In a dominant display, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) registered a resounding 98-run victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Match 54 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Sunday (May 5).
Sunil Narine emerged as the standout performer for KKR, showcasing his prowess both with the bat and the ball throughout the match. However, what truly stole the spotlight was Narine’s unexpected display of emotion – a rare laugh and a wide grin – after dismissing an opposition batter, marking a departure from his typically stoic demeanor on the field.
Fall of Ayush Badoni
On the fourth ball of 13th over Narine delivers a slightly pulled-back length delivery around off-stump. Ayush Badoni, aiming for a big shot, advances down the track with aggressive intent. Nevertheless, his attempt lacks the necessary power, causing the bat to twist slightly in his grip. As a result, the ball spirals high into the night sky, hanging in the air for a considerable duration. Eventually, it descends towards the mid-off region. Mitchell Starc stationed at long off positions himself perfectly and snaffles up a straightforward catch, ensuring Badoni’s departure.
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Sunil Narine’s uncharacteristic display of emotion
After this something remarkable unfolded. Narine, known for his unfaltering poker face, displaying the same stoic expression whether things were going his way or not, defied expectations. As Badoni departed after a mistimed shot, Narine, typically devoid of emotion, broke character. With a wide grin stretching across his face, he embraced the moment with unabashed delight, a rare sight that added an unexpected twist to the game.
Here’s the video:
Sunil Narine Enjoying Tonight 😂👊🏻
Rare of the rarest moment in cricket history pic.twitter.com/sXoqtVMhnW
— Aditya. (@Hurricanrana_27) May 5, 2024
KKR dominates LSG: Narine’s heroics shine
Earlier in the match, KKR capitalized on their batting prowess, amassing an imposing score of 235/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Narine’s explosive innings of 81 runs off just 39 deliveries, combined with Phil Salt‘s brisk 32 off 14 balls, proved instrumental in KKR’s formidable score.
In response, LSG faltered, with only skipper KL Rahul managing 25 runs and all-rounder Marcus Stoinis contributing 36 runs. The rest of the LSG lineup struggled to make an impact, failing to surpass the 20 runs mark individually as they were bundled out for 137 in 16.1 overs. Narine continued to impress, not only with the bat but also with the ball, remaining economical and picking one wicket for just 22 runs in his allotted four overs. Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy further compounded LSG’s woes, each picking up three wickets to restrict their opponents’ scoring opportunities.
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