KKR vs PBKS: Nightmare for bowlers as Punjab chase 263 to set ...

The lack of balance between bat and ball in the IPL 2024 season was highlighted on a day when KKR posted 262, their second-best total, before PBKS chased it down at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday, April 26. The bowlers, barring Sunil Narine, were looking helpless as centurion Jonny Bairstow led a beyond-believable assault on the KKR bowlers. Punjab scripted a new world record as 262 is the highest-successful chase in the history of T20 cricket, bettering South Africa's effort of 259 for 4 against West Indies in a T20I match in Centurion last year.

KKR vs PBKS Highlights | Scorecard

The chase of 262 was a walk in the park for PBKS! Jonny Bairstow remained unbeaten on 108 off 48 while his batting partner Shashank Singh remained unbeaten on 68 off 28 as PBKS got past the finish line in just 18.3 overs. Bairstow and Shashank added 84 runs in just 37 balls as KKR bowlers stood no chance against the ruthless PBKS batters, who came out swinging.

Questions will be asked of KKR's bowling attack as they have struggled to defend 200-plus totals in three successive games. While a Jos Buttler special helped Rajasthan chase down 224 earlier in the month, RCB fell short of a 223-run target by just 2 runs earlier in the week.

A total of 23 runs were scored and 42 sixes were hit on an evening when the bowlers suffered at the iconic Eden Gardens. The tally of 42 sixes is also a T20 record as Punjab made a statement, hammering the Knight Riders. This was also the 3rd time in IPL 2024 that more than 500 runs were scored in a match. Only 7 times more than 500 runs have been scored in a match in T20 cricket and 3 of them have come this season.

It was also the first time in the history of the IPL that all four opening batters hit a 50-plus score. Earlier in the day, KKR posted their second-highest total in IPL history on the back of Sunil Narine's

HIGHEST SUCCESSFUL CHASES IN T20s

1. PBKS - 262 vs KKR in Kolkata in 2024
2. South Africa - 259 vs West Indies in Centurion in 2023
3. Middlesex - 254 vs Surrey in London in 2023
4. Bulgaria - 246 vs Serbia in Sofia in 2022

IPL 2024 Full Coverage | IPL 2024 Points Table and Standings | 2024 IPL Full Schedule

Jonny Bairstow hit a 45-ball hundred, leading what looked an improbable chase at the start. in a 93-run opening stand with Prabhsimran Singh. Their opening partnership came in just 6 overs as the two batters set the tone what turned out to be a jaw-dropping chase. It was Prabhsimran who laid down the early marker with a 20-ball 54 in which he hit 5 sixes and 4 boundaries.

Jonny Bairstow was a man on a mission as he hit 9 sixes and 8 fours while Shashank Singh kept bettering his reputation, smashing 8 sixes and 2 boundaries.

Rilee Russouw, who batted at NO. 3 played his part, hitting 26 off 16 balls. 3 of the 4 PBKS batters struck at a rate of over 200 while Rossouw struck at 162.50.

On the other hand, Sunil Narine was the standout for KKR as he gave away 24 runs in 4 overs at a rate of 6. All the others, including Andre Russell and Varun Chakvararthy, conceded over 13 runs per over on a nightmarish day for the home team bowlers.

32-ball 71 and Phil Salt's 37-ball 75. Venkatesh Iyer smashed 39 off 23 and out-of-form Shreyas Iyer smashed 28 off just 10 balls while Andre Russell cipped in with 24 from 12 balls.

For PBKS, Rahul Chahar was the only bowler who conceded at less than 10 runs per over. The leg-spinner finished with figures of 1 for 33 in 4 overs. Kagiso Rabada, their most-experienced bowler, gave away 52 runs in just 3 overs.