In Top Gear: Buttler was in a hurry, scoring 54 off 22 balls | Photo Credit: KVS Giri
Sunrisers Hyderabad lost the contest in the powerplay – first when Rajasthan Royals put in to bat scored 85 for one and then when the hosts were just 30 for two chasing 204 for victory.
It was a complete, all-round performance from the Royals that helped them register a 72-run win in an IPL match at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Sunday.
The hosts were never in the hunt after left-arm seamer Trent Boult removed Abhishek Sharma and Rahul Tripathi twice in the first over of the innings – the latter steering away only to see Jason Holder take a stunning, diving catch in the slips. For – any run without conceding.
Soon, leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who had taken four wickets, confused Harry Brook with the wrong wicket, and later Jason Holder looked to mistime him to take a simple catch to Washington Sundar at mid-on.
Then veteran off-spinner R.K. Ashwin induces a sharp drive from Glenn Phillips straight towards covers. Three quick strokes that effectively put Sunrisers out of the game.
Earlier, Royals opted to bat, with openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler handling the bowlers with disdain as they scored 85 runs in six overs, making the most of the powerplay.
After Jaiswal started off with some clean hitting including an off-drive and pulling Sunrisers skipper Bhuvneshwar to the fence, Buttler changed gears.
First Buttler hit Bhuvneshwar for a six, later hitting Offy Washington for two consecutive sixes in his first over. Even the usually dependable left-arm pacer T. Natarajan was on target in his first over.
Left-arm fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqui provided the much-needed relief, dismissing Buttler, bowled by the fast returner trying to play an off-drive.
Sunrisers bowlers made a good comeback despite Sanju Samson’s explosive innings, but it was not enough. In the second half, conceding only 83 runs in the last 10 overs and striking at regular intervals.