South African batsman Rilee Rossouw has set an amazing benchmark in the ongoing T10 Cricket League at Sharjah on December 16. In the last game of the playoffs between Maratha Arabians and Punjabi Legends, Rossouw smashed a half-century in just 18 balls, which is the fastest fifty in this tournament so far. Rossouw’s destructive batting helped the Arabians post a massive score of 130 runs on the board after 10 overs.
Rossouw came to bat at number three after Alex Hales got run-out dramatically on the second delivery. Unfortunately, the Arabians lost Kamran Akmal in the 4th ball of the over. But when Rossouw came to bat, he was literally unstoppable. Even though the Protea missed the first ball, he charged ahead right from the next delivery.
Here’s the video:
In the first ball of the 7th over, Rossouw slogged a huge six over mid-wicket to reach his fifty of just 18 balls.
By the end of the first innings, the Arabians lost 6 wickets and the score was 130. Rossow was dismissed in the 9th over by English bowler Chris Jordan. Dwayne Bravo (4) and Imad Wasim (0) remained unbeaten.
Here are some lethal shots hit by the South African batsman:
GOING GOING GOING and GONE! Rilee Rossouw is taking bowlers on! #T10League pic.twitter.com/b0F1M18QHG
— ARY Sports (@ARYSports_Web) December 16, 2017
OUT OF THE PARK! Rilee Rossouw #T10League
Live: https://t.co/DoGmam9gwi pic.twitter.com/sCjPVAgOX4
— ARY Sports (@ARYSports_Web) December 16, 2017
Play resumes with a MIGHTY HIT by Rilee Rossouw #T10League
Live https://t.co/DoGmam9gwi pic.twitter.com/H1xa3f1sno
— ARY Sports (@ARYSports_Web) December 16, 2017
This how he was dismissed:
A great inning of @Rileerr comes to an end 67(27) #T10League pic.twitter.com/zxCEc5SmAn
— ARY Sports (@ARYSports_Web) December 16, 2017
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While chasing the target of 131 runs, Luke Ronchi and Umar Akmal came into the field and provided a perfect start. Ronchi went on to score 56 runs off 31 balls before he was run out by wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal. Towards the end, Shoaib Malik and Carlos Brathwaite showcased some hard hittings. Though the Legends lost the game by 14 runs, they successfully entered the semi-finals. Brathwaite’s last ball six did all the magic for the legends and took them a step closer to the finals.
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The semi-finals and the final match will be played on December 17. The first semi-final will be played between Eoin Morgan’s Kerala Kings vs Virender Sehwag-led Maratha Arabians. The next semi-final will be played between Shahid Afridi’s Pakhtoons and Shoaib Malik-led Punjabi Legends.
After these two games, the final will be played at 23:00 PM IST.
