IPL: RR beat KKR as centurion Buttler defies Narine's hundred
Rajasthan Royals made a tremendous bounceback to beat Kolkata Knight Riders by two wickets in Match 31 of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL). Jos Buttler starred with a brilliant ton as RR chased down 224 on the very last ball. Sunil Narine also made a fantastic ton in the first innings, albeit in a losing cause. Here are the key stats.
KKR compile a massive total
KKR were off to a poor start as opener Philip Salt (10) departed cheaply. Narine also struggled to get going initially. The southpaw, however, later broke free and enhanced the scoring rate. He added 85 runs with Angkrish Raghuvanshi (30) for the second wicket. He continued to bat well and touched the three-figure mark. Rinku Singh's (20*) brief cameo powered KKR to 223/6.
Buttler powers RR over the line
RR were off to a flying start as Yashasvi Jaiswal (19) found some early boundaries before departing. While Sanju Samson made 12, Riyan Parag's quick-fire 34 meant RR posted 76/1 in the powerplay. Buttler, who looked rusty early, broke free just at the right time. His ton meant RR made 103 runs off the final eight overs. Rovman Powell contributed with a fiery 26.
Buttler's brilliant strategy
RR needed 38 off 15 balls when they lost their eighth wicket. While KKR's win looked certain at this point, Buttler had other plans. He did not let tail-ender Avesh Khan face a single delivery and did all the scoring himself. The Englishman even denied multiple singles. His strategy turned out to be a masterstroke RR crossed the line on the final delivery.
Maiden T20 ton for Narine
This was Narine's maiden T20 hundred as he made a fiery 109 off 56 balls. Narine also completed 4,000 (now 4,008) T20 runs during his stay. 1,322 of his run have come in the IPL (SR: 164.84). The tally includes five fifties besides a ton. Narine has tallied 276 runs in IPL 2024 (SR: 187.76). The spinner later claimed 2/30 in his four overs.
Records scripted by Narine
Narine became KKR's third centurion after Brendon McCullum (158* versus RCB, 2008) and Venkatesh Iyer (104 vs MI, 2023). He became the third player after Rohit Sharma and Shane Watson to record a hat-trick and a century in the IPL. The veteran became the second all-rounder after his compatriot Dwayne Bravo to accomplish the double of 4,000 runs and 500 wickets in T20 cricket.
4,500 T20 runs Salt
Although Salt has been among the runs lately, he could only manage a 13-ball 10 against RR. With this knock, the wicketkeeper-batter raced past 5,500 T20 runs (5,509) at an average of 26-plus. His strike rate is 153-plus. The Englishman now owns 201 runs in IPL 2024 at 40.20 (SR: 151.12). Overall, Salt has now raced to 419 IPL runs at 32.23 (50s: 4).
Fiery hand from Buttler
Buttler smashed an unbeaten 107 off 60 balls, a knock laced with 13 fours and 6 sixes. Buttler now owns 3,473 IPL runs at 39.02. In addition to his seven tons, he has smacked 19 fifties. As per ESPNcricinfo, Buttler has raced to 477 runs against KKR at 43.36 (100s: 2) For RR, Buttler owns 2,946 runs at 43.32.
Buttler goes past Chris Gayle
Buttler now has the second-most centuries in the IPL (7). While he broke the tie with Chris Gayle (6), only Virat Kohli (8) now owns more IPL tons than Buttler. Earlier this season, Buttler smashed a ton against RCB, equaling Gayle on the tally. Four of the England star's tons came in the 2022 season. His maiden hundred was recorded in 2021.
Joint-fourth-highest centurion in T20 cricket
Buttler hit his eighth century in the T20 format overall. He is now only behind Gayle (22 ), Babar Azam (11), and Kohli (9). He equalled David Warner, Aaron Finch and Michael Klinger (8 centuries each). The England star has raced to 11,396 runs in the T20s at 34.95. In addition to eight tons, he owns 80 fifties. This was his 409th match.
Two tons for Buttler in 2024
It is worth noting that Buttler has the joint-most tons in an IPL season (four in 2022), with Kohli (four in 2016). The former has already smacked two centuries halfway into the ongoing season. Buttler has tallied 250 runs at 62.50 in IPL 2024.
Three tons in IPL run-chases
Buttler has become the first batter with more than two centuries in IPL run-chases. The one against KKR was his third such ton in this regard. Kohli and Ben Stokes follow Buttler with two centuries each. Notably, Kohli and Stokes are the only batters other than Buttler with multiple hundreds in run-chases in the cash-rich league.
Joint-highest successful run chase in IPL
RR equaled their own record of the highest successful run chase in IPL history as they chased down the same target (224) against Punjab Kings in 2020. As the Royals also chased down 215 against the now-defunct Deccan Chargers in 2008, three of the four highest-successful run chases in IPL belong to RR.
Key updates in the points table
This was RR's sixth win in seven games as they have consolidated their position atop the IPL 2024 points table (+0.677). A couple of more wins should be enough to guarantee them a playoff spot. Meanwhile, KKR continue at the second position with four wins in six games (NRR: +1.399). RR and KKR boast 12 and 8 points, respectively.
Here are some other records
Narine became the third player to score a hundred and take at least one wicket (IPL). He joined Gayle (twice) and Watson (twice). RR made 96 runs in their last six overs, the most in a successful run chase in IPL. Buttler joined Babar's tally of the most T20 tons in a winning cause (8). Only Gayle (16) has more tons in this regard.
