Ahmedabad: Jos Buttler's unbeaten 106, his fourth ton of the season, powered Rajasthan Royals to a comprehensive seven-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Qualifier-2 here at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday.
Jos Buttler equaled Virat Kohli for most centuries in a single edition of the Indian Premier League.
The inaugural champions will lock horns against debutants Gujarat Titans in the final on Sunday.Chasing a modest 158, Rajasthan Royals got off to a flying start as openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler wreaked havoc with the bat to strike a fifty partnership for the opening wicket in just 4.3 overs.
BRILLIANT BUTTLER
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 27, 2022
Fourth of the #TATAIPL 2022 for Jos Buttler! #RRvRCB | @rajasthanroyals
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The 61-run partnership for the opening wicket was finally broken as Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for 21 of 13 balls by Josh Hazlewood.Buttler was hardly affected by the dismissal of his opening partner as he went on to score his half-century in just 23 balls.
Buttler along with Rajasthan's skipper Sanju Samson took their team beyond the triple-figure mark in just 9.1 overs. The Buttler-Samson pair went on to notch up a 50-run partnership for the second wicket in 34 balls.
RCB's slight chances of a comeback took a hit as wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik dropped Buttler of Harshal Patel's bowling while he was on 66.The 52-run partnership was broken as Samson was dismissed by Wanindu Hasaranga for 23 and stumped by wicket-keeper Karthik.
Devdutt Padikkal joined Buttler as the Rajasthan team looked on course to chase the target comfortably. Hazlewood struck for the second time dismissing Padikkal for 9 caught behind by keeper Karthik.
In just 17.2 overs RR went past the 150-run mark and Buttler went on to score his fourth ton of the season equalling the record of Virat Kohli who scored four centuries in the 2016 season for RCB. The Englishman's century came in just 59 balls as he remained unbeaten on 106 to help chase Rajasthan the target in 18.1 overs.
The final be played at the same venue as Qualifier-2. (With ANI inputs)
