Another Buttler ton before RR prevail in controversial finish

In a controversial finish to a high-scoring encounter in Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, Jos Buttler's third century paved the way for yet another Rajasthan Royals victory as they pipped Delhi Capitals by 15 runs on Friday (April 22). The fifth win of the season allowed the Sanju Samson-led side to move to the top spot in the IPL 2022 points table.

Controversial end?

A splendid wicket-maiden penultimate over bowled by Prasidh Krishna, had left Delhi Capitals needing 36 runs off the last over, with only three wickets in hand. It seemed, the game was almost shut. However, three successive sixes by Rovman Powell not only kept them in the game, but the third of those was hit of a waist-high full-toss. The on-field umpires didn't find it necessary to consult with the third umpire and deemed the delivery legitimate, leading the Delhi Capitals dugout to be infuriated and assistant coach Praveen Amre to step on to the field to have a word with umpire Nitin Menon. The drama brought an abrupt halt to the contest, broke the flow of play and Powell could only score two runs in the next three deliveries.

Was it just another Buttler show before that?

Not really. It was slightly different than the quintessential Buttler ton. To begin with, neither Buttler nor his opening partner Devdutt Padikkal seem too interested in going after the bowlers in the first half of the powerplay - scoring only 12 runs in three overs. With Khaleel Ahmed and Shardul Thakur getting the new ball to swing, the openers were content with negating the early threat. In fact, the two boundaries picked by Buttler in the opening over was streaky.

When did they eventually unleash their attacking game?

Padikkal didn't really go after Mustafizur Rahman in the fourth over, but picked three successive boundaries off the left-arm pacer - edged, tucked away and a half-volley driven. However, in the last over of the powerplay, Buttler showed real intent as he went after Khaleel Ahmed. He heaved the first as well as the fourth ball over the midwicket boundary for sixes to give Royals' innings a delayed push.

For how long did the partnership go on?

Till the 16th over, when Khaleel urged his captain to take a review, which got the on-field umpire to overturn his decision and adjudge Devdutt Padikkal legbefore wicket.

For as long as the duo was in the middle and the opening partnership flourished, Delhi's woes increased. Buttler at his best was unstoppable against anything that Delhi's varied bowling attack had to offer. The 'keeper-bat smashed nine sixes and as many fours in his 65-ball 116. While Buttler was doing the majority of the striking, Padikkal too picked up pace. He was dismissed after scoring a breezy 35-ball 54.

Who provided the late surge?

Sanju Samson. The Rajasthan Royals skipper didn't get much time to settle in but played a useful cameo - 19-ball 46* to help Royals surge to 222 for 2. He was especially severe towards Khaleel in the 18th over when the left-armer was hammered for 21 runs before taking the attack to Shardul Thakur in the last over.

How was Delhi's response?

Much unlike Royals, the Capitals' went on the attack early. Prithvi Shaw started off the chase with a couple of boundaries and his opening partner David Warner caught up quickly. The duo scored 43 runs in 4.2 overs before Warner was dismissed caught behind by Prasidh Krishna.

Who kept DC in the chase thereafter?

No one in specific. Sarfaraz Khan was caught sweeping R Ashwin to square leg. Shaw and Pant scored some brisk runs but were dismissed on the move. Pant, in specific, took toll of an over Royals tried to sneak in from the part-time spin of Riyan Parag. The DC skipper hammered him for 22 runs.

Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal were yet again effective in the middle overs to not only keep a leash on the scoring but also to keep chipping in with wickets. Axar Patel and Shardul couldn't change the course of the contest either. Even as Delhi Capitals kept losing wickets, till the end of the 16th over, their scoring rate was marginally better than that of Royals. What they didn't get was the late surge, and the wicket-maiden in the 19th over proved to be a killer blow apart from the fact that they eventually ran out of batters to give company to Powell. The three sixes did breathe life in the final over of the chase, but the target was still at a reasonable distance.

Brief scores: Rajasthan Royals 222/2 in 20 overs (Jos Buttler 116, Devdutt Padikkal 54; Mustafizur Rahman 1-43) beat Delhi Capitals 207/8 in 20 overs (Rishabh Pant 44, prithvi Shaw 37; Prasidh Krishna 3-22, R Ashwin 2-32) by 15 runs.