad, 2026* 99* - Shikhar Dhawan, Hyderabad, 2023 96 - Hashim Amla, Mohali, 2016

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