Kolkata Knight Riders set new record score as they beat Punjab Kings
In a thrilling encounter at Eden Gardens, Kolkata Knight Riders set a new record score as they defeated Punjab Kings in the 42nd match of the IPL series on April 26, 2024.
The clash saw Kolkata Knight Riders facing off against Punjab Kings, who are currently struggling at the 9th place in the points table. Winning the toss, Punjab Kings elected to bowl first, giving Kolkata the opportunity to set the pace.
Kolkata’s opening pair, Phil Salt and Sunil Narine, got off to a blazing start. Sunil Narine, already in good form, continued his aggressive play, scoring a half-century in just 23 balls. Phil Salt, on the other end, complemented Narine performance by reaching his own half-century in 25 balls. However, Punjab Kings’ fielding woes added to their troubles as they dropped three catches during this partnership.
The dynamic duo of Narine and Salt held the fort for 10.2 overs, putting on a magnificent 138-run opening partnership. Kolkata reached an impressive score of 137/0 in the first 10 overs, setting a new record for the highest score in the first 10 overs in the IPL series. This surpassed Kolkata’s previous record of 135/1 against Delhi in Visakhapatnam in the same season.
Sunil Narine explosive innings came to an end at 71 runs off 32 balls, including 6 fours and 6 sixes. Phil Salt contributed 75 runs off 37 balls, smashing 9 fours and 6 sixes. Sam Karan and Andre Russell also chipped in with valuable contributions, scoring 24 runs (12 balls) and 28 runs (10 balls) respectively.
In the end, Kolkata Knight Riders posted a formidable total of 261/6 in their allotted 20 overs, with Venkatesh Iyer playing a crucial innings of 39 runs off 23 balls.
Arshdeep Singh was the most successful bowler for Punjab Kings, taking 2 wickets. However, their bowling performance was below par, allowing Kolkata to set a new record as the highest IPL scorer at the Eden Gardens cricket ground, surpassing CSK previous record of 235/4 against Kolkata in the 2023 season.
With this victory, Kolkata Knight Riders strengthened their position in the IPL standings, while Punjab Kings continue to struggle in the tournament.
