Opener's 2nd ton of the season, leggie's hat-trick help Rajasthan prevail in high-scoring thriller; KKR lose by seven runs
A sensational hat-trick from Rajasthan Royals leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal in his fourth over and the 17th of the innings when Kolkata Knight Riders needed 39 runs to win off 24 balls to chase down 217 enabled the inaugural IPL champs to a thrilling seven-run win at the Brabourne Stadium on Monday. Chasing 218, the Knights seemed well placed to do the seemingly unthinkable thanks to a blazing half-century from Aaron Finch and a well-paced 85 from skipper Shreyas Iyer.
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They were 178 for 4, but then Chahal got into the act getting the wickets of Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas, Shivam Mavi and Pat Cummins, the last three off successive balls to star in a stunning turnaround. Umesh Yadav belted Trent Boult for 20 runs in his last over and the 18th of the innings to make it 18 needed off the last two.
Prasidh Krishna bowled a decent 19th over leaving the Knights with 11 runs of the last over bowled by debutant Obed McCoy. The West Indian held his nerve and dismissed Sheldon Jackson and Umesh Yadav to bowl the Royals to a famous win on a belter of a track.
Earlier, Jos Buttler was once again the centre of attraction as he played the anchor and aggressor both to race to 103 off 61 balls, his second century of the season, taking Rajasthan Royals to a grand 217/5. The English batter's knock was laced with five sixes and nine fours.
With some late strikes after Buttler's dismissal in the 17th over, KKR managed to pull Royals back, otherwise the total, the highest of this season, would have been even more. It was in the 20th over that Shimron Hetymer eventually was able to press the accelerator and hit two sixes and a four off Andre Russell.
It was Buttler's show of brilliance that made the scoreboard look imposing. The opener looks intent on making the IPL 2022 season his best ever and the outing against KKR was one more step in that direction. His presence ensured that in the Powerplay, Royals could race to 60 for no loss. Buttler's wide range of strokes, immaculate timing and considerable power was on full view.
1/10:Rajasthan edge out Kolkata
<p>Jos Buttler's 103 and a hat-trick by Yuzvendra Chahal helped Rajasthan Royals edge out Kolkata Knight Riders by seven runs in a nail-biting IPL contest on Monday. (BCCI/IPL Photo)</p>
2/10:Second IPL ton this season
<p>Buttler smashed his second IPL century this season to power Royals to 217 for five -- the highest total of this edition. (BCCI/IPL Photo)</p>
3/10:Obed McCoy
<p>Umesh Yadav nearly got Kolkata through with his nine-ball 21 but Obed McCoy held his nerve on his IPL debut to defend 11 in the final over and bowl out the opposition for 210 in 19.4 overs. (BCCI/IPL Photo)</p>
4/10:Chahal hat-trick
<p>Skipper Shreyas Iyer drove the chase with his valiant 51-ball 85 but Chahal, who returned IPL best figures of 5-40, took him down at the start of the hat-trick that ended with a four-wicket over. (BCCI/IPL Photo)</p>
5/10:Buttler on the rampage
<p>The heat was on Kolkata after they invited Royals to bat and Buttler quickly changed gears after a cautious start in the first two overs. (BCCI/IPL Photo)</p>
6/10:Match-winning stands
<p>Buttler put on a 97-run opening stand with Devdutt Padikkal, who hit a brisk 24, and then got going with Samson, who smashed 38 off 19 balls. (BCCI/IPL Photo)</p>
7/10:100 off 59 balls
<p>Buttler took on the bowling and hit Pat Cummins for a four to bring up his fifty and smacked the Australian pace bowler for six to reach his 100 in 59 deliveries. (BCCI/IPL Photo)</p>
8/10:Buttler falls to Cummins
<p>Buttler fell to Cummins three balls later and walked back to standing ovation, his innings laced with nine fours and five sixes. (BCCI/IPL Photo)</p>
9/10:Shimron Hetmyer
<p>Kolkata bowlers attempted to check the scoring but Shimron Hetmyer (26*) finished with a flourish with two sixes and a four off the 20th over from Andre Russell. (BCCI/IPL Photo)</p>
10/10:Aaron Finch
<p>In reply, Kolkata lost Sunil Narine run out for nought off the first ball but Aaron Finch, who made 58, put on 107 runs with Shreyas who kept up the fight after his partners' departure. (BCCI/IPL Photo)</p>Arguably the best T20 batter in the world, Buttler brought his 50 up in style, punching through mid-off for four, and was even more flamboyant bringing up his hundred, slamming Pat Cummins for a six over long-on. Accompanied by Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson and Hetymer at different stages of the game, the 31-year-old showed enviable sense of purpose throughout his 17-over stay at the crease.
At 24 from 18 balls, left-hand bat Padikkal fell prey to Sunil Narine's knuckle-ball in the 10th over. Samson, after a quickfire 38 off 19 balls, holed out at deep mid-wicket in the 16th over.
