Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], Apr 21 : Mumbai Indians batsman Jos Buttler, who shared a crucial 81-run opening stand in just 5.1 overs with Parthiv Patel(37 of 18 balls) in Thursday's IPL encounter against Kings XI Punjab, said they both complement each other as they both play their natural games.
Buttler scored his first IPL fifty to help his side chase down a mammoth total of 199 against the Glenn Maxwell-led side at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.
Buttler reached his half-century from 24 deliveries and smashed 77 from 37 balls - including five sixes and seven fours - to set up an eight-wicket win.
Speaking about his partnership with Parthiv, he told iplt20.com, "We both played our natural games. We complement each other well. He is a short left-hander. He looks to sit back and play square of the wicket and complements me with a different style at the other end." "It is great fun to bat with a very calm guy.
It is great that we managed to put a big partnership," he added. Mumbai raced to 123 for 1 in 10 overs as Buttler brought up his fifty. He eventually fell for 77 which is also his highest T20 score. Elaborating on the methods he used in the run-chase, Buttler said, "It was very close actually to my natural way of batting.
It is nice actually when the opposition scores big; (then) you know you have only one way to take the game on.
Today from the outset I was really looking to play my shots and kick on so that's a very natural way of batting - see ball, hit ball." Young sensation Nitish Rana (37 of 18 balls) also shared an 85-run stand with Buttler to help his side cross the line.
Earlier, an unbeaten 106 by South Africa's Hashim Amla helped Kings XI post 198-4. Amla cleared the ropes six times in making his maiden T20 century, and was well supported by Maxwell's 18-ball 40 as they looked to have put Kings XI in a commanding position.
Mumbai are now on the top of the table. They will now host Delhi Daredevils and Rising Pune Supergiant on April 22 and 24 respectively..
Source: ANI
