'Felt like I played a rugby match... I don't think I'm going to sleep tonight': Australia bowling all-rounder after 34-ball century in T20 Blast

Australia fast-bowling all-rounder Sean Abbott created history when he came out to bat for Surrey in their second match of T20 Blast 2023. Abbott scored the joint fourth-fastest century in men's T20 cricket from just 34 balls and equalled late Andrew Symonds' 19-year-old league record. After being adjudged the 'Player of the match' for an unbeaten 110-run knock, Abbott said that he felt like he just "played a rugby match!"
 

“Felt like I played a rugby match! Few bruises and nearly took a blow to the head in the field. I don't think that's going to sink in for a while. That was never on my radar, I really enjoyed it. We knew it was a pretty good pitch so we had to get a big total. I don't think I'm going to sleep tonight,” Abbott said in the post-match presentation. 
 

Abbott walked out to bat in the ninth over after skipper Sam Curran lost his wicket to Grant Stewart. He started off slow and then went on a six-hitting spree. The 31-year-old got to his half-century from just 23 balls in the 16th over. In the 17th over, he decimated Kane Richardson with 30-run over including three fours and three sixes. He got to his century with two consecutive sixes in the penultimate over. He remained unbeaten for 110 from 41 balls. His unbeaten 127-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Jordan Clark helped Surrey post 223/5.

Abbott was delighted to share Symonds record and lauded Richardson despite smashing him all around the park as he said, “To share the record with Roy (Andrew Symonds) is unreal, he's my idol. Richardson is a world class bowler, fortunately I was able to get him away today but he came back to bowl a very good final over.”
 

What is more fascinating about Abbott's knock is that he had never hit a half-century in his entire T20 career. He had contributed with few cameos here and there but against Kent bowlers he looked like a man possessed. He had a T20 average of 10.91 before the game. Even in List A cricket (One-Day), he had hit only one half-century before.
 

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