IPL 2024: Jos Buttler’s 107 scripts RR’s heist vs KKR, joint-highest successful chase

Sunil Narine’s all-round heroics went in vain as RR extended their lead at the top of the IPL points table with a two-wicket win over KKR, thanks to a brilliant hundred from Jos Buttler.

It seemed like KKR were coasting before Buttler and Rovman Powell’s partnership changed everything and got RR their 6th win of the season. The KKR pacers let the game slip in the end as Buttler scripted an incredible run chase in the end.

Narine scored his 100 in just 49 balls as the RR bowlers struggled to execute their plans after acing the first 4 overs of the KKR innings. Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Narine would then go after the bowlers as KKR scored more than 100 runs between overs 7 and 15 to get to the total of 223 runs in their 20 overs. A late cameo from Rinku Singh would prove to be crucial as none of the other KKR batters apart from Narine and Raghuvanshi went past the 30-run mark.

The RR innings would lose its way early on as they lost Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Sanju Samson cheaply at the beginning. Riyan Parag would come in and give the innings direction and momentum as RR looked to be ahead at one point. But Harshit Rana’s smart slower delivery caused the demise of Parag and the RR innings lost its way completely.

However, Buttler had other ideas as he scored his 7th IPL hundred to get his side home by 2 wickets in the end as KKR bowlers lost the plot in the end.

Narine capitalises on RR’s poor tactics
It seemed like it wasn’t going to be Narine’s day when he struggled to get going at the beginning. Phil Salt, who was in top form after his innings against LSG, wasn’t in good nick as well and he would be dismissed by a fine catch from Avesh Khan off his own bowling.

Angkrish Raghuvanshi, KKR’s own young version of Suryakumar Yadav, would put in some life into the innings as he hit Boult for three boundaries in one over. Narine would also start capitalise but what was fascinating was the smartness he showed with his batting. The knock wasn’t a typical Narine innings as he wouldn’t look to hit every ball out of the park. He would wait for the best chance and when the ball was in his arc and won the main battle against the RR spinners.

KKR vs RR: Highlights

He was severe on Ashwin, who seemed to be trying to constantly bowl outside the off-stump. But the moment he missed the line, Narine would deposit him into the stands and the same happened with Chahal as well.

Sanju Samson and his bowlers seemed to be clueless, as they seemed to be taken aback by the maturity Narine showed in his knock.

KKR bowlers lose the plot in the end
It seemed like KKR were all set for their fifth win of the campaign before Varun Chakaravarthy conceded 16 runs in his third over. Rovman Powell would change the game when he hit Narine for two sixes and a boundary in the end before he was dismissed.

However, Starc and Harshit would leak runs in the 18th and 19th over as the equation came down to 9 runs off 6 balls. Buttler hit a six to ensure RR would get the win in the end. Even though there was a bit of late drama as Chakaravarthy bowled three straight dot balls to make it one off one and Buttler hit the winning runs.

RR will face MI next in Jaipur on April 22 while KKR will welcome RCB to the Eden Gardens on April 21.