Batters are hammering the bowlers for sixes and fours in the Indian Premier League 2024. The brutal hitting could end few careers by the time 17th season finishes. Punjab Kings completed a world record chase of 262 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders. The previous record of 259 was achieved during a T20I between South Africa and the West Indies.
Ravichandran Ashwin, who is playing for Rajasthan Royals, pleaded for help after the carnage at the Eden Gardens. The entire camp of Kolkata was sure of their win after the batters put up 261/6 in 20 overs. KKR’s opening batter Sunil Narine and Phil Salt added 138 runs in 10.2 overs. Salt scored 75 off 37, with the help of 6 fours and as many sixes.
Narine managed 71 off 32, packed with 9 fours and 4 sixes.
Venkatesh Iyer (39), Shreyas Iyer (28) and Andre Russell (24) also played handy innings. Arshdeep Singh took two wickets for Punjab.
The Kings from Punjab were in the hunt from the start of their chase. Jonny Bairstow, who was dropped from the Playing XI, made a grand return to the side. He struck 108 not out off 48, with the help of 9 sixes and 8 fours. His opening partner Prabhsimran Singh’s 54 came off 20 balls. He hit 5 sixes and 4 fours and added 93 runs with the English batter in just 6 overs.
The scoring rate was not impacted as Rile Rossouw scored 26 runs off 16 balls. The real damage was done by Shashank Singh, who accumulated 68 off 28, laced with 8 sixes and 2 fours..
Ashwin felt sorry for the bowlers. “Save the bowlers” someone plsss,” he wrote on X.
Kolkata are still second in the points table with five 5 wins and 3 defeats. On the other hand, it was just the third win of Punjab Kings and they are seventh in the standings.
