IPL 2024, KKR vs RR, Key Takeaways: Jos Buttler's ton helps Rajasthan Royals overcome Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Rajasthan remain at no. 1 spot and KKR on 2.
Brief Scores: KKR 223/6 (Sunil Narine 109, Raghuvanshi 30, Avesh Khan 2/35) lost to RR 224/8 (Jos Buttler 107*, Riyan Parag 34, Narine 2/30) by 2 wickets.
Player of the Match: Jos Buttler (107 off 60)
In what was a battle of the top-placed teams of IPL 2024, the hosts Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) took on a rampant Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the iconic Eden Gardens.
After being asked to bat first, KKR took advantage of excellent batting conditions to notch up yet another 200+ total, courtesy of a scintillating century by opener Sunil Narine who made 109.
However, Narine's breathtaking performance went in vain as a superlative ton from RR’s Jos Buttler took the visitors home from the jaws of defeat.
Key Takeaways from KKR vs RR, Match 31 – Losing team (KKR)
Sunil Narine continues his golden touch
The Knight Riders’ opener, Sunil Narine has taken IPL 2024 by storm not by his spin mystery but with the bat. Having been given the responsibility to open the innings, the left-hander has aced the role till now.
Backing up his two match-winning knocks including an 85-ball 39 against the Delhi Capitals, Narine again struck gold at the top of the order, this time going on to get a century.
In earlier seasons too, Narine had fired with the bat when given the task of opening but his knocks had been largely hit-and-miss. However, here in 2024, Narine is not only providing strong starts but is hell-bent on converting to a big one and this is an ominous sign for the rest of the teams.
For KKR, it is a great situation to be in with Narine in such a rollicking form.
Read More: IPL 2024, KKR vs LSG: Salt bludgeons LSG with 89* after Starc's impressive 3-28; KKR onto 8 points
Key Takeaways from KKR vs RR, Match 31 – Winning team (RR)
Is Yashasvi Jaiswal’s poor return with the bat a cause of concern?
Coming into the 2024 season, RR would have had high hopes for Yashasvi Jaiswal to fire on all cylinders, but that has not been the case at the halfway stage of the tournament. The opener is yet to cross the half-century mark even once with the present highest score being 39 for the season. This was not something expected of the youngster, especially with the kind of form he was in before IPL.
However, his poor returns are not yet a cause of concern. The Royals’ have won five of their seven games. But, a good start from him was a necessity for the team tonight and that didn’t happen as he fell for an eye-catchy yet brief 9-ball 19.
Going deep into the league, RR would benefit with Jaiswal being amongst the runs.
Jos Buttler’s heroics overpower KKR’s middle over bowling
After returning to the team after a match-long injury lay-off, Jos Buttler produced yet another batting masterclass. Chasing a huge score, RR were facing a certain defeat at the halfway mark in their pursuit, needing 115 more runs to win with just five wickets in hand.
Soon the equation became an improbable 96 from 36 with Just Rovman Powell being the only recognized batting partner available for Buttler. From this position, the England skipper defied the gulle of Narine & Varun Chakravarthy and the experience of Mitchell Starc to give the Royals their sixth win. He scored 67 of those runs in 27 balls to complete his sixth IPL ton.
Statistical highlights from game 31, KKR vs RR
Ravi Ashwin, who has been a prolific wicket-taker against left-hand batters has largely struggled while bowling to Sunil Narine. The KKR batter has stroked 93 runs off the 38 deliveries (33 from 16 this game) he has faced against Ashwin in T20s while getting dismissed only once.
Narine brought up his maiden IPL and T20 century. This is just the second time post after the 2018 edition, that he has managed to get more than one 50+ score in a single season.
Narine also reached the 4000 run mark in T20 cricket and he took 319 innings to breach this landmark.
Royals amassed 76/2 in the powerplays, their fourth-highest powerplay score in IPL history.
Narine became the first player in IPL history to score a century, bag a wicket and take a catch in the same match.
Narine has taken the wicket of his compatriot Rovman Powell six times in T20 cricket, giving away just 51 runs in the 73 he has bowled against him.
Read More: IPL 2024, RR vs RCB: Buttler, Samson shoulder successful chase for RR; Kohli's ton goes in vain
Points Table Scenario and what’s next to come
As a result of this win, RR stay at the top of the standings with six wins in seven games and they take on Mumbai Indians at Jaipur on April 22. The Knight Riders stay on second with four wins from six games and they next take on the bottom-placed RCB at home on April 21.
Up next, the Gujarat Titans (GT) and the Delhi Capitals (DC) take on each other at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on April 17, Wednesday.
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