Jos Buttler scored a brilliant century in a stunning run-chase and trumped Sunil Narine’s sublime hundred in Rajasthan Royals’ two-wicket win against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday.
Buttler outmatched Narine’s 109 off 56 balls, and scripted a memorable match with his century.
A scintillating hundred by opener Narine had powered Kolkata Knight Riders to a formidable 223 for six.
After his team was asked to bat first on a fresh pitch, Narine blazed away to a 49-ball 100 to lead KKR’s charge in this top-of-the-table clash.
Trent Boult eventually got the better of Narine, but not before the opener amassed 109 off 56 balls with the help of 13 fours and six sixes, displaying supreme confidence and skill against one of the best attacks of the Indian Premier League.
It was a one-man show as Narine batted till the 18th over, first stitching 85 runs with Angkrish Raghuvanshi (30) and then adding 51 runs with Andre Russell (13).
Not only did he pierce the field with ease, but he also unleashed a relentless attack on R. Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal, keeping the fielders busy by playing shots in the cover region.
Having reached fifty in 29 balls, the Trinidadian took just 20 deliveries to get to his maiden T20 century, pulling Chahal to the midwicket boundary.
Clad in a crisp white T-shirt, team owner Shah Rukh Khan sent a flying kiss from the stands.
On the field, his West Indies teammate Russell jumped in joy, giving him a bear hug as Narine waved his bat in a muted celebration.
Finally, it took a Boult special to end Narine’s innings as the Kiwi left-arm pacer nailed a perfect yorker that also broke the leg stump, causing delay in proceedings.
With Narine taking centre-stage, Royals’ spinners had a poor day. Ashwin gave away four wides and conceded 49 runs from his four overs, while Chahal returned with figures of one for 54 from his full quota.
Later, Rinku Singh’s nine-ball 20 not out with two sixes and one four took the total past the 200-mark, as KKR scored 62 runs in the last five overs.
Avesh Khan (2/35) and Boult (1/31) were the pick of Royals’ bowlers. Kuldeep Sen (2/46) also picked two.
