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'Ballistic' Bairstow stars as Punjab pull off record T20 chase

"Cricket has turned to baseball hasn't it?" said Punjab captain Sam Curran.

Jonny Bairstow smashed a "ballistic" unbeaten century as Punjab Kings recorded the highest successful run chase in Twenty20 cricket with an eight-wicket thrashing of Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League on Friday.

The England star clobbered nine sixes and eight fours in his 48-ball 108 to help Punjab overhaul Kolkata's 261-6 with eight balls to spare in hot and humid conditions at the Eden Gardens.

"We got off to a good start and that was key. They got off to a flier themselves so we knew we had to go ballistic in the powerplay," said Bairstow, named player of the match.

"When you've to chase 200-plus you've to take risks in the powerplay. Try and whack it as hard as possible."

Shashank Singh also impressed with the bat, making 68 not out off 28 balls with eight sixes and two fours.

The previous highest run chase in T20 history was scripted by South Africa who overhauled 258-5 made by the West Indies in 2023.

"Shashank has done it all season, a lovely guy and special player. To have someone like him coming in and do that is unbelievable," added Bairstow.

The match also saw the batsmen club 42 sixes -- the most ever hit in a T20 game.

 

- 'Cricket turned to baseball' -

"Cricket has turned to baseball hasn't it?" said Punjab captain Sam Curran.

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