Bairstow Heroics Helped Punjab Kings Make History in IPL 2024 in Record Chase vs KKR

Jonny Bairstow’s unbeaten 108 off 48 balls powered the Punjab Kings to a record-breaking eight-wicket victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders, chasing down a mammoth target of 262 with two balls to spare. Prabhsimran Singh’s quickfire 54 and Shashank Singh’s unbeaten 68 also contributed to the highest successful run chase in T20 cricket history. Earlier, KKR had posted 261/6, thanks to the belligerence of openers Phil Salt (75) and Sunil Narine (71).

What Happened in the Match Between Punjab Kings and KKR

In an extraordinary display of power-hitting, Jonny Bairstow’s unbeaten 108 off just 48 balls propelled the Punjab Kings to a historic eight-wicket victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens on Friday. Chasing a mammoth target of 262, the highest ever in T20 cricket at the venue, the Punjab Kings achieved the feat with two balls to spare, setting a new record for the most successful run chase in all T20 matches.

Punjab Kings’ decision to bring in Prabhsimran Singh as the impact player for Arshdeep Singh proved to be a masterstroke. The opening batter took the KKR bowling attack to the cleaners, smashing boundaries and sixes at will. Before Sunil Narine ran him out, Prabhsimran’s 54 off just 20 balls—which included four fours and five sixes—set the tone for the chase.

However, it was Jonny Bairstow who stole the show with his destructive batting. The English opener raced to his century in just 45 balls, hitting eight fours and nine sixes in the process. Bairstow’s onslaught left the KKR bowlers shell-shocked, with left-arm spinner Anukul Roy, who was brought in as the Impact Player for Venkatesh Iyer, being the worst sufferer, conceding 36 runs in his two overs.

Bairstow’s century was the centerpiece of three crucial partnerships. After the 93-run opening stand with Prabhsimran, he added 85 runs for the second wicket with Rilee Rossouw and an unbroken 84-run partnership with Shashank Singh, who remained unbeaten on 68 off just 28 balls, smashing two fours and eight sixes.

Earlier, KKR posted a daunting 261/6 in their 20 overs, riding on the belligerence of openers Phil Salt (75 off 37 balls) and Sunil Narine (71 off 32 balls). The duo benefited from a series of dropped catches by the Punjab Kings fielders, allowing them to unleash a barrage of boundaries and sixes. Salt was eventually dismissed in the 13th over, with the score reading 163.

“It was one of those days where everything seemed to come off. I was just trying to be positive and take the game on. The pitch was fantastic, and the outfield was quick, so I knew if I could get a few away, it would put pressure on the bowlers,” Bairstow said after his incredible innings.

This victory keeps Punjab Kings in the hunt for a playoff spot, while KKR will need to regroup quickly after this demoralizing defeat. As the race for the playoffs heats up, every match assumes greater significance.

Here’s a look at the top 10 most successful run-chases in IPL history:

Table: Highest successful run chases in IPL history (Credit: ESPN Cricinfo)

Brief Scorecard of the Match

Kolkata Knight Riders: 261/6 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 75, Sunil Narine 71). Punjab Kings: 262/2 in 18.4 overs (Jonny Bairstow 108*, Prabhsimran Singh 54, Shashank Singh 68*).