IPL 2024: KKR vs RR Match 31- Top five standout performances from the match

Jos Buttler held his nerve to score an important ton to help his side win by two wickets in a last-ball Indian Premier League (IPL) thriller. The Englishman batted alone without much support as wickets tumbled at the other end to keep Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the game. 

This win now puts Rajasthan Royals right at the top of the table with 12 points from seven games. Kolkata Knight Riders are second in the table with 8 points from six games sharing the table with Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad who have the same amount of points from six games. 

As the IPL 2024 season heads to its halfway stage, the competition to make it to the top four is heating up. Rajasthan Royals look firm favourites to make it to the playoffs this year without breaking a sweat. The other 9 teams in contention have everything to play to try and make it to the playoffs. 

Here are the top 5 standout performances from the match:

5. Avesh Khan – 2/35 from four overs

Indian pacer Avesh Khan is soon becoming a bowler of repute during the IPL 2024 season. The Madhya Pradesh seamer first got the huge wicket of Phil Salt for ten before getting rid of the dangerous Andre Russell for 13. These two wickets were the difference between KKR scoring 240 plus and finishing on 223/7 from their 20 overs. 

4. Riyan Parag – 34 runs off 14 balls

Rajasthan Royals lost Yashasvi Jaiswal and skipper Sanju Samson early during the pursuit of the huge total. Young Riyan Parag came out and started to attack right from the start and scored 34 runs in quick time to bring the chase back on track. 

3. Rovman Powell – 26 runs from 13 balls

At 121/5 in the 13th over, Rajasthan Royals were in huge trouble still needing 103 runs from 46 balls. West Indian star Rovman Powell came to the wicket and used the long handle to hit three sixes and a four to breathe new life into the game. His cameo of 26 runs was very critical in the scheme of things as the Royals achieved a huge win. 

2. Sunil Narine – 109 runs from 56 balls and 2/30 from 4 overs

It was a heartbreaking day for Sunil Narine who not only picked two key wickets and took a catch but also scored his first century. The 35-year-old had an almost perfect game as his all-round show nearly took his team home to a famous win. 

1. Jos Buttler – 107 not out from 60 balls 

After his heroics with the bat against RCB, Jos Buttler wanted to show why he is known as the the man for big occasions. The veteran England star hit 9 fours and 6 huge sixes to help his team win the game and move to the top of the table.