West Indies’ Sunil Narine celebrates after bowling out Australia batsman for 2 runs during their third one day international cricket match in Kingstown, St. Vincent, Tuesday March 20,2012.
Associated Press /Andres Leighton, file
Sunil Narine produced a magnificent maiden T20 hundred but was overshadowed by Jos Buttler eighth century in the format, to help Rajasthan Royals reel in 224 and equal the highest successful chase in Indian Premier League history.
Narine blasted 109 off 56 balls at the top of the order, taking Kolkata Knight Riders to 223 for six off their 20 overs after being sent in to bat at Eden Gardens.
KKR lost Phil Salt for ten in the fourth over with 21 on the board but Narine produced an 85-run, second-wicket partnership with Angkrish Raghuvanshi (30) and a 51-run fourth wicket partnership with former Andre Russell (13).
Narine lashed 13 fours and half-dozen sixes, reaching his half-century off 29 deliveries before reaching century off another 20 balls.
In reply, Buttler produced a sensational unbeaten 107 off 60 deliveries, as Royals won by two wickets with a ball to spare.
Facing an asking rate of 11.2 runs per over, Royals were 47 for two in the fifth over before Buttler joined in a 50-run third wicket partnership with Riyan Parag (30) to recover the innings.
However, when four wickets collapsed for 24 runs, including Shimron Hetmyer who perished for a first-ball ‘duck’ and the Royals tottering on 121 for 6 in the 13th over, they were lifted once again by Buttler in a crucial 67-run, seventh wicket stand with Rovman Powell whose 26 came from 13 balls with a four and three sixes.
Powell fell in the 17th over and Trent Boult followed for a first-ball ‘duck’ in the next over but Buttler saw his side over the line in an unbroken ninth-wicket partnership of 38 with Avesh Khan (0). Needing eight runs from the final over from leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy and Buttler cleared the ropes with the first ball before sprinting a couple to long-off of the penultimate delivery.