Opener scores ton, spinners come to the party as Royals notch up two wins in two games by beating Mumbai Indians
NAVI MUMBAI: A superstar showed off his latest blockbuster even as a star was born in Game 9 of IPL-2022 at the DY Patil Stadium here on Saturday.
Looking determined to prove a point after the English selectors dropped him for the Test series in the West Indies recently, Jos Buttler smashed a typically breathtaking 100 (68b; 114, 5x6), the first century of this IPL season, besides taking two catches to power Rajasthan Royals to a 23-run victory over Mumbai Indians. The catch to send back Daniel Sams, in which Buttler ran from cover to mid-off before diving, was a screamer.
It wasn't just a Buttler show, though. The thrilling, fast-paced game also saw a hitherto unknown 19-year-old MI batsman called Tilak Varma, playing just his second IPL game, take the tournament by storm with a free-spirited 33ball 61, which included three fours and five towering sixes. Along with Lucknow's Ayush Badoni, Varma, who has played for India U-19s, is the second Indian young turk to light up the league.
As long as Varma and 'pocket rocket' Ishan Kishan, who scored his second consecutive half-century (54; 43b, 5x4, 1x6) were at the crease during their 81run partnership for the third wicket in just 54 balls, MI looked on course to chase down 194. However, once Kishan was caught by a tumbling Navdeep Saini at deep square leg off Trent Boult, the wheels came off the chase as they lost four wickets for 15 runs in 14 balls.
The stars of the show with the ball for the Royals were their classy spinners Yuzvendra Chahal, who, after scalping Tim David and Daniel Sams off consecutive balls, was unlucky to miss out on a hat-trick.
Veteran off-spinner Ashwin castled Varma with a beauty before giving the youngster a 'send-off' which reflected RR's frustration and relief at finally stopping the Hyderabad boy from running away with the game.
The Royals, having won both their games so far, are looking like the team to beat this season.
The defeat just confirmed MI's reputation of being the IPL's perennial slow starters. Seamer Basil Thampi was hit for three sixes and two fours in a 26-run fourth over by a rampaging Buttler, who used his bat more like a golfer swinging his club.
Thampi didn't bowl again, which meant Kieron Pollard, who was tonked for 26 in one over by the raging Shimron Hetmyer (35; 14b, 3x4, 3x6), bowled four overs which went for 46.
1/6:'MAGNIFICENT' JOS
<p>Jos Buttler smashed the first century of IPL 2022 to power Rajasthan Royals to 23-run win over five-time champions Mumbai Indians, who slumped to their second consecutive defeat on Saturday. (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)<br /></p>
2/6:SWASHBUCKLING BUTTLER
<p>Opening the innings after being sent into bat, Buttler hit a whirlwind 100 off 68 balls, only his second ton in the history of the IPL. Buttler struck 11 boundaries and five sixes during his knock. (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)</p>
3/6:DANGEROUS HETMYER
<p>Besides Buttler, Shimron Hetmyer (35 off 14) looked in destructive form while skipper Sanju Samson (30 off 21) too got a start. (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)</p>
4/6:BOOM BOOM BUMRAH
<p>Jasprit Bumrah (3/17) was the pick of the bowlers for MI. (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)<br /></p>
5/6:SOLID STAND
<p>Chasing the total, Tilak Verma smashed 61 off 33 balls, while opener Ishan Kishan made 54 off 43 balls but it was not enough to guide MI home as they finished at 170 for eight. (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)</p>
