In Pics, IPL 2022 Match 30: Buttler ton, Chahal hat-trick give Royals edge over KKR

Jos Buttler's 103 and a hat-trick by Yuzvendra Chahal helped Rajasthan Royals edge out Kolkata Knight Riders by seven runs in a nail-biting IPL contest on Monday. (BCCI/IPL Photo)

Buttler smashed his second IPL century this season to power Royals to 217 for five -- the highest total of this edition. (BCCI/IPL Photo)

Umesh Yadav nearly got Kolkata through with his nine-ball 21 but Obed McCoy held his nerve on his IPL debut to defend 11 in the final over and bowl out the opposition for 210 in 19.4 overs. (BCCI/IPL Photo)

Skipper Shreyas Iyer drove the chase with his valiant 51-ball 85 but Chahal, who returned IPL best figures of 5-40, took him down at the start of the hat-trick that ended with a four-wicket over. (BCCI/IPL Photo)

The heat was on Kolkata after they invited Royals to bat and Buttler quickly changed gears after a cautious start in the first two overs. (BCCI/IPL Photo)

Buttler put on a 97-run opening stand with Devdutt Padikkal, who hit a brisk 24, and then got going with Samson, who smashed 38 off 19 balls. (BCCI/IPL Photo)

Buttler took on the bowling and hit Pat Cummins for a four to bring up his fifty and smacked the Australian pace bowler for six to reach his 100 in 59 deliveries. (BCCI/IPL Photo)

Buttler fell to Cummins three balls later and walked back to standing ovation, his innings laced with nine fours and five sixes. (BCCI/IPL Photo)

Kolkata bowlers attempted to check the scoring but Shimron Hetmyer (26*) finished with a flourish with two sixes and a four off the 20th over from Andre Russell. (BCCI/IPL Photo)

In reply, Kolkata lost Sunil Narine run out for nought off the first ball but Aaron Finch, who made 58, put on 107 runs with Shreyas who kept up the fight after his partners' departure. (BCCI/IPL Photo)

Shreyas fell lbw to Chahal and Kolkata fell short despite Umesh's cameo in a tense finish. (BCCI/IPL Photo)