Rajasthan Royals defeats DC in a dramatic match, Buttler struck his 3rd century of the season

Rajasthan Royals went against Delhi Capitals in Match 34 of the Indian Premier League 2022 in the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai and Rajasthan won the match by 15 runs.

Least to say, the match was dramatic, Jos Buttler and Devdutt Padikkal started for Rajasthan Royals while Khaleel Ahmed started with the proceedings for Delhi Capitals. Khaleel beats Buttler thrice with the fourth ball went outside edge and flies over the slip cordon for a first boundary, making the final ball an excellent outswinger. Khaleel showed exceptional bowling today and eight was scored by the end of the first over. 

Off- spinner Lalit Yadav starts neat and only three comes from his over and Delhi Capitals showed a good bowling form today. Devdutt Padikkal tries to get back on track after his staggering start and smashes a hat-trick off boundaries against Mustafizur Rahaman. Fourteen was scored from the First over with Fiz and Devdutta introduced a steady momentum for Rajasthan Royals. Two overs in the powerplay was bowled by Lalit Yadav and gave away only seven runs. 

Jos Buttler proceeded to score 15 runs from Khaleel over and by the end of the powerplay Rajhasthan scored 44/0 in six overs. 50 run stand was already up for Jos Buttler and Devdutt Padikkal. Rajasthan Royals had a slow start but they are gaining gradually and strengthened themselves after a while. Padikkal slammed an 7 metre long six in Kuldeep’s over, which was right in the arc and Padikkal put it into a stand and followed it with a boundary. In another eventful over for RR, 12 runs were gained from the Axar Patel’s over. Jos Buttler danced around easily and he reached for the ball to hit it over the bowler’s head for a maximum and followed up with yet another boundary. 15 runs scored in Kuldeep’s second over. 

Delhi kept attacking and seemed to put RR on the edge as Padikkal and Buttler seemed edge-prone. Ahmed made a disciplined attack in his first over, making Buttler play twice and miss the ball for as many times as he edged the ball. Two fours were scored- both off the edge, one flew over third man while the second hustled beyond the first slip, he suffered a vicious lbw appeal before he slammed at a wide ball from Mustafizur Rahman. Despite Delhi’s aggressive attempts, Padikkal hammered successive boundaries off Rahman, prior to Buttler contrasting to his attack and scored a couple more sixes in the sixth over. 

By the 11th over, Padikkal launches a maximum and RR reaches a 100 run stand pretty fast. Jos Buttler seems to have returned to his form as he keeps hurting Yadav and plundered 18 runs from his last over. 18 was scored from Kuldeep’s third over as Buttler bats on 99 making it the highest opening stand for Rajasthan Royals in IPL history and also the highest opening partnership in the current season. Khaleel Ahemd doesn’t lag behind and breaks the 155-run opening stand and Devdutta leaves for 54. 

Buttler hits a boundary against Fiz and followed it up with a six just over long-off’s hand. By the end of 18.4 overs, Rajasthan had already reached 200 and a beautiful 65-ball 116 from Buttler put Rajasthan on 222/2 in 20 overs making it the highest total in IPL 2022. RR skipper Sanju Samson finished the innings with a splendid 19-ball 46. 

Although Jos Buttler gave us quite a lot of marvellous batting, one stood out in particular as he produced an absolute stunner from an awkward position in the 19th over that startled everyone, including his team mate Shimron Hetmyer. Rahman made a fairly good delivery and it seemed that Buttler was not in the right position but somehow he managed to lean across and did not just flail at it for a one or two but got his bottom hand working over time to scoop it over long-off. 

Ashwin strikes his first ball for Delhi Capitals while Sarfaraz departs for 1. Rishabh Pant’s left-handed helicopter helps bring up Delhi to 50 along with another one-handed six from Prithvi Shaw. He did this against McCoy, who followed it with five no balls. Hetmyer chimes in and dropped Pant at long-on and it went for another boundary, resulting in 26 from McCoy’s over. After a series of struggled bowling, Thakur pulls it hard and gets a six against Boult and Shradhul slams a beautiful shot but the game turns just as suddenly when he gets a run out. Delhi seemed to be into deep waters then and Lalit hit a boundary making them stand on 162/6 after 16 overs. 

Obed McCoy bowled the last over of the match and Powell started off with a huge six, followed it with another for a maximum, and ended in a three in three for Powell with a brilliant hit. But Delhi batters ask for a no-ball and a wicket is gained on the final ball, ultimately leading to Rajasthan’s win by 15 runs. Rajasthan Royals finished in 222/2 whereas Delhi Capitals got restricted at 207/8.