After registering three single-digit scores of 7, 2, and 2 leading into the playoffs, Jos Buttler got back his run-scoring glut as he hammered 89 runs off 56 balls in the Qualifier 1 against Gujarat Titans, which, however, went in vain as the Titans chased down 189 with three balls left.
Nonetheless, RR would be happy that they will once again have a rampant and confident Jos Buttler in the Qualifier 2 – where they will face the winner of Eliminator 1 between Lucknow and Bangalore – in their second chance to reach the final.
Dream11 GameChanger of the Qualifier 1 between @gujarat_titans and @rajasthanroyals is Jos Buttler.#TATAIPL #DreamBig @Dream11 #GTvRR pic.twitter.com/FAbkCa7EZL
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 24, 2022
Jos Buttler becomes the first batsman in IPL 2022 to score over 700 runs, and only the sixth ever
With this score of 89 now, Buttler crossed the 700-run mark in IPL 2022, the first batsman to do this season. After his knock vs GT, Buttler has now amassed 718 runs from 15 matches at an average of 51.29 with a strike rate of 148. He’s slammed three hundreds and four half-centuries, with his highest score being 116.
Following Buttler in the Orange Cap race are the two Lucknow Super Giants openers – KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock. Rahul, the LSG skipper, has scored 537 runs and de Kock has scored 502 runs, in 14 matches each.
Further, Jos Buttler is only the sixth player ever in the history of the IPL to cross the 700-run mark in a season.
Following is the list of players who have made it to the 700-run club in the IPL –
Chris Gayle (2012)- 733, (2013) – 708
Mike Hussey (2013) – 733
Virat Kohli (2016) – 973 runs
David Warner (2016) – 848 runs
Kane Williamson (2018) – 735
Jos Buttler (2022) – 718
Jos Buttler’s innings went in vain as Hardik Pandya and David Miller’s heroic partnership of 106* runs from 61 balls helped GT chase down 189 in the last over, with Miller walloping Prasidh Krishna for three consecutive sixes when 16 were needed off 6 balls. GT wait for the winner of Qualifier 2 in the clash for the elusive trophy.
