‘Keep everything simple’—Rossouw’s mantra
Photo - BCB
|| CF Correspondent ||
South African batsman Rilee Rossouw said on Saturday that he is just keeping everything simple as he believe it the key to his success in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League.
Rossouw, the stylish top-order batsman with an elegant and authoritative drive, proved to be the backbone of Riders batting line-up despite the presence of some big names in the squad with the likes of Chris Gayle and Alex Hales along with recently included former SA skipper AB de Villiers.
Though Hales and Gayle are yet to blaze and AB de Villiers did not make it a one-man show on his BPL debut for Riders, Rossouw looked determined not to waste an opportunity of proving his worth during the crucial encounter against Sylhet Sixers as his superb half-century helped them earn a four-wicket win against the host that also helped them end their Sylhet phase on the perfect note.
There is a saying in cricket that fortune favours the brave and Rossouw looked to be the perfect example of the universal phrase as Sixers dropped an inform Rossouw thrice and he ended up that helped him to hit 35 ball-61 which gave an early impetus of gunning down Sylhet’s mammoth 194 for four.
‘’Probably just certain things clicking for me at the moment,’’ Rossouw told reporters after the match.
‘’I had lady luck on my side at the start of the innings,’’ he said. I could have been out seven times in the first five overs,’’ he said.
‘’It is just about riding the wave and enjoying the time when you’re in good form. Keep it simple and basic, know your scoring areas and keep rotating the strike,’’ he added.
Rossouw added that they were inspired by AB de Villiers as his presence not only boosted their confidence but at the same time having a South African in the dressing room made him comfortable.
AB scored 34 runs while added 67 runs for the third wicket with Rossouw that laid the platform for Riders to chase down the mammoth total.
“It is fantastic to have a guy like AB in your team. He is a world-class player. He is probably on a level of his own in T20 cricket. It is fantastic to have him in the change-room,’’ said Rossouw.
‘’He is also South African, so someone I can talk in Afrikaans with. So it is good to have him there,’’ he said.
‘’We’d have liked to be there at the end but unfortunately certain things happen in cricket,’’ he said adding that he is happy that others helped the side to cross the last hurdle.
‘’Fantastic finish from the rest of the boys,’’ he said.
Rossouw also applauded Taskin Ahmed for his brilliant effort adding that they are having some kind of a psychological battle between themselves considering the right arm pace bowlers had the leading runs scored twice in the tournament.
“If he bowled to me a third time he probably might get me out again. I think Taskin bowled decently tonight. He took four wickets. I also think the last wicket he took also could have gone out of the park. He bowled four overs for 42,’’ said Rossouw.
