 "Punjab Kings Jonny Bairstow celebrates after scoring his century against Kolkata Knight Riders. AP")
Another day of IPL 2024 and another batting world record was scripted as Punjab Kings took just 18.4 overs to complete a 262-run chase against Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday at the Eden Gardens. After scoring 261 in the first innings with the help of Phil Salt (75) and Sunil Narine (71), KKR must have been aiming for a comfortable win at home, but the tables were turned when Jonny Bairstow made 108 not out off just 48 balls and smashed nine sixes.
Prabhsimran Singh made 54 while Shashank Singh scored 68 as Punjab Kings made the record for the highest successful chase in T20 history (262). The match witnessed 42 sixes which is also the highest for any T20 match.
PBKS stand-in skipper Sam Curran credited the victory to his batters and other factors like the dew and small ground. He added that cricket is fast turning into baseball.
“Very pleasing. Most importantly the win. Cricket is turning into baseball,” Curran said after the record win. “We have had a few tough weeks. But we hung in there. The way guys train. The confidence and the coaches. The small grounds and the dew. The reviews which might give you an extra ball. We hung in there and managed to chase it down with balls to spare. Pleased for Johnny. What an amazing knock. Shashank Singh has been the find of the tournament for us. Ashutosh as well. Proud of everyone.”
Bairstow said that his team benefitted by taking risks and praised his batting partner Shashank Singh.
“We got off to a good start. That was the key. They got off to a good start as well thanks to Sunil. You have to take risks,” he said.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“Sometimes luck will go your way. Some days it won’t be your day. Tried to whack it as far as possible. If it is in your area, you had to go. We had a couple of quiet overs when Sunil was bowling as we knew how important he is for them. Shashank Singh is a special player. The knowledge he has had been amazing. How clean he hit it! Was indeed very special.”
KKR captain Shreyas Iyer said that his team will have to go back to the drawing board and dissect how they failed to defend a 262-run target.
“I would have (taken 260 at the start of the day). The way the batters batted was tremendous to see, Sunny coming in…the way Salt batted, they delivered and it was a treat for the eyes. Both the teams played tremendously, one of those games where you go back to the drawing board and see where it went wrong especially not being able to defend 260. We have to sum up the conditions and come up with better ideas. It is brilliant to see him (Narine) go out there and strike the ball, hopefully he keeps continuing with such performances,” Iyer said.