Sunil Narine’s blistering knock of 81 off 39 balls propelled Kolkata Knight Riders to a formidable total of 235 for six against Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on May 5.
Narine’s innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, as he smashed three fours and a six in the fourth over off Mohsin Khan. He continued his onslaught, reaching his fifty with a delicate late-cut four against leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi. The West Indian batter targeted the LSG pacers, launching them over the fence with a cleared front foot.
Narine’s whirlwind knock ended on 81 after he mistimed a quicker one from Bishnoi. However, his dismissal did not deter KKR, as Ramandeep Singh’s six-ball 25 in the death ensured that the visitors breached the 220-run mark for the fifth time this season.
The KKR innings started with a quickfire 61-run opening stand between Narine and Phil Salt. Salt peppered LSG’s new-ball bowlers with boundaries, while Narine played sedately. Angkrish Raghuvanshi also contributed with some crisp drives on the off side.
The LSG bowlers fought back in the middle overs, with Naveen-ul-Haq dismissing Salt and Andre Russell. However, Narine’s brilliance and Ramandeep Singh’s late cameo ensured that KKR finished on a high.
