IPL 2024: Jonny Bairstow and Co script history, register highest-ever successful run chase against KKR

Jonny Bairstow and Co scripted history in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Friday (April 26) with the highest-ever successful run chase. Needing 262 runs on the board to win, Punjab Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by eight wickets at the Eden Gardens. Bairstow was the architect of the win with an unbeaten 108 off 48 while Shashank Singh (unbeaten 68) and Prabhsimran Singh (54) also made important contributions.

Tasked with chasing a mammoth 262 runs to win the match against KKR, Punjab were in no mood to show mercy on their opponent's bowling attack as they hit the ground since the start of their innings. The pair of Bairstow and Prabhsimran stitched together a partnership of 93 runs for the first wicket which came in just six overs. This was also the highest ever for the PBKS in the IPL history as they ran riot with the bat.

While Prabhsimran was run out, it did not break the momentum as Rilee Rossouw (26 off 16) joined in and gave a good helping hand. Bairstow on the other hand was in brilliant form as he continued the onslaught scoring a hundred in just 45 deliveries. Despite Rossouw’s wicket, there was no relief for KKR as Shashank scored 68 off 28 and helped PBKS complete the highest-ever successful run chase in the history of the tournament.

262 - Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Kolkata, IPL 2024

259 - South Africa vs West Indies, Centurion, 2023

253 - Middlesex vs Surrey, The Oval, T20 Blast 2023

244 - Australia vs New Zealand, Auckland, 2018

243 - Bulgaria vs Serbia, Sofia, 2022

243 - Multan Sultans vs Peshawar Zalmi, Rawalpindi, PSL 2023

Earlier, batting first KKR scored 261/6 in their 20 overs with openers Sunil Narine (71) and Phil Salt (75) in a good batting mood. They put together 138 runs for the opening wicket with Venkatesh Iyer (39) and Shreyas Iyer (28) also contributing to the team's score. Two PBKS bowlers went for fifty-plus scores indicating a miserable day for the bowlers.

KKR will next face Delhi Capitals on Monday at the Eden Gardens while PBKS travel to Chennai to face defending champions Chennai Super Kings.