Rain played spoilsport at Eden Gardens as Kolkata Knight Riders' Indian Premier League fixture against Punjab Kings was abandoned due to a thunderstorm after the visitors posted an imposing 201 for 4 on Saturday.
Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya provided Punjab with a blazing start, hammering half-centuries and compiling a 120-run opening partnership in just 11.5 overs after PBKS opted to bat first.
Arya, who is enjoying a dream debut season, continued his rich vein of form with a classy 27-ball fifty and crafted a fluent 69 off 35 balls, striking eight fours and four sixes. Prabhsimran Singh, after a cautious start, shifted gears post Arya’s dismissal, smashing a sparkling 83 from 49 deliveries, laced with six fours and six sixes.
From a tentative 32 off 34 balls, Prabhsimran exploded spectacularly, scoring 49 runs off his next 17 deliveries. Between overs 10 and 15, PBKS amassed 71 runs as the run rate soared past 11 an over, setting the platform for a total that looked poised to cross 230.
However, the momentum dipped following Prabhsimran’s departure, with KKR’s bowlers pulling things back effectively, conceding just 40 runs and claiming two wickets in the final five overs.
Vaibhav Arora emerged as the pick of the bowlers for KKR with figures of 2 for 34, dismissing Prabhsimran with a full toss. Andre Russell, who broke the opening stand by removing Arya in the 12th over, returned with tidy figures of 1 for 27 from three overs. Varun Chakravarthy (1 for 39) and Sunil Narine (0 for 35) also played their part in stemming the flow of runs.
Despite the bright start, PBKS might feel they fell 20–30 runs short of an intimidating total.
In reply, KKR were seven without loss after one over when a sudden thunderstorm struck around 9.35 p.m., sending debris flying and blowing the covers into the stands.
The ground staff acted swiftly to cover the pitch, but relentless rain followed, leaving no opportunity for a resumption of play. After nearly 90 minutes of waiting and with no improvement in weather conditions, the match was officially called off at 10.58 p.m.
As a result, both sides shared one point each. KKR now have seven points from nine matches, remaining at seventh place, while PBKS moved to 11 points from nine games.
Earlier, the conditions at Eden Gardens had favoured batting, with the ball coming nicely onto the bat. Unlike previous matches where the pitch slowed down considerably, Saturday’s strip was a paradise for stroke-makers.
Arya showcased elegant strokes from the onset, cracking a cover drive off Arora and later lofting a stunning six over third man off a wide yorker from Harshit Rana. The 23-year-old Delhi batter batted with maturity and flair, dominating KKR’s bowlers, while Prabhsimran unleashed a brutal assault once he settled.
Despite introducing Chetan Sakariya and Rovman Powell into their line-up and employing a seven-bowler strategy, KKR continued to struggle to master their home conditions.
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