Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers reckons that Delhi Capitals batter Rilee Rossouw hit a much longer six off Punjab Kings vice-captain Sam Curran (2/36) than what was shown on television screens in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2023 Match 65 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium.
Advertisement
Rossouw, who hit 18* (9) including two fours and a six against the left-arm pacer, batted at a strike rate of 200 against the opposition’s best bowler. The six in discussion had come on the second delivery of the 15th over when Rossouw had thumped a Curran delivery over the deep square leg boundary.
A ball which was angling down the leg-side was further hit in the same direction by the left-handed batter. Having timed the shot to perfection, Rossouw ended up hitting the ball outside what is generally a smaller-sized ground.
AB de Villiers Deems Rilee Rossouw Six off Sam Curran to be Much Longer Than 96-Metre
de Villiers took to social media platform Twitter to deem the shot much bigger than just 96 metre as was shown on television screens by host broadcaster Star Sports Network. Although jokingly, de Villiers added another 100 metre of distance to the shot.
Invited to bat first by PBKS captain Shikhar Dhawan, DC posted a challenging 213/2 in 20 overs on the back of individual half-centuries from batters Prithvi Shaw (54) and Rossouw (82*). Pick of the batters from the visiting team, Rossouw hit six fours and as many sixes at a strike rate of 221.62 on Wednesday.
Not letting go of an outright run-scoring opportunity, an unforgiving Rossouw hit a couple of sixes and a four in the last over of the innings surprisingly bowled by Kings spinner Harpreet Brar (0/39).
Curran, meanwhile, was the only bowler of the home team to have picked a wicket in this match. Having dismissed both the opening batters, Curran had joined hands with Dhawan to bring an end to a threatening 62-ball 94-run opening stand.
