NEW DELHI: In a display of sheer batting brilliance,
Jos Buttler
lit up the stage with a merry swing of his bat, crafting a remarkable 60-ball 107 to single-handedly propel Rajasthan Royals (RR) to a sensational two-wicket triumph over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), scripting the IPL's most monumental run chase on Tuesday.
Facing the daunting task of chasing down KKR's imposing total, powered by
Sunil Narine
's scintillating 109 off 56 deliveries, Buttler emerged as the game-changer for the Royals.
Despite the team's dire situation at 121/6 in the 13th over, Buttler remained undeterred, orchestrating a breathtaking comeback.
With the pressure mounting and the required run rate soaring, Buttler exhibited nerves of steel as he steered the Royals past the mammoth target of 224 on the very last ball of the game. His extraordinary innings rescued the visitors from the brink of defeat, particularly during the crucial final three overs when they needed 46 runs, and then 28 runs from just 12 deliveries.
RR skipper
Sanju Samson
said Buttler is a special player and when he is on song, no target is safe.
"Very happy with the win. We were wondering like the wickets we lost ... six down and then Rovman came in and hit those couple of sixes and that's when we felt like we were still in the game. It's a beautiful way to come back, some luck also, it's a very funny game. They also played really well. Expected something similar, an exciting game tonight, very happy for it. The quality of spin which they had in Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy, they bowled really well. This ground and the wicket actually was suiting them really well," Samson said after the match
"We were wondering where can get those couple of sixes and that's when Rovman came in. Jos did what he does for us from last 6-7 years, very happy for him. It (Buttler's knock) should go right on top. Being an opener, if Jos gets in, we all know at the dug-out that he'll be there till the 20th over. If he's batting till the 20th over, no runs are unchaseable. He does something special," Samson added.
Buttler's magnificent unbeaten century also catapulted him to the second position in the list of most hundreds in the history of the Indian Premier League.
Surpassing the legendary
Chris Gayle
, who has six tons to his name, Buttler is now at second spot with seven hundreds only behind RCB star batter
Virat Kohli
’s eight centuries.
Buttler's masterclass not only etched his name in IPL history but also served as a testament to his unmatched skill and tenacity under pressure, leaving fans and pundits alike in awe of his exceptional talent.
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