Jos Buttler slams fourth consecutive fifty for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2018

Jos Buttler’s brilliant form in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 continued as he smoked his fourth consecutive fifty for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings at the Sawai Mansingh stadium in Jaipur on Friday. (HIGHLIGHTS)

Buttler, who had scores of 67,51 and 82 before this match, had a new opening partner in Ben Stokes but the dashing England wicketkeeper-batsman set the tone early with some brilliant hitting. (SCORECARD)

The right-hander started off in brilliant fashion by smoking three consecutive boundaries in the first over bowled by fellow England pacer David Willey. One boundary was a cracking cut shot to deep point, another a punch through wide mid-off and a third another flaying cut shot to the deep backward point region.

Buttler’s aggression continued to grow as he targeted offspinner Harbhajan Singh for punishment. He glanced a flatter ball to the fine leg boundary, reverse swept a short ball to the third man fence and clobbered a lofted shot over long on for his first six.

READ | Suresh Raina hits third fifty in IPL 2018 for Chennai Super Kings

After lofting an inside-out drive off Ravindra Jadeja over extra cover, Buttler had to slow down as he lost the wickets of Ben Stokes (11) and Ajinkya Rahane (4) in quick succession.

The 27-year-old stitched a solid stand with Sanju Samson and he got closer to the landmark with a reverse swept four off Jadeja. Buttler notched up his landmark off just 25 balls by glancing leg spinner Karn Sharma for a couple to become the second batsman after Virat Kohli to achieve this feat.

The England wicketkeeper’s knock has put Rajasthan Royals on course for a win against Chennai Super Kings in a match which they must win in order to stay alive in the race for the play-offs.