TATA IPL 2024: Bairstow's 108, Shashank's 68 Lead PBKS to Record T20 Chase

Jonny Bairstow blazed his way to an unbeaten 108, accompanied by Shashank Singh's impressive 68 not out, as Punjab Kings pulled off a remarkable feat at Eden Gardens. They chased down a mammoth target of 262, securing an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in a high-scoring spectacle.

Following a dynamic opening partnership of 138 runs in just 10.2 overs by Phil Salt and Sunil Narine, propelling KKR to a formidable total of 261/6, Prabhsimran Singh's brisk fifty laid the groundwork for PBKS. Subsequently, Bairstow and Shashank delivered exceptional performances, leading PBKS to achieve the highest successful chase in T20 history.

For Bairstow, this was a much-needed second IPL century, with his 108 coming off 48 balls and aided by eight fours and nine sixes after being dropped due to poor form. Friday’s knock boosts his chances of entering England’s squad for the T20 World Cup. Shashank’s whirlwind 68 not out came off 28 balls, laced with two fours and eight sixes. Amidst the carnage, Sunil Narine was still at his economical best, with figures of 1-24. The win now takes PBKS to eighth place in the points table.

With the ball coming nicely on the bat, PBKS hit a whopping 24 sixes in their chase, the most maximums coming in an IPL innings. Overall, 42 sixes were hit in the match, which is the most maximums struck in a men’s T20 match.

Chasing 262, Bairstow got off the mark by mistiming a drive off Dushmantha Chameera in the opening over. Impact player Prabhsimran Singh flicked and upper-cut Harshit Rana for a brace of sixes in the second over before taking two fours and as many sixes off Chameera in the next over.

Despite the introduction of Anukul Roy and Sunil Narine, the flow of boundaries remained unchecked as Prabhsimran swiftly reached his fifty in just 18 balls with a sweeping six. Bairstow took advantage of Anukul Roy's bowling in the final over of the Power-play, smashing three fours and two sixes. However, Prabhsimran was unfortunately run out on the last ball, with PBKS concluding the phase at 93/1. Undeterred, Bairstow continued his onslaught against KKR's bowlers, reaching his fifty off 23 balls by dispatching Varun Chakravarthy for a six over long-off in the ninth over. Despite the loss of Rilee Rossouw to Narine in overs 10-13, Bairstow hammered seven boundaries.

Shashank entered the fray, smashing two sixes and a four, paving the way for Bairstow to achieve his century in a blistering 45-ball innings against Harshit Rana. Shashank then unleashed a barrage of three sixes against Chameera, followed by two more maximums and a four off Harshit to secure his fifty. Together, they added three more boundaries to their tally, completing a monumental chase with eight balls remaining.