7 Apr at 5:23 pm

RR vs RCB IPL 2024, Match 19th Highlights | Buttler vs Kohli – Century Battle Ends in Royals’ Domination!

Jos Buttler Score his 6th century in IPL | © iplt20.com

The 19th match of IPL 2024 was a firecracker of a contest! Played at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, it turned out to be a battle between two in-form batters, but ultimately, the Rajasthan Royals emerged victorious by six wickets, maintaining their perfect record of four wins in four matches.

Jos Buttler, the explosive opening batsman for Rajasthan, was going through a bit of a rough patch. His scores in the previous matches weren’t reflecting his usual dominance. But the 19th match turned out to be his redemption song. The special occasion of his 100th IPL match ignited a spark because Buttler scored a magnificent unbeaten century (100 runs off just 56 balls). His knock was a masterclass in clean hitting – mighty sixes soared over the ropes, and elegant boundaries found the gaps precisely.

A Crucial Partnership Steals the Show

The brilliant partnership Buttler stitched with his teammate, Sanju Samson, took the game away from Royal Challengers Bangalore. Coming in at number 3, Samson played a crucial supporting role, scoring a well-paced 69 runs off 42 balls. Together, they put on a staggering 148-run partnership for the second wicket, the season’s highest partnership so far. This formidable partnership ensured Rajasthan chased down the target comfortably, with five balls and 6 wickets to spare.

Kohli’s Lone Warrior Act

On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bangalore had their batting hero – the ever-reliable Virat Kohli. Living up to his reputation, Kohli played a captain’s knock, scoring a brilliant century (113 runs off 67 balls). It was an exhibition of his batting prowess, with powerful shots around the wicket. Interestingly, this was Kohli’s slowest IPL century, but it showcased his fighting spirit and ability to anchor the innings.

Unfortunately for RCB, Kohli’s heroics were overshadowed by their bowling performance, particularly from their spin attack. The young spinners, Dagar and Himanshu Sharma, needed more experience and struggled with their line and length throughout the innings. This inconsistency was ruthlessly exploited by Buttler and Samson, who scored boundaries and sixes with ease. Compared to Rajasthan’s seasoned spinners, Chahal and Ashwin, who conceded a combined 62 runs in 8 overs, RCB’s spinners leaked runs much faster, giving away 73 runs in just 4 overs.

A Match of High Scores and Missed Opportunities

This match was a treat for fans who love high-scoring encounters. Both teams displayed exceptional batting talent, with two brilliant centuries scored. However, the lack of support for Kohli from other RCB batters and the shortcomings of their inexperienced spin attack proved costly.

Rajasthan Royals Maintain Supremacy

With this convincing victory, Rajasthan Royals have consolidated their position at the top of the IPL table. Their well-rounded performance, with solid batting, bowling, and fielding, makes them a force to be reckoned with. On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bangalore need to go back to the drawing board and find ways to support their star batsman and improve their bowling attack, especially their spin department.

This high-voltage match has set the tone for an exciting IPL season. With several talented teams and in-form players, we can expect many more close encounters and thrilling finishes in the matches to come. Stay tuned for more IPL updates!