Tata IPL 2024 Match 19, RR Vs RCB – Match Report

April 6, 2024

Jos Buttler’s sensational century, scoring 100 runs off 58 balls, combined with Sanju Samson’s brilliant 69 off 42 balls, electrified Jaipur as Rajasthan Royals (RR) secured their fourth consecutive victory by defeating Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.

Buttler and Samson orchestrated a remarkable recovery for RR after the early dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal, showcasing a stunning 148-run partnership highlighted by a display of exquisite shots. Their stellar performance propelled the home team to a convincing six-wicket victory. Buttler, marking his 100th IPL appearance, added to the occasion by reaching a century and sealing the match victoriously with a six.

In the previous match, Virat Kohli’s outstanding century, his 8th in the IPL, propelled Royal Challengers Bangalore to a formidable total of 183/3. Kohli showcased impeccable elegance, timing, and placement, scoring an unbeaten 113 off 72 balls. He formed a crucial 125-run partnership with Faf du Plessis (44 off 33 balls) for the opening wicket, contributing significantly to the team’s competitive total.

In pursuit of 184 runs, Rajasthan Royals faced an early setback when Reece Topley dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal off the second ball of the innings. Captain Sanju Samson and Jos Buttler then formed a partnership, blending caution with aggression to stabilize the innings. Buttler accelerated in the final over of the Powerplay, hitting 4, 4, 6, 4 off Mayank Dagar, propelling RR to 54/1 by the end of six overs.

Buttler and Samson maintained a steady run rate of 10 runs per over, with Buttler reaching his first fifty of the season in 30 balls, propelling RR to 95/1 at the halfway stage. Samson then aggressively targeted Dagar, hitting two fours and a six to complete his fifty in 33 balls. The partnership flourished as they comfortably accumulated runs, adding 148 runs off 86 balls before Mohd. Siraj ended the stand by dismissing Samson for 69 off 42 balls, caught at deep backward square leg.

At that point, Samson and Buttler had placed RR in a favorable position, needing 36 runs off 32 balls. However, Samson’s dismissal gave RCB a glimmer of hope, leading to quick dismissals of Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel. Nevertheless, Buttler remained composed. With 20 runs needed off 21 balls, he and Shimron Hetmyer guided RR to victory with five balls to spare. Buttler, scoring 94, sealed the match in style with a six to complete his century. He finished unbeaten on 100, while Hetmyer remained not out on 11 off 6 balls.

Sanju Samson, the captain of Rajasthan Royals, won the toss and elected to field first.

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s openers, Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis, made a brisk start to their innings. Kohli took the initiative early on, showcasing some elegant wrist shots. He executed two delightful flicks for boundaries and effortlessly sent a ball for a six off Burger. Kohli’s aggressive approach yielded four fours and a six in the first six overs. Du Plessis also contributed with a couple of boundaries as the duo amassed 53 runs without losing a wicket during the Powerplay.

R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal, the spinners, tightened the screws, conceding only 11 runs in the following two overs. Nonetheless, Faf du Plessis shifted gears, smashing a couple of sixes off Boult. Virat Kohli joined the onslaught, hitting a six off Chahal and another one straight down the ground off Riyan Parag, marking his fifty in a stylish manner.

The partnership between the two batsmen reached the 100-run mark in just 71 balls. However, during this period, RR missed a couple of difficult catches. Boult missed a comparatively straightforward chance to dismiss Du Plessis when he was on 42 off Chahal’s bowling. Despite this stroke of luck for the RCB captain, it didn’t last long as Chahal had him caught at long on off the next ball when he reached 44 runs from 33 balls, thus ending the fruitful partnership.

Captain Sanju Samson reintroduced Burger into the attack, resulting in success as Burger dismissed Glenn Maxwell in the following over. Meanwhile, Kohli continued to accumulate runs with precise placement and timing, reaching his eighth IPL century in 67 balls during the penultimate over. He concluded the innings in a flourish, hitting three fours off Avesh Khan in the final over, helping RCB reach a total of 183/3 by the end of 20 overs.

Kohli’s innings concluded with an unbeaten 113 runs off 72 deliveries, including 12 boundaries and four sixes.

In the 18th over of the first innings, RR introduced Shubham Dubey as their Impact Player, substituting Yuzvendra Chahal, who delivered an impressive spell of 4 overs, conceding 34 runs and taking 2 wickets.

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