Jonny Bairstow's outstanding century helped Punjab achieve a record-breaking T20 chase victory.

In an electrifying T20 encounter witnessed by 55,767 fans at the Eden Gardens, Jonny Bairstow's unbeaten 108 and Shashank Singh's 68 not out powered Punjab Kings to a record chase of 262, securing a stunning eight-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders.

Kolkata Knight Riders had set a daunting target of 262/6, courtesy of rollicking half-centuries from openers Phil Salt (75) and Sunil Narine (71), who shared a blazing 138-run partnership in just 10.2 overs.

In response, Prabhsimran Singh (quick fifty) laid the groundwork for Punjab, but it was Bairstow and Shashank's sensational knocks that stole the show. Bairstow's century, his second in the IPL, came off 48 balls with eight fours and nine sixes, bolstering his prospects for England's T20 World Cup squad.

Shashank's whirlwind 68 not out off 28 balls, featuring two fours and eight sixes, complemented Bairstow's onslaught. Despite Sunil Narine's economical spell (1-24), Punjab Kings successfully chased down the mammoth target, moving to eighth place in the points table.

Punjab's chase was marked by an incredible display of power-hitting, with a record 24 sixes struck during their innings, setting a new standard for maximums in an IPL match and men's T20 cricket overall.

Bairstow's innings began with a mistimed drive, but he quickly found his rhythm, scoring three fours and two sixes against Anukul Roy in the Powerplay. Prabhsimran's aggressive start set the tone, with Punjab reaching 93/1 by the end of the phase.

Bairstow accelerated to his fifty off 23 balls and continued his assault in the middle overs, despite losing partners. Shashank joined the fireworks, smashing boundaries to propel Punjab towards victory.

In the end, Bairstow reached his century in 45 balls, while Shashank's explosive innings sealed the deal with eight balls to spare.

Earlier, Salt and Narine set the stage for KKR with a formidable opening stand. Narine's boundary-hitting spree, supported by Salt's aggressive batting, propelled KKR to a commanding total. Contributions from Andre Russell, Shreyas Iyer, and Venkatesh Iyer ensured KKR surpassed 260, aided by 22 fours and 18 sixes.

Salt and Narine's partnership of 138 runs stands as the second-highest opening stand for KKR in IPL history, highlighting the dominance displayed by KKR's top order.

Ultimately, Punjab Kings' remarkable chase and Bairstow's scintillating century will be remembered as one of the greatest comebacks in IPL history, showcasing the thrilling and unpredictable nature of T20 cricket.