Jos Buttler blasted a brutal half-century to help Rajasthan Royals thrash Sunrisers Hyderabad by 72 runs in a one-sided Indian Premier League clash at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Sunday.
The England one-day captain smashed 54 off 22 balls – with Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Sanju Samson also reaching their half-centuries – to help the Royals reach an imposing 203-5.
Hyderabad never looked like threatening that total after New Zealand pacer Trent Boult struck twice in his first over and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal finished with 4-17 as the hosts were restricted to 131-8.
It was an impressive start to the campaign for last year's runners-up and the inaugural IPL champions, who hurtled out of the blocks thanks to Buttler and Jaiswal.
The opening pair put on 85 in less than six overs before Buttler was bowled by Afghanistan left-arm pace bowler Fazalhaq Farooqui after an explosive knock that included seven fours and three sixes.
Samson (55 runs from 32 balls) soon took charge then with Jaiswal (54 from 37) for company as they piled on the runs.
“It is a fantastic start for us,” said Buttler. “We had a really good season last season but it counts for nothing this year."
Hyderabad were never in the chase after Boult bowled Abhishek Sharma for a duck and then Jason Holder clung on to a superb catch at slip off Boult to send back Rahul Tripathi also without troubling the scorer.
Wickets kept tumbling, including Harry Brook (13) and Glenn Phillips (eight). Bringing on big hitter Abdul Samad as an “impact player” only reduced the margin of loss as he top-scored with an unbeaten 32.
The impact player, who can only be an Indian unless the team has fewer than four overseas players in their XI, is chosen from one of five substitutes listed with the team.
Buttler was the leading batsman in the last IPL season with 863 runs including four centuries, and he then led England to a T20 World Cup triumph in 2022.
And he already looks in good form again just one game into the new IPL campaign. “I am really enjoying my batting at the moment and trying to keep a clear mind," Buttler added. "Keeping a clear mind and once you get a good start in the power play, it allows you to be aggressive.”
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
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MATCH INFO
Karnataka Tuskers 110-5 (10 ovs)
Tharanga 48, Shafiq 34, Rampaul 2-16
Delhi Bulls 91-8 (10 ovs)
Mathews 31, Rimmington 3-28
Karnataka Tuskers win by 19 runs
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Red Sparrow
Dir: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Egerton, Charlotte Rampling, Jeremy Irons
Three stars
Details
Through Her Lens: The stories behind the photography of Eva Sereny
Forewords by Jacqueline Bisset and Charlotte Rampling, ACC Art Books
More on Coronavirus in France
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Day 2, stumps
Pakistan 482
Australia 30/0 (13 ov)
Australia trail by 452 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the innings
