The IPL 2024 witnessed a firecracker of a match yesterday (April 6th) as the Rajasthan Royals (RR) locked horns with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. In a nail-biting encounter that went down to the wire, RR emerged victorious by a narrow margin of 6 wickets, thanks to a magnificent century from Jos Buttler.
A Run-Fest in the Pink City
Fans who love boundaries were in for a treat! Both teams displayed aggressive batting, with RR amassing a mammoth 189 runs on the board. Openers struggled early on, but Sanju Samson (42) and Jos Buttler (100*) stitched a crucial partnership that laid the foundation for a big total. Chasing a stiff target, RCB fought valiantly with Virat Kohli scoring a brilliant 113 runs, but ultimately fell short by just 6 runs.
Scorecard Summary
| Team | Innings | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RR | 1st | 189/4 | 20 | 18 | 14 |
| RCB | 2nd | 183/3 | 20 | 18 | 8 |
Buttler’s Blazing Century Earns Player of the Match
Jos Buttler’s swashbuckling knock of 100 runs off just 68 balls was the cornerstone of RR’s victory. He smashed five boundaries and a staggering seven sixes, leaving the RCB bowlers helpless. His innings was a masterclass in clean hitting and timing, and it rightfully earned him the Player of the Match award.
Kohli’s Lone Warrior Act
Virat Kohli, the ever-reliable batsman for RCB, continued his fine form with a brilliant century (113*). He single-handedly kept his team in the hunt for victory, but unfortunately, the lack of support from other batsmen meant his efforts were in vain.
Turning Points of the Match
- Early Wickets for RR: RR’s disciplined bowling attack struck early blows, dismissing both Faf du Plessis (32) and Glenn Maxwell (17) cheaply. This put RCB on the backfoot from the outset.
- Buttler’s Innings: Buttler’s dominant knock took the game away from RCB. He shifted gears in the middle overs, finding the boundary with ease and putting immense pressure on the bowlers.
- RCB’s Middle-Order Collapse: Despite Kohli’s heroics, RCB’s middle order failed to capitalize. The likes of Saurav Chauhan (12) and Dinesh Karthik (15) got starts but couldn’t convert them into substantial scores.
Amazing Facts from the Match
- This was Jos Buttler’s second IPL century.
- Virat Kohli’s century was his 73rd in all T20 matches, solidifying his position as the leading run scorer in the format.
- This match witnessed a total of 32 sixes, the most in any IPL 2024 match so far.
The way Hetmyer celebrated the hundred of Jos Buttler was pure gold. ❤️
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) April 6, 2024
– What a team…!!!!pic.twitter.com/wSVIYBCgvT