Rajasthan Royals (RR) registered a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL 2022 Qualifier 2 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Friday (May 27).
Invited to bat first, RCB posted a modest 157/8 in their 20 overs. Rajat Patidar was the lone fighter with the bat, scoring 58 off 40 balls.
Prasidh Krishna (3-22) and Obed McCoy (3-23) starred with the ball for RR, taking three scalps each while bowling economically in their four overs. Trent Boult (1-28) and R Ashwin (1-31) also returned with impressive figures.
In reply, RR got over the line with 11 deliveries to spare. Opener Jos Buttler put on a show with the bat during the chase. He attacked the RCB bowlers from the outset and completed his fifty off just 23 balls.
Buttler continued his carnage after the half-century even though Rajasthan lost the wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal (21), Sanju Samson (23) and Devdutt Padikkal (9). In the 18th over, he notched up his hundred off 59 balls – his fourth in this year’s IPL, equalling Virat Kohli’s tally of centuries from the 2016 season.
Buttler finished the chase by smashing Harshal Patel for a six on the first delivery of the penultimate over. He stayed unbeaten 106 off 60 balls (10 fours and 6 sixes) and also became the third batter after Kohli and David Warner to breach the 80-run barrier in an IPL season.
With this victory, RR entered the IPL 2022 final, where they will take on Gujarat Titans (GT) at the same venue on May 29.
For his dazzling batting display, Jos Buttler garnered rich praise from the cricket fraternity on Twitter.
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