IPL 2022, MI vs RR: Jos Buttler's 2nd IPL ton helps Rajasthan Royals beat Mumbai Indians

Opener scores ton, spinners come to the party as Royals notch up two wins in two games by beating Mumbai IndiansNAVI MUMBAI: A superstar showed off his latest blockbuster even as a star was born in Game 9 of IPL-2022 at the DY Patil Stadium here on Saturday. Looking determined to prove a point after the English selectors dropped him for the Test series in the West Indies recently, Jos Buttler smashed a typically breathtaking 100 (68b; 114, 5x6), the first century of this IPL season, besides taking two catches to power Rajasthan Royals to a 23-run victory over Mumbai Indians.

The catch to send back Daniel Sams, in which Buttler ran from cover to mid-off before diving, was a screamer. AS IT HAPPENEDIt wasn't just a Buttler show, though.

The thrilling, fast-paced game also saw a hitherto unknown 19-year-old MI batsman called Tilak Varma, playing just his second IPL game, take the tournament by storm with a free-spirited 33ball 61, which included three fours and five towering sixes. Along with Lucknow's Ayush Badoni, Varma, who has played for India U-19s, is the second Indian young turk to light up the league.

As long as Varma and 'pocket rocket' Ishan Kishan, who scored his second consecutive half-century (54; 43b, 5x4, 1x6) were at the crease during their 81run partnership for the third wicket in just 54 balls, MI looked on course to chase down 194. However, once Kishan was caught by a tumbling Navdeep Saini at deep square leg off Trent Boult, the wheels came off the chase as they lost four wickets for 15 runs in 14 balls.