[Watch] Sunil Narine ends Prabhsimran Singh's explosive knock with a direct-hit run out in KKR vs PBKS IPL 2024 match
Punjab Kings (PBKS) opening batter Prabhsimran Singh's blistering knock came to an abrupt end courtesy of a brilliant direct hit by Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) Sunil Narine. It came in the final ball of the powerplay at the Eden Gardens on Friday, April 26.
Coming in as an impact sub, Prabhsimran Singh had to get going from the word go in the mammoth 262-run chase, and he did exactly that. Opening the innings with the returning Jonny Bairstow, the right-handed batter took on KKR's new ball attack - Dushmanta Chameera and Harshit Rana.
The batter raced off to 36 runs off just 13 deliveries after slamming 23 runs in the third over of the innings. PBKS looked set for big things as Jonny Bairstow also joined the party, taking on Anukul Roy in the final powerplay over. The Englishman scored 24 runs off the first five balls of the left-arm spinner and looked to finish the over in style.
However, Bairstow's huge heave only resulted in the ball's contact with the edge, and it travelled to short fine leg. The pair tried to take a quick single, but Prabhsimran was caught well short of his crease after a direct hit by Sunil Narine. The batter knew his fate well before the third umpire gave his verdict and it gave KKR the much-needed breakthrough.
Have a look at the brilliant piece of fielding right here:
PBKS scored 93 runs in the powerplay phase, giving the middle order an excellent platform in their pursuit of scripting history.
Prabhsimran Singh recorded the third-fastest fifty in PBKS history
The explosive opening batter reached the fifty-run mark off just 18 balls. It is the fifth joint-fastest fifty in the ongoing season, as well as the third fastest in PBKS history.
Former PBKS skipper KL Rahul holds the record for the franchise's fastest fifty. The wicket-keeper batter had reached the landmark off just 14 balls against the Delhi Daredevils (now renamed Delhi Capitals). Another former PBKS member Nicholas Pooran stands between Rahul and Prabhsimran. He recorded a 17-ball half-century in a contest against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 2020 edition.