The move to open the batting with Sunil Narine has worked well for Kolkata Knight Riders this season, but it was expected that he would move back down the batting order once Chris Lynn returned from his injury layoff.
Lynn did make a comeback in the match against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Monday, but Narine was still used as an opener with captain Gautam Gambhir pushing himself down the order.
The duo of Narine and Lynn caused mayhem at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium as, chasing 159 to win, they scored 105 in the first six overs – the highest ever score at the end of the Powerplay in the history of the Indian Premier League [IPL].
Narine also managed to bring up his half-century in just 15 balls, the joint-fastest fifty in the IPL ever. In the end, he was dismissed after scoring 54 from just 17 deliveries in a knock that included six fours and four sixes.
Earlier in the match, the West Indian mystery spinner had also taken the key wickets of AB de Villiers and Mandeep Singh with the ball.
SOCIAL CHATTER
After Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa in '94, Sunil n Chris come together to make 105... well played boys! Ami KKR... pic.twitter.com/30JSbFaqVE
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) May 7, 2017
What's happening in Bangalore!! Pretty good hitting ATM. ππππ
— David Warner (@davidwarner31) May 7, 2017
Wow...@SunilPNarine74 on π₯ This is amazing, bet @lynny50 isn't use to this ππ @KKRiders back in business now #IPL
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) May 7, 2017
Fastest ever 50 @IPL and it's goes to not @lynny50 but...... @SunilPNarine74 @KKRiders wowsa!!! #IPL #KKRvsRCB
— Isa Guha (@isaguha) May 7, 2017
#Narine just scored the fastest 50 in IPL history just off 15 balls ππΏππΏπ who would of guess that!! #IPL10
— Alex Tudor (@alextudorcoach) May 7, 2017
This man Narine is too good a bowler ...and just too much as an opener!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 7, 2017