KKR vs PBKS, IPL 2024: Bairstow’s heroics helps Punjab Kings down Kolkata Knight Riders in record run chase

Jonny Bairstow emerged at his destructive best to score an unbeaten 108 and helped Punjab Kings (PBKS) create history by overhauling host Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) record score of 261, by eight wickets in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match at the Eden Gardens here on Friday. 

The incredible achievement by Punjab made it the team to make the highest successful run chase in the annals of all T20 matches.

Chasing the massive score put up by the host — the highest T20 total at the venue — PBKS decided to bring in Prabhsimran Singh as the impact player (for Arshdeep Singh). 

ALSO READ | Punjab Kings records highest successful chase in T20 cricket during KKR vs PBKS IPL-2024 match

The decision paid rich dividends as the opening batter took the KKR blowing attack to the cleaners hitting boundaries and sixes at will. 

Punjab Kings Shashank Singh during the IPL2024 against Kolkata Knight Riders.
| Photo Credit:
DEEPAK KR

The home side, which brought in Sri Lankan speedster Dushmantha Chameera in place of the “injured” Australian pacer Mitchell Starc, failed to make a mark as Prabhsimran and Bairstow struck a 93-run partnership for the opening stand to set the tone for the successful chase. 

Prabhsimran played the lead and struck five sixes and four boundaries before he was run out by a direct throw from Sunil Narine at a score of 54.

ALSO READ | Punjab Kings registers highest score at Eden Gardens after record chase against Kolkata Knight Riders

The worst sufferer in the demolition process was Anukul Roy, the left-arm spinner whom KKR brought as an impact player (for Venkatesh Iyer). Roy gave out 36 runs in his two overs as Bairstow took over the task of annihilating the KKR bowling.

The English batter raced to his century in 45 balls hitting eight boundaries and as many sixes. After his opening stand with Prabhsimran, Bairstow constructed two more partnerships – of 85 runs for the second wicket with Rilee Rossouw before finishing the innings with an unbroken stand of 84 runs with Shashank Singh. The latter remained unbeaten on 68, hitting eight sixes and two fours in 28 balls. Bairstow remained the wrecker-in-chief, hitting eight fours and nine sixes in his 48-ball 108.

Earlier, Kolkata Knight Riders rode on the belligerence of its opening partnership of Narine and Phil Salt to reach 261 in its 20 overs. Narine made 71 (32b, 9×4, 4×6), while Salt remained the KKR top scorer with a 75 (37b, 6×4, 6×6).