KOLKATA: In a match where the openers dictated terms, it was Rajasthan Royals’ Jos Buttler who spoiled Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunil Narine’s party to take his side home in a high-scoring match.
While Narine’s belligerent 109 off 56 balls helped the hosts post a strong 223/6 after RR captain Sanju Samson won the toss and decided to field first. Buttler got his second century of this IPL in a winning cause to script a two-wicket victory getting 224 losing eight wickets. The Englishman paced his innings nicely and upped the ante after all recognised batters perished to stay undefeated on 107 off 60 balls to keep RR on top of the points table.
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Earlier, for a change, even Sunil Narine showed some emotion. The occasion was so unique that even the poker-faced Narine had his eyes wet as he jumped in the air to celebrate his first century in any format on Tuesday. The Trinidadian became the first KKR player to hit a century at the Eden Gardens.
It was the opener’s belligerent 109 off 56 balls that helped the hosts post a strong 223 for six after RR captain Sanju Samson won the toss and decided to field first. However, Narine was not done yet as he returned to become the first player in an IPL match to score a hundred and then picked two wickets by trapping Dhruv Jurel and dangerman Rovman Powell in front and took a catch to dismiss Samson.
It was a rather sedate start for the Knights who lost opener Phil Salt while getting 26 runs in the first four overs. But young Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Narine upped the ante, collecting 30 runs in the next two overs.
Narine broke loose getting the first six off the match, lifting Kuldeep Sen over deep mid-wicket in the pacer’s first over. The opener reached his half-century off 29 balls hitting Ravichandran Ashwin, making a comeback from injury, over long-on for a six. Skipper Samson was forced to bring Sen back into the attack after Ashwin (2-21) and Chahal (2-23) went for runs. However, Sen provided the breakthrough by having his Madhya Pradesh teammate Raghuvanshi caught at third man.
But that did not prevent Narine from throwing his bat around as he collected 15 runs with one six and two fours in Ashwin’s next over.
Andre Russell was promoted up the order as he joined his West Indian teammate in the middle in the 14th over after KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer became Chahal’s 199th IPL victim. Russell made his intentions clear, hitting Sen for two fours. But perhaps he got more joy watching Narine at the other hitting 6, 4, 6, 4 to get to his ton.
1/9:Jos Buttler pips Sunil Narine in RR's record chase vs KKR
<p>Jos Buttler pips Sunil Narine in RR's record chase vs KKR</p>AFP
2/9:Buttler's Mastery
<p>Jos Buttler scored an unbeaten 107, leading Rajasthan Royals to a record IPL chase against Kolkata Knight Riders.</p>AFP
3/9:Rajasthan's Historic Chase
<p>Chasing 224, Rajasthan Royals achieved the target on the final ball, equaling their 2020 record chase against the Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in Sharjah.</p>AFP
4/9:Buttler's Impact
<p>Entering as an impact substitute, Buttler reached his ton in 55 balls, setting up a thrilling finish to a fiesty encounter.</p>AFP
5/9:Surpassing Chris Gayle
<p>With his performance, Buttler surpassed Chris Gayle, securing seven IPL centuries, just behind Virat Kohli.</p>AFP
6/9:Pivotal partnerships
<p>Buttler's partnerships with Riyan Parag and Rovman Powell were crucial in Rajasthan's chase.</p>AFP
7/9:The Narine Show
<p>Despite the loss, Sunil Narine's 109 off 56 balls was a highlight, marking his first T20 century.</p>AFP
8/9:Century Celebration
<p>Sunil Narine scored his first T20 century on Tuesday. Amassing his century with a plethora of 4s and 6s, Narine's celebration was a memorable moment of the match.</p>AFP
