Disaster struck Punjab Kings early in their IPL 2024 encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens. In a major blow to their bowling attack, Harpreet Brar grassed a simple chance offered by the dangerous Sunil Narine, allowing the explosive batsman to wreak havoc on the bowlers.
Costly Reprieve for Narine
The incident unfolded in the third over of the KKR innings. Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, Punjab Kings saw their pacer Harshal Patel deceive Narine with a slower ball. The right-hander, attempting a dab to the right of backward point, only managed to edge the delivery. Unfortunately for the visitors, the fielder stationed there, Harpreet Brar, failed to cling on to a seemingly straightforward catch.
The dropped catch proved to be a turning point in the match. Narine, seemingly emboldened by the reprieve, launched a brutal assault on the Punjab Kings bowling attack in the very next over. Kagiso Rabada, known for his express pace, bore the brunt of Narine’s fury. The KKR batsman smashed the South African pacer for a four, a six, and another four off three consecutive deliveries.
By the time this report was compiled, Narine remained unbeaten on a belligerent 32 off just 12 deliveries, showcasing his immense hitting prowess. His knock left the Punjab Kings bowlers shaken and their strategy in disarray.
Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders Missing Key Players
The visitors entered the contest already hamstrung by the absence of their regular skipper Shikhar Dhawan, who is sidelined with a shoulder injury. Additionally, they opted to bench Liam Livingstone, bringing in Jonny Bairstow for a change in batting approach.
Meanwhile, the Kolkata Knight Riders also opted for a strategic gamble. With Mitchell Starc nursing a cut from their previous encounter, the team management decided to rest the Australian pace spearhead. In his place, Sri Lankan pacer Dushmanta Chameera was handed a chance to impress in the high-pressure environment of the IPL.
With Narine in ominous form and the KKR innings still in its nascent stages, the momentum firmly lies with the home team.Â
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