In a scintillating display of cricket that will be etched in the annals of TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) history, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) emulated their own highest successful run chase in the tournament by hunting down a gargantuan total of 224 against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The grandeur of Eden Gardens served as the perfect backdrop for an encounter where two titans of the IPL captivated spectators with their extraordinary exploits.
At the outset, Sunil Narine erupted with a formidable century—his first in TATA IPL, setting the stage for an unforgettable contest. As the Royals embarked on their formidable chase, there were times when their pursuit seemed derailed, but Jos Buttler’s singular resolve and a shift to an aggressive gear stood tall against the odds. His magnificent seventh IPL ton—the second of this particular season—steered RR to an epochal two-wicket victory.
RR’s chase began with promise, particularly following a commendable fourth-wicket partnership between Riyan Parag and Buttler, anointing a glimmer of hope to reach the target of 224. Yet, wickets tumbled at regular intervals, stalling their progress to 128 for six after 14 overs, and the flow of boundaries began to wane. At that moment, Buttler was at a cautious 42 from 33 balls, with Rovman Powell joining him at the crease.
That’s when the onslaught commenced, with both batters launching an offensive that sent the ball hurtling across the field. Seventeen runs were bludgeoned from each of the following two overs. Narine’s spell was next, with 62 runs required off 24 balls. Powell greeted him with a boundary followed by a pair of sixes, only to be later dismissed leg-before by Narine. At 178 for seven with three overs left, KKR seemed poised for victory.
Nevertheless, with Trent Boult run-out in a desperate scramble to maintain strike, Buttler saw himself with only Avesh Khan for support. Undaunted, Buttler took command, preserving his strike and securing boundaries, including one against the formidable Mitchell Starc, which, supplemented by five wides, swung momentum back toward RR.
Harshit Rana’s 19th over was plundered for 19 runs, courtesy of Buttler’s two colossal sixes and a boundary. With the final over looming and nine runs needed, Buttler, facing Varun Chakaravarthy, smote a prodigious six to notch his century. Chakravarthy tightened the screws with three dot balls against a beleaguered Buttler. Yet with three required from the final two deliveries, Buttler managed a consequential two before securing the winning run off the last ball, vaulting RR to a monumental conquest.
Earlier, as KKR batted, buoyed by the home crowd’s roars, Narine shone on a familiar turf, beautifully crafting his maiden T20 century at Eden Gardens. The sheer splendor of the occasion was amplified by the animated celebration amongst his adoring fans and peers. This season had already seen Narine in top form, having previously hammered a high score of 85 against the Delhi Capitals. On this day, he surpassed that with striking finesse.
KKR’s innings had commenced with gusto following Phil Salt’s brief escape from an early dismissal. But his fortune ran short when Avesh Khan caught him off his own bowling in a stellar display of athleticism. It then fell to Narine to electrify the ground with his batting touch—not with sheer force but with a delightful insouciance. His graceful drives soared over the field, and when given a shorter ball, he carved out the necessary room to dispatch it.
Angkrish Raghuvanshi, at the other end, complemented Narine’s freestyle with a set of classy strokes, contributing a brisk 30 off 18 balls. Their partnership flourished, accumulating 85 off mere 43 balls, before Raghuvanshi was caught at third man. The onus settled upon Narine, who grew even more formidable post-fifty, soaring past the coveted century mark by punishing Yuzvendra Chahal with two sixes and two fours in the 16th over. His hundred was sealed with a boundary through wide long-on, to rapturous applause. Despite late dismissals, including Rinku Singh’s rapid 20 off nine balls, KKR posted a colossal 223.
On most given days such a total would seem insurmountable, but not when facing a cricket luminary like Buttler, who on this day, exemplified the grandeur of T20 batting in leading RR to their historic chase.