Kolkata Knight Riders scored 261/6 from their 20 overs thanks to their devastating batsmanship. Leading the attack at bat, Phil Salt and Sunil Narine destroyed the Punjab Kings bowlers all over the arena. Just 10.3 overs were needed for the starting hitters to add 138 runs.
After winning the toss and opting to bowl first, Sam Curran quickly came to rue his choice. The fielders for the Punjab Kings disappointed the bowlers by missing catches and giving up easy runs due to misfields.
50 runs in 3.3 overs for Punjab Kings
262 is required to win. It was determined to fight fire with fire by Jonny Bairstow and Prabhsimran Singh. Prabhsimran Singh, in particular, chose to unleash his aggression and challenge the KKR bowlers.
Half-century: 18 balls and Prabhsimran Singh
Prabhsimran Singh smashed fours and sixes with abandon to give Punjab Kings a commanding early lead. As the youthful batsman stunned the hosts with a 360-degree game of cricket, the KKR bowlers were clueless.
Powerplay: Mandatory 93/1, Overs 0.1 to 6, and first strategic timeout
In the sixth over, Jonny Bairstow chose to join in on the fun by going after Anukul Roy. Prabhsimran Singh was caught short of his ground on the final ball of the over, resulting in his out. Prabhsimran was dismissed for 54 runs off 20 balls by Sunil Narine, who delivered a stunning throw.
100 runs from 7.2 overs for Punjab Kings
With Prabhsimran Singh out of the game, Jonny Bairstow raised his arms to keep up the scoring with a six off Harshit Rana, and the Punjab Kings reached the hundred-run mark in just 7.2 overs.
Jonny Bairstow has held off 23 balls for half a century.
The Punjab Kings batsmen refused to give up and the bowlers for Kolkata Knight Riders had enough to think about. Against Varun Chakravarthy, Jonny Bairstow hit a six-over long-off to reach his IPL fifty in just 23 balls, displaying a fighter’s mentality.
150 runs from 11 overs for Punjab Kings
Leading yet another tough stand alongside Jonny Bairstow, Rilee Rossouw at last found his swing at the bat. The PBKS team was actually matching KKR at the midway point.
200 runs from 15 overs for Punjab Kings
After taking the crucial wicket of Rilee Rossouw, Sunil Narine provided the home team with a much-needed reprieve. Following his debut, experienced batsman Shashank Singh hit Varun Chakravarthy, enabling PBKS to maintain a lead against KKR.
Also read: IPL 2024: Kolkata Knight Riders’ 1st Inning Highlights against PBKS in Match 42
Punjab Kings: 201/2 from 15 overs: Second Strategic Time-Out
The silence at Eden Gardens revealed which squad was leading. In an attempt to reduce the enormous total, Punjab Kings’ hitters came out swinging and didn’t let up. With a determined Jonny Bairstow at the bat, the KKR bowlers had little chance.
Jonny Bairstow hits a century off 45 balls.
Like they say, Jonny Bairstow proved that the saying “cometh the hour, cometh the man” was accurate as he scorched his way to his second IPL century. With his vicious hit, the English batsman put the KKR bowlers to shame.
Shashank Singh off 23 balls at the halfway point
After losing their second wicket, one could have thought that PBKS’s chances were hopeless. They were incredibly misguided. With a six off Harshit Rana in the 18th over of the season, Shashank Singh smashed yet another fifty.
Milestone: Excessive sixes write new history
Shashank Singh hit Harshit Rana for his first six off the 18th over, which was the game’s 39th six. Since there are going to be more records set in the IPL 2024, this is now the record for the most sixes in a game.
Match finish: Punjab Kings, 262/2 after 18.4 overs
The Punjab Kings hitters ended the match with more than an over remaining, leaving Eden Gardens completely stunned. Together with Jonny Bairstow, Shashank Singh was the unsung hero at the bat, executing some of the greatest chases in cricket history.
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