IPL 2022 | Buttler continues red hot form, fires Royals to the top of the table

Rajasthan opener smashes his third century of the season; Padikkal, Samson shine; Prasidh bowls a dream penultimate over to scupper Capitals’ chances

Jos Buttler extended his golden run, plundering his third century (116, 65b, 9x4, 9x6) of IPL-15 and setting up Rajasthan Royals’ 15-run win over Delhi Capitals at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday. The victory sent the Jaipur-based franchise to the top of the table.

Riding on Buttler’s second consecutive hundred, and his record opening partnership of 155 off 91 balls with Devdutt Padikkal, Royals amassed 222 for two, the highest total of the season.

To chase down such a mammoth target, at least one Capitals batter had to repeat Buttler’s heroics. Prithvi Shaw gave the side a blistering start; Rishabh Pant played a cameo in the middle and Lalit Yadav-Rovman Powell displayed their power-hitting skills.

Still, the well-oiled Royals bowling attack restricted Capitals to 207 for eight. The only time Royals appeared to be a tad worried was when Powell struck two sixes off Trent Boult in the 18th over to give Capitals a remote shot at victory. With 36 required off two overs, Prasidh Krishna bowled a dream over. The wicket maiden, which saw him dismiss a fast-scoring Lalit, ensured Powell had too tough a task.

Powell made a fist of it, hammering the first three deliveries for sixes off Obed McCoy in the final over.

The third of those was followed by a dramatic protest by Capitals, who thought it was an above-the-waist no ball. Capitals’ assistant coach Pravin Amre even sprinted to the middle to speak to the umpires. Despite the drama, the night belonged to Royals.

Earlier, it took until the end of the PowerPlay for Buttler to get going. He hit left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed, who had beaten him on multiple occasions in the first over, with two towering sixes on the leg-side to stamp his authority.