Punjab has achieved an incredible feat. They have shown what no one could in the history of T20 cricket, thus proving themselves. Breaking all records, the team achieved the target of 262 runs. Despite their formidable batting lineup, Kolkata failed to defend their home ground.
The ongoing IPL seems to be a competition of breaking and making records. This time, Punjab’s name is written on it. Yesterday, at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, Punjab chased down the target of 261 runs with 6 wickets in hand and 18.4 overs to spare. They secured victory by taking 8 wickets. This sets a new record for the highest runs chased in T20 cricket.
Not only that, cricket witnessed a total of 42 sixes in a single match. Both teams collectively scored 523 runs, setting a new record. Moreover, for the first time in IPL history, both openers of two teams scored fifty-plus runs in an innings.
In the IPL, no team has scored 250 or more runs on nine occasions until now, with five of them occurring in the last 10 days alone! However, no team had lost after batting first in eighteen matches before today. Punjab Kings changed that history today. They replaced Jonny Bairstow.
Punjab started aggressively in the powerplay, scoring 93 runs in just six overs. Prabhsimran Singh was out after playing a brilliant innings of 54 runs off 20 balls. However, Bairstow single-handedly ensured victory with 45 runs off just 20 balls, with a flurry of fours and sixes. He won the match and remained unbeaten on 108 runs off 48 balls.
Apart from Prabhsimran, Bairstow received excellent support from Riley Meredith and Shashank Singh. While Meredith couldn’t extend his innings, scoring 26 runs off 16 balls, Singh joined Bairstow to ensure victory. In this partnership, all eyes were on Singh. Among the two, Singh scored 68 runs off 28 balls, leading the charge.
Before winning the toss, Kolkata started their batting innings brilliantly. They formed an impressive partnership of 138 runs in just 10.2 overs. Sunil Narine played an outstanding innings of 71 runs off 32 balls before breaking the partnership. Another opener, Phil Salt, got out after scoring 75 runs off 37 balls.
In the 16th over, Kolkata lost their momentum with two quick wickets, scoring 200 runs. Then, Andre Russell lost his wicket after scoring 24 runs off 12 balls. Apart from him, Venkatesh Iyer scored 39 off 23 balls, and Shreyas Iyer contributed 28 off 10 balls. Kolkata managed to score 261 runs, losing 6 wickets.
