Jonny Bairstow smashes record IPL century to lead PBKS to victory against KKR

In a high-octane clash between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the iconic Eden Gardens, history was made in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. KKR set a massive target of 261 runs, with openers Phil Salt and Sunil Narine providing a solid start. Despite the rest of the batters not contributing much, KKR managed to hit a total of 18 sixes, thrilling the home crowd.

In response, PBKS pulled off a remarkable chase, scoring 262 runs with 8 balls to spare. The star of the show was Jonny Bairstow, who played a sensational unbeaten knock of 108 runs. Prabhsimran Singh also made a significant impact with a quickfire 54 off just 20 deliveries.

After the match, Bairstow revealed his simple strategy for achieving the record run chase. “Try and whack it as far as possible,” he said, encapsulating his aggressive approach to the game.

Bairstow’s innings not only kept PBKS’ playoff hopes alive but also set a new record for the most sixes in a T20 game in IPL history. The match between PBKS and KKR witnessed a total of 42 sixes, surpassing the previous IPL record of 38.

With this stellar performance, Bairstow has now scored 204 runs in 7 matches in IPL 2024, with an average of 34 and a strike rate of 168.60. His century against KKR will be remembered as one of the standout moments of the tournament, showcasing his prowess with the bat.