IPL24: Rajasthan Royals outplays RCB as Buttler sparkling 100 eclipses Kohli's fighting ton

 

Royal Challengers Bangalore started the IPL with a win but lost three matches in a row.  Even Kohli's century could not return Duplessis' team to victory.  On the other hand, Rajasthan has won four consecutive matches and topped the points table.

 Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson won the toss and decided to field.  Virat Kohli used the opportunity to bat first.  With his aggressive hundred, Royal Challengers Bangalore scored 183 runs for 3 wickets.  In reply, Rajasthan made 189 for 4 in 19.1 overs.  Jos Buttler's counter unbeaten century made Bengaluru lose three matches in a row.  The first two centuries of this year's IPL came in the same match.

 Kohli did not play in the Test series against England due to the birth of his second child.  He kept himself away from cricket for several days before the IPL.  Didn't even practice.  However, this did not affect Kohli's cricketing skills at all.  He is seen in the IPL in a familiar mood.  Completed his 53rd IPL fifty off 39 balls against Rajasthan on Saturday.  Kohli was seen in an aggressive mood from the start in Jaipur's 22 yards.  Bowlers like Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult could not find a way to stop him. Kohli pulled a very quick Nandre Burger for a 6 & then a 4 as he cut loose .  An unbeaten innings of 113 runs from 72 balls came from Kohli's bat to open.  He decorated his innings with 12 fours and 4 sixes.

Bengaluru skipper Duplessis was compatible with Kohli.  He scored 44 runs off 33 balls.  2 fours and 2 sixes came from his bat.  He scored 125 runs in 14 overs with Kohli in the first wicket partnership.  After he got out, it was mainly Kohli who pulled the team's innings.  Because Glenn Maxwell at number three failed (1).  Saurabh Chauhan, who batted at number four, also did not get a good score (9).  Cameron Green (5 not out) was at 22 yards with Kohli at the end.  Chahal was the most successful of the Rajasthan bowlers taking 2 wickets for 34 runs.  1 wicket for 33 runs by Nandre Burger.  Boult, Ashwin had to remain wicketless in front of Kohli's knock. 

However Kohli's 100 did have its negative points . He batted till the end which actually meant that Dinesh Karthik, RCB's best finisher did not get a bat in the innings that worked well in favour of the opposition  Rajasthan Royals .

 Kohli's century, however, did not work.  The pair of Buttler and Sanju Samson took the match away from Bengaluru.   Jaiswal (0) was dismissed on the second ball of the innings after going down to bat for a target of 184 runs.  However Buttler and Sanju kept Rajasthan's innings going at a smooth pace as Reece Topley handled the blow.  They scored 148 runs for their second wicket pair.  This pair formed the foundation of the team's victory.  Sanju scored a soarkling  69 runs off 42 balls before being dismissed by Mohammed Siraj.  8 fours and 2 sixes came from his bat.  Ryan Parag (4) did not get runs on this day.  Jurel also (2) missed out.  However, there was no pressure.  Shimron Hetmyer finished the match with Buttler.  Buttler's unbeaten innings of 100 runs came from 58 balls.  He decorated his innings with 9 fours and 4 sixes and looked in sublime touch after struggling in the first 3 games . His brilliant shots through the offside and imperious shots straight down the ground was a treat to watch   He hit a six off the 1st ball of the 20th over  to complete his century.  Hetmyer remained unbeaten with 11 runs off 6 balls.

 Bangalore's most successful bowler Topley took 2 wickets with 27 runs.  Yash Dayal took 1 wicket for 37 runs.  1 wicket for 35 runs by Siraj.  Buttler for his match winning knock was the player of the match .