T10 League: Rilee Rossouw's Whirlwind Knock Gives Virender Sehwag-Led Maratha Arabians Their First Win

For the second game in a row, the fans did not witness any firework from Virender Sehwag but the former India opener’s side, Maratha Arabians nonetheless registered their first win in the T10 League in a thrilling game against Team Sri Lanka on Friday (December 15).

Sehwag, who got dismissed on a duck in his side’s first game, could not come out to bat in the second match but would be more than happy with the outcome of the game. South African-born Rilee Rossouw starred with the bat for the Arabians, playing an unbeaten knock of 49 off just 18 balls, as the Arabians chased down 126 in ten overs.

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After being invited to bat first, Team Sri Lanka got off to a poor start when Dilshan Munaweera (4) departed cheaply.

However, the innings soon got the impetus when Bhanuka Rajapaksa hit a flurry of boundaries to race away to 19 off just eight before getting dismissed by Hardus Viljoen. Captain Dinesh Chandimal and Shehan Jayasuriya then set the platform for a big total by adding 48 runs off just 18 balls. The dangerous partnership was broken when Dwayne Bravo castled Jayasuriya for 28. Chandimal remained unbeaten on 37 while Ramith Rambukwella also played a quickfire knock of 22, as Team Sri Lanka posted a mammoth 125 for four in the allotted ten overs.

In reply, the Arabians also began their chase on a poor note, as Kamran Akmal returned to the pavilion for just four. However, Alex Hales, who had scored a blazing fifty in the last game, and Rilee Rossouw revived the chase with a 51-run stand before the England opener was dismissed. Rossouw and Roelof van der Merwe further strengthened Arabians’ grip on the game by adding 38 runs for the third wicket before Team Sri Lanka clawed its way back into the game by picking up some quick wickets.

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The equation was finally down to 16 off the last over, and Imad Wasim began the over by hitting a six. The next three balls yielded a two, a dot and single, bringing Rossouw on the strike who needed to score seven off the final two deliveries. And the left-handed batsman finished the game in style by slamming two consecutive sixes, thus taking his sixes tally in the game to six.

Here is how Twitter reacted to the match:

What a win for Maratha Arabians! Quetta Gladiators boy Rilee Rossouw to the rescue! #T10

— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) December 15, 2017

Fabulous striking frm Rilee Rossouw of Maratha Arabians! #smokeditbig! Magical entertainment for a packed house here in Sharjah… #T10League

— Danny Morrison (@SteelyDan66) December 15, 2017

Rilee Rossouw wins it for Maratha with 7 needed off 2
Hits 6⃣ 6⃣ and finished the game

— Abhijeet ♞ (@TheYorkerBall) December 15, 2017

Oh Boy!!!That was monestrous hitting from @Rileerr…Really played an Outstanding knock and helped his team to chase the mammoth total…A game of sixes and boundaries #MAvsPKT #T10CricketLeague

— Cardano Lover (@VelichetiRam) December 15, 2017