IPL 2020: Our Top Order Has Failed To Perform – RR Opener Jos Buttler
Oct 7, 2020 at 4:30 PM
Rajasthan Royals’ opening batsman Jos Buttler has opined that their top order has failed to deliver for the team in the last three matches and that has cost them much in this season. Buttler scored an emphatic 70 runs in Rajasthan Royals’ failed chase of 194 runs, set by Mumbai Indians at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
Mumbai had won the toss and chosen to bat first. An unbeaten knock of 79 runs from Suryakumar Yadav powered Mumbai to a massive target of 194 for the Royals. MI’s bowling attack was too much to handle for the Rajasthan batsmen except Jos Buttler.
Jasprit Bumrah ended the match with an impressive four-wicket haul, giving away only 20 runs in his four overs. RR were all out for 136 in the start of 19th over and MI won by 57 runs.
Jos Buttler admits Rajasthan Royals’ top order has failed to deliver
The 31-year-old England batsman has admitted that the RR top-order in the last three games have not managed to deliver and which has cost the team important points. Jos Buttler maintained that the powerplay is to be taken advantage of but they have failed to do so.
“We have not managed to come off as a top-order in the last three games. We have lost three wickets in the power-play a few times and in T20 cricket you never win too many games from that position,” Jos Buttler said in the post match conference.
“Of course, the power-play is a time you have to take advantage due to the field restrictions, but as players, we have not performed but that can happen in T20 cricket. We lost wickets. Mumbai bowled really well and we never got into our innings.
“As a batsman, you are always vulnerable early on in your innings and as a top-order, we didn’t manage to counteract the opening bowling well enough to get through that period,” he added.
Jos Buttler aims to take confidence from his knock against Mumbai for the rest of the tournament
Buttler lauded Suryakumar Yadav for his match-winning innings against RR. He stated he was not feeling his best in the middle, but spending time was good for him to find his flow at the end of the innings.
The T20 specialist batsman said he aims to take confidence from his knock against Mumbai for the rest of the tournament.
“He (Suryakumar) played a fantastic innings. We could not quite tie (him) down. He used the angles and his crease really well and he is a fantastic player. We could not execute our plans to him but full credit to him. He played a very good innings.”
“I have not been feeling my best in the middle. It was good for me to spend time in the middle, find a bit of fluency further on in the innings. I struggled initially, but hopefully, I can take some confidence from today and use that for the rest of the tournament,” Jos Buttler said.
Rajasthan is placed at the second last spot on the points table with two wins and three losses. They are set to face table-toppers Delhi Capitals on October 9 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.