IPL 2022: Buttler century powers Rajasthan Royals to win over Mumbai Indians

His 68-ball innings and partnerships helped the 2008 champions defeat MI by 23 runs at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai

Jos Buttler may or may not be able to realise his full potential in the longer format of the game but when it comes to Twenty20 cricket there are no equals.

Jos Buttler scored his second IPL century. (IPL Twitter)

At the DY Patil Stadium on Saturday evening, he provided another proof of why he is considered one of the most destructive batters in white-ball cricket when he smashed five sixes and 11 fours against Mumbai Indians to power to his second IPL hundred.

His 68-ball 100 helped Rajasthan Royals score 193/8, a total they successfully defended to win by 23 runs and make it two wins in two games for the pink outfit. Five-time champions MI have lost both their games.

For Royals, Buttler has played some dazzling innings. One knock before Saturday’s game was a 64-ball 124 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2021 edition in New Delhi.

The England player, who is out of favour with the Test side after a below-par Ashes series, built partnerships with Shimron Hetmyer, who hit 35 off 14 balls, and captain Sanju Samson, who made 30 off 21 balls.

Led by Jasprit Bumrah, the MI bowlers stuck to their task gamely on a pitch which offered value for shots. But with a short boundary on one side due to the side pitch being used for the game, the three batters ambushed the MI attack with calculated assault. Their total was mainly built around three big overs. Pacer Basil Thampi was taken for 26 runs in the fourth over, spinner Murugan Ashwin conceded 21 runs in the 11th over and veteran Kieron Pollard was targetted by Hetmyer for 26 runs in the 17th over. It was the combined tally of 73 runs that ultimately hurt MI. The other 17 overs went for only 120 runs.

Buttler was a craftsman at work. He started by taking down Thampi on the short leg side boundary, hitting him for three sixes and two fours in his first over. At the same time, he toyed with the bowlers with deft play. There was a nudge through slips for four to third man while a couple of fours were picked off the spinners with intentional sweeps very fine to beat the square-leg fielder.

In the end, if Royals didn’t cross the 200-run mark, it was due to excellent death bowling by Bumrah (4-0-17-3) and Tymal Mills.

In their chase, MI were well served by the talented Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan. The two took the game to Royals with a partnership of 81 runs. But experienced spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and R Ashwin showed why they are going to pose a major, combined threat this campaign. With MI on 135/3 in 14.1 overs, it was an even game. In the space of the next seven balls, the two prized open the game. Ashwin (4-0-30-1) got Varma with a beautiful, flighted delivery and in the first two balls of the next over Chahal (4-0-26-2) removed Tim David and Daniel Sams, reducing MI to 136/6.

Ashwin’s celebration after he bowled 19-year-old Varma was proof of the impact the batter made. He was all class during his knock (61—33b). Kishan (54) hit his fifth successive IPL fifty.

Chahal was unlucky to miss out on a hat-trick when substitute Karun Nair at slip could not hold on after Murugan Ashwin nicked it.