Rilee Rossouw joins elite Proteas list with 50th T20 half-century
Veteran South African batter Rilee Rossouw has smoked his 50th half-century in T20 cricket. The dashing southpaw accomplished the milestone with a brilliant knock for Punjab Kings against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Match 58 of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Notably, Rossouw became the fourth South African batter to accomplish 50 half-centuries in the 20-over format. Here we look at his stats.
Rossouw joins this elite list
Playing his 338th game in the format, Rossouw has completed 50 half-centuries as he also owns six tons in T20 cricket. Only AB de Villiers (69), Faf du Plessis (68), and Quinton de Kock (61) boast more fifties in T20 cricket among Proteas batters. Meanwhile, this was Rossouw's maiden fifty of the ongoing IPL season.
8,377 runs in T20 cricket
Rossouw hit a 27-ball 61 versus RCB in Dharamsala. He smashed nine fours and three sixes (SR: 225.93). As per ESPNcricinfo, Rossouw has raced to 8,377 runs at 29.70 (SR: 143-plus). David Miller (10,260), du Plessis (10,039), de Kock (9,587), de Villiers (9,424) and Colin Ingram (8,255) are the only South African internationals with 8,000-plus runs in the format.
Here are his T20I numbers
Speaking of his T20I numbers, Rossouw has so far slammed 767 runs in 29 matches at an average and strike rate of 34.86 and 159.79, respectively. Alongside a couple of hundreds, the 34-year-old has smashed three fifties in the format for South Africa. In 2022, he became the first full-member team batter to hammer successive centuries in T20I cricket.
Rossouw shines for PBKS versus RCB
Chasing 242, Rossouw came in early after Prabhsimran Singh's dismissal. He was at his best and helped PBKS keep up with the scoring rate. He shared a 66-run stand alongside Jonny Bairstow as PBKS were 72/2 after the powerplay. Rossouw got to his fifty with a six (21 balls). Karn Sharma dismissed him in the 9th over after Rossouw went aerial.
Rossouw's IPL stats
Rossouw hit his second fifty in IPL. The first one also came at the same venue last year - 82* for DC vs PBKS. In 20 IPL matches, Rossouw has 402 runs at 22.33. His strike rate is 148.33. He owns 21 sixes (4s: 37).
