Jos Buttler scored a brilliant century whereas leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal returned with a five wicket haul as Rajasthan Royals (RR) defeated Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a high-scoring thrilling match played at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Monday night by just 7 runs in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 tournament.
Jos Buttler scored 103 from 61 balls with the help of nine boundaries and five sixes good as vital contributions from Devdutt Padikkal (24), Sanju Samson’s 38 and Shimron Hetmyer’s 26 not out led Rajasthan Royals with a huge total of 217/5 day 20 overs after Kolkata Knight Riders captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and invited them to bat first.
Kolkata Knight Riders were bowled out for 210 in 19.4 overs, does losing the match by just seven runs despite a splendid 85 from their captain Shreyas Iyer and 58 from their opening batsman Aaron Finch. Yuzvendra Chahal returned with a five wicket haul as he recorded figures of 4-0-40-5 in a high-scoring match which was replete with action throughout the game.
It all began with Rajasthan Royals’ English wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler attacking from the beginning of the innings on a flat surface at the Brabourne Stadium, adding 97 runs from just 9.4 overs with Devdutt Padikkal for the first wicket. The left-handed batsman Padikkal was happy watching Jos Buttler rip apart the KKR bowling line-up, as Rajasthan Royals took early control of the match on Monday night.
The innings of 103 from the right-handed Jos Buttler was his second century in the IPL 2022 tournament, with the first coming against Mumbai a few days ago. Apart from Buttler, Rajasthan captain Sanju Samson made a fine 38 from 19 nails with 3 fours and 2 sixes whereas Devdutt Padikkal scored 24 from 18 balls with 3 fours and a six at the second spot to keep their side moving in direction for a strong total.
The West Indies batsman Shimron Hetmyer contributed with a brisk 26, which came from 13 balls and included 2 sixes and as many fours. Rajasthan finished at a strong 217/5 in their 20 overs, but there was plenty more to come. For KKR, Sunil Narine took 2/21 from his 4 overs.
The Australian explosive batsman Aaron Finch scored a brilliant 58 from 28 balls with 9 fours and 2 sixes, whereas KKR captain Shreyas Iyer hammered the Rajasthan bowlers all over the park to miss his century, unfortunately, by 15 runs. Shreyas Iyer was trapped for 85 by Yuzvendra Chahal in the 17th over of the chase, with the leg-spinner completing a hat-trick on Monday night by dismissing Shivam Mavi and Pat Cummins on the next two balls.
Umesh Yadav tried to keep his side in the game with a 9-ball 21 with 2 sixes and a four, but Rajasthan managed a narrow seven-run win.