Sunil Narine’s 39-ball 85 takes Kolkata Knight Riders top of the table

Sunil Narine scored a smashing 39-ball 85 to lead KKR to the second-best ever IPL total of 272-7.

• Vivek Mishra
• 04 April, 2024

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By: Vivek Mishra

If you thought 200 runs in a T20 game was a big deal, Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) batting performance on Wednesday will make you rethink about the format, especially in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

West Indies’ Sunil Narine scored a smashing 39-ball 85 to lead KKR to the second-best ever IPL total of 272-7, and then an all-round bowling performance led them to a 106-run victory over Delhi Capitals.

Kolkata, IPL champions in 2012 and 2014, bowled out Delhi for 166 in 17.2 overs. Kolkata registered their third consecutive win of the season at the Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy Stadium in Visakhapatnam to move to the top of the points table.

The huge total by KKR on Wednesday came just a week after Sunrisers Hyderabad posted a score of 277-3.

For Kolkata, Narine was not the only batter who thrashed Delhi bowlers. Angkrish Raghuvanshi scored a 27-ball 54, Russell hammered 41 off 19 balls, and Rinku Singh scored a blitz of an eight-ball 26. There was a partnership of 104 off just 48 balls between Narine and Raghuvanshi.

For Delhi, Anrich Nortje took three wickets while Ishant Sharma picked two.

Delhi never recovered from the batting onslaught from Kolkata batters. Captain Rishabh Pant (55) scored his second consecutive half-century while Tristan Stubbs (54) also hit a fifty but the team was bowled out for 166 in 17.2 overs and suffered their third loss of the season.

Among Kolkata bowlers, Vaibhav Arora and Varun Chakaravarthy were the most successful, taking three wickets each.

“Cricket is all about batting, so to contribute with the bat is pleasing, but I also enjoy my bowling,” Narine, who also took a wicket after his brilliant knock, said after being named man of the match.

Narine hit seven fours and seven sixes for his highest T20 score in his 501st game. He also hit Ishant Sharma for 26 runs in an over as he reached his fifty in 21 balls.

Delhi bowlers conceded the highest total in the team’s history, and KKR hit 18 sixes and 28 fours during their innings.