Kolkata: Brought in as an Impact Substitute after an injury, Jos Buttler scored a sensational counter-attacking unbeaten century to top an equally mesmerizing maiden T20 hundred by Sunil Narine as Rajasthan Royals mounted the joint-highest successful chase to prevail over Kolkata Knight Riders by two wickets in Match 31 of Indian Premier League at the Eden Gardens here.
Buttler, who had missed the previous match due to a niggle, hammered an unbeaten 107 off 60 balls — his second century on IPL 2024, blasting nine boundaries and six maximums as Rajasthan Royals raced to 224/8 in 20 overs after Narine blazed to a 49-ball hundred, his highest score in T20 cricket, that his maiden century, a 56-ball 109 that had helped KKR reach a massive 223/6. Besides hitting a mesmerizing century, Narine picked two wickets and also grabbed a catch for a sensational all-round display, but Buttler topped it all with his superb century.
Rajasthan Royals looked down and out at 121/6 in the 13th over, but Buttler found an ally in Rovman Powell, who blasted a 13-ball 26 triggering a counterattack as they launched an audacious chase. Powell was out but Buttler continued with his brilliant batting despite looking drained of energy and limping and jogging for runs.
Buttler struck his second century of the season after making 100 not out Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 6, reaching the mark in 55 balls as he nursed the tail to guide Rajasthan Royals to a brilliant victory and maintained their hold on the top position with 12 points from seven matches. KKR remained on eight points from six matches. This is Buttler’s seventh hundred in IPL, going past Chris Gayle with only Virat Kohli up ahead.
Chasing a big target, Rajasthan Royals bolstered their batting by bringing in Buttler as an Impact Substitute. However, they were soon in trouble as fellow opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was out for 19 off nine balls with the team score reading 22/1 in the second over.
Jaiswal hammered three fours and one six in his brief innings, indicating that RR were going to go for the target. Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson took the score to 47 before the skipper went back to the dug-out, unable to capitalise on life as he could manage only 12 off eight balls.
