In the Indian Premier League 2024, the trend of batters dominating the bowlers continued as Punjab Kings achieved a world record chase of 262 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders. The brutal hitting witnessed at the Eden Gardens raised concerns about the toll such high-scoring games could take on bowlers’ careers.
Kolkata Knight Riders seemed to be in a commanding position after setting a target of 262 runs, with their openers, Sunil Narine and Phil Salt, putting up a spectacular 138-run partnership in just 10.2 overs. Narine scored 71 off 32 balls, while Salt smashed 75 off 37 balls, featuring 6 fours and as many sixes. Other contributions from Venkatesh Iyer (39), Shreyas Iyer (28), and Andre Russell (24) propelled KKR to 261/6 in 20 overs. Arshdeep Singh was the most successful bowler for Punjab Kings, picking up two wickets.
In response, Punjab Kings’ openers, Jonny Bairstow and Prabhsimran Singh, set the tone for the chase with a blistering partnership. Bairstow, who was brought back into the side after being dropped from the Playing XI, played a sensational innings, scoring an unbeaten 108 off just 48 balls, including 9 sixes and 8 fours. Prabhsimran Singh supported him well with a quickfire 54 off 20 balls, featuring 5 sixes and 4 fours.
The onslaught continued as Rile Rossouw and Shashank Singh kept up the scoring rate. Rossouw contributed 26 off 16 balls, while Shashank Singh’s explosive 68 off 28 balls, laced with 8 sixes and 2 fours, ensured Punjab Kings reached the target with 4 balls to spare.
The match highlighted the challenges faced by bowlers in the current T20 format, prompting a plea from Ravichandran Ashwin for bowlers’ safety. “Save the bowlers,” he wrote on social media, expressing concern over the relentless assault on bowlers in high-scoring matches.
Despite the loss, Kolkata Knight Riders remain in a strong position in the points table, with five wins and three defeats, while Punjab Kings secured their third win of the season, placing them seventh in the standings.
The match served as a stark reminder of the evolving dynamics of T20 cricket, where batsmen are continuously pushing the boundaries, leaving bowlers with a daunting task of finding ways to contain the relentless onslaught.
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