Buttler’s unbeaten 106, his fourth century of the season, propelled RR to a comprehensive seven-wicket win over RCB in Qualifier-2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday.
“This is his (Obeid McCoy) first IPL, he is very calm and restrained and backs up his strength and we count on him to do really well. Very grateful to have someone like Jose, and The way he is batting, touch-wood, we have one more game to go,” Samson said in the post-match presentation.
We have waited 14 years to say this…See you in the #IPLFinal. https://t.co/g0drY5Kuas
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) 1653674971000
Butler has scored a total of 824 runs in IPL 2022 at an average of 58.86 and a strike rate of 151.47. He also scored four centuries and four half-centuries to his name.
RR’s strong bowling line-up, backed by Obed McCoy and the famous Krishna, restricted RCB to 157/8 in the first innings. Samson said that he felt that wickets played a completely different role in both the innings.
“The wicket was a bit sticky and helping the fast bowlers a bit, it had really good bounce and it was easy for the spinners to play. We closed the innings really well, having DK and maxi at the end we know It was what they could do but having had faith and patience in our skills is what got us,” Samson said.
Your runs never end, but we have running out words. #Royal Family | #Hallabol | #RRvRCB https://t.co/2Xe3JUTwMr
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) 1653673874000
“It (by winning the toss) made it easier to win the game, the toss plays a big role and I think the wicket played completely different in the first and second innings,” he said.
In 2008, RR won the IPL title in the inaugural season under the leadership of late spinner Shane Warne. Now after 14 years, the Rajasthan team has made it to the summit of the IPL.
“I was very young and it was the first IPL season and I remember playing an under-16 game somewhere in Kerala and I remember watching the last game with my friends and remember the last run where Shane Warne and Sohail Tanvir scored And they were running, it was a very vague memory that I have,” Samson said.
Coming into the match, a cameo from Sanju Samson followed by brilliant innings from Butler and Yashasvi Jaiswal helped RR chase down the target of 158 runs in just 18.1 overs. Earlier, famous Krishna and Obed McCoy took three wickets each to restrict RCB to 157/8.
Rajasthan Royals will take on their debutant Gujarat Titans in the final on Sunday.