On a moist night in a dry Kolkata, Punjab Kings’ batters unleashed a barrage of sixes—24 in complete—as they chased down the goal of 262 in simply 18.four overs.Bairstow’s unbeaten 108 off 48 balls was bolstered by Shashank Singh‘s undefeated 68 off 28 balls and Prabhsimran Singh‘s explosive 54 off simply 20 balls.
When Sunil Narine (71 off 32 balls) and Phil Salt (75 off 37 balls) tore by means of the Punjab bowlers within the scorching afternoon warmth, little did Shreyas Iyer anticipate the destiny awaiting him and his group later that night time. The night time belonged fully to Bairstow and his associate Shashank, as they took management and led Punjab Kings to victory.Prabhsimran deserves particular reward for his dynamic begin, dismantling the KKR assault on a batting-friendly pitch, giving Bairstow the area to settle in.
After Prabhsimran’s dismissal, Rilee Rossouw added a fast 26 off 16 balls, whereas the in-form Shashank unleashed eight sixes, only one wanting Bairstow’s 9, making the chase appear easy.
The match noticed a complete of 523 runs scored and an IPL file of 42 sixes hit.
Each the file chases now have come towards KKR in area of 10 days and on the identical venue of Eden Gardens.
It was on April 16, KKR had did not defend 223/6 with one other Englishman — Jos Buttler — who smashed a 55-ball century to drag off the heist.
It was IPL’s joint file chase until then and each by with Rajasthan Royals — first towards Mumbai Indians in 2000 after which vs KKR in 2024.
The 2 defeats additionally highlighted KKR’s bowling plight this season as their 24.75 crore purchase Mitchell Starc has did not dwell as much as his massive prize purse, one thing that could be an enormous concern for the group poised to make the playoffs.
This win could also be slightly too late for PBKS to make the playoffs. This was their third win from 9 matches as they improved their place to eighth spot within the 10-team standings.
For KKR, this was their third loss from eight matches as they’ve 10 factors, occupying the second spot behind Rajasthan.
Prabhsimran made the proper impression on the prime changing pacer Arshdeep Singh when he creamed an 18-ball fifty with 5 sixes and 4 fours to offer PBKS a super begin to the large chase.
Prabhsimran teed off towards Harshit Rana, smoking him for 2 sixes in three balls, earlier than Dushmantha Chameera bore his burnt and conceded 23 runs in his over.
On six off 5 balls, Bairstow was a mute spectator at his finish with Prabhsimran blazing all weapons.
Down on one knee, Prabhsimran launched into Narine for a six over backward sq. leg that summed up the the effortlessness with which the batters had their method whereas wielding the willow.
Bairstow got here on his personal within the subsequent over when he went ballistic towards KKR’s ‘Impression Participant ‘, left-arm spinner Anukul Roy, who leaked three fours and two sixes in his first 5 balls.
The one respite was Narine’s direct hit from quick fine-leg within the closing supply of that Roy over that introduced an finish to Prabhsimran’s blazing knock.
Earlier than this match, Bairstow’s highest this season was 42 as he received out for single digit scores twice and managed simply 96 runs to be dropped of their final two matches.
However nothing went mistaken for the 34-year-old Englishman who single handedly steered the chase.
after the thunderous begin from Prabhsimran.
Earlier KKR’s posted their second ever 250-plus complete, each coming throughout the present season.
Narine blasted 9 fours and 4 sixes — his third fifty plus rating of the season after 85 towards Delhi Capitals and 109 versus Rajasthan Royals beforehand.
Narine additionally jumped to second spot within the race for the ‘Orange Cap’ for main run-getters with 357 runs from eight matches, 73 runs behind Virat Kohli (430 runs) who has performed one match further.
Salt additionally was at his explosive greatest and blazed his option to his third fifty of the season in his 37-ball 75, studded with six fours and half a dozen sixes.
Narine’s fifty got here off simply 23 balls, whereas Salt took two extra deliveries to finish the milestone because the KKR opening duo reeled off 100 runs in simply eight overs.
Additionally they posted season’s highest opening partnership of 138, eclipsing 134 by Lucknow Tremendous Large’s KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock of their match towards Chennai Tremendous Kings on April 19.
At 190/2 from 15 overs, KKR appeared properly on the right track to enhance upon their highest complete of 272/7 that got here towards Delhi Capitals in Visakhapatnam on April 3.
However their center and decrease order did not capitalise and it was Shreyas Iyer’s 10-ball 28 (1×4, 3×6) which went a good distance in taking them previous 260-run mark.
(With inputs from PTI)
