IPL 2018: Rashid Khan appreciates Jos Buttler after match winning knock

Jos Buttler played a match-winning knock of 95 runs off 60 balls against CSK.

Published - 12 May 2018, 10:02 IST | Updated - 12 May 2018, 10:02 IST

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Jos Buttler has been in jaw-dropping touch in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). He used to bat in the middle-order earlier in the tournament. However, during Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) match against the Delhi Daredevils (DD) at the Feroz Shah Kotla, he was promoted to open the batting. The move has turned out to be a masterstroke as he has notched four half-centuries on the trot.

The first couple of knocks went in vain as the Royals couldn’t quite get over the line despite Buttler’s brilliance. Nevertheless, in the last two matches against the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) and the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the English wicket-keeper batsman turned his fortunes around and bagged a couple of back to back Player of the Match awards.

The much-needed knocks by Jos Buttler

The stupendous exhibition of batsmanship also means that the Royals stay afloat in the league as far as qualification for the playoffs is concerned. Both match-winnings knocks came at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur at a time when the home team desperately needed a couple of victories after a horrendous run of form courtesy of a string of defeats.

In yesterday’s contest against CSK, the Royals chased down a steep target of 177 set by the visitors. During the run-chase, Buttler opened with Ben Stokes and the duo raced away to a partnership of 48 runs out of which 37 were scored off Buttler’s willow. As the innings progressed, wickets went down at regular intervals, which could easily have unnerved Buttler into playing a false stroke.

He telecasted a composed temperament and got his team home in the penultimate delivery of the match. The Englishman scored 95 runs off 60 balls, which was carved with 11 boundaries and one six. Following the brilliant knocks, Rashid Khan of the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) took to Twitter and hailed the swashbuckling batsman for his batting display.