Jos Buttler’s unbeaten hundred trumped Sunil Narine’s ton as his 107* helped Rajasthan Royals chase down 224 against Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2024 IPL clash on Tuesday (April 16).
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Rajasthan needed a joint-highest chase of 224 to win their sixth game in seven games but looked in trouble after they collapsed to 121-6 in 12.2 overs. A 13-ball 26 by Rovman Powell helped Rajasthan get back in the game but with 46 still needed in 18 balls, the hosts had the upper hand.
But Buttler had other ideas as he manoeuvred the strike perfectly, facing all 18 deliveries in the end to help Rajasthan to an improbable win. Batting on 67 off 42 at the start of the 18th over, Buttler hit a six and a four in Mitchell Starc’s over, which went for 18 courtesy of six wides. He smashed 19 off the next over, against Harshit Rana, bringing down the target to nine in the last over.
Kolkata were also found to be one over short at the start of the 20th over and could field just four fielders outside the 30-yard circle as a result. Varun Chakravarthy conceded a six on the first ball, which also helped Buttler, who was in visible pain in the latter half of his innings, bring up his seventh IPL hundred. Rajasthan eventually won on the last ball of the game.
Buttler, who was on 42 off 34 at one point with his team needing 96 from 35 balls, made 67 in his last 26 deliveries, with his innings containing nine fours and six sixes. It was his second IPL ton of the season after he smashed 100* against Royal Challengers Bengaluru earlier this month.
Genuinly would have been more surprised if @josbuttler didn’t finish that game off when Powell got out,that’s how good the man is..his ability to read game situations and take emotion out of it is what set’s him apart 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥
— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) April 16, 2024
This is the joint-highest run-chase in the IPL: Rajasthan had earlier chased down 224 against Punjab Kings in 2020 led by a brilliant 31-ball 53 by Rahul Tewatia.
Rajasthan are currently top of the IPL 2024 points table while KKR are second with four wins from six games.
