In another stellar display of batting prowess in the ongoing IPL season, Sunil Narine showcased his mettle yet again during the face-off between Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens. Narine’s left-handed onslaught saw him amass a formidable 71 runs from a mere 32 balls, embellished with nine boundaries and four towering sixes.
Narine’s onslaught commenced early in the innings, as he wasted no time in dispatching Sam Curran for a blistering boundary in the opening over. His aggressive approach continued unabated, with the southpaw amassing a blistering 38 runs off just 15 deliveries by the end of the powerplay.
WATCH – Sam Curran’s Perfect Yorker Delivery Dismisses Phil Salt
The dynamic batsman continued his onslaught, notching up his half-century in just 23 deliveries, displaying an array of exquisite strokes. However, his innings was halted in the 11th over when Rahul Chahar deceived him with a well-disguised wrong’un, resulting in a catch for Jonny Bairstow at long-on.
Rahul Chahar’s celebratory gesture towards Narine added an intriguing subplot to the encounter. Narine’s contribution extended beyond his individual milestone, as he played a pivotal role in a formidable 138-run opening partnership alongside Phil Salt. Salt, too, showcased his batting prowess, contributing a brisk 75 runs from just 37 balls before his departure in the 13th over.
WATCH – PBKS Face Backlash For Dropped Catches Against KKR
As Kolkata Knight Riders concluded their innings with a formidable total of 261/6, they set the stage for their sixth potential victory of the season. Currently occupying the second spot on the points table, KKR aims to consolidate their position with another win. Meanwhile, Punjab Kings, struggling at the ninth spot, seek a dramatic turnaround to resurrect their playoff aspirations, having secured only two wins from eight games so far.
Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI): Philip Salt (wk), Sunil Narine, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Shreyas Iyer (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh , Dushmantha Chameera, Varun Chakaravarthy, Harshit Rana
Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran (c), Rilee Rossouw, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shashank Singh, Ashutosh Sharma, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh
