The former World No.1 T20I batter Dawid Malan has sent a message to T20 franchises around the world with a quickfire 88 in the ongoing The Hundred. Malan who was not picked by any of the 10 franchises in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auctions, played a sensational knock for Trent Rockets against Faf du Plessis-led Northern Superchargers.
Chasing a target of 153, openers Malan and Alex Hales dominated the Superchargers bowlers. On the seventh delivery of the match, Adam Hose dropped his catch at covers. Malan made Superchargers pay for the early mistake. He shared an 86-run opening partnership with Hales. Wicketkeeper-batter Tom Kohler-Cadmore's wicket did not have an effect on his scoring rate either.
Malan got to his half-century off the 68th delivery of the match. The southpaw accelerated in the slog overs and did not let the game go too deep. He guided Rockets to the victory with a reverse sweep off Ben Raine. Rockets won the game by seven wickets with six balls to spare. Malan’s match-winning includes 11 fours and three sixes.
Malan was not impressive in the three-T20I series against South Africa at home. He registered two single-digit scores in the series. He did well in the first of three T20Is with a 43-run knock off just 23 deliveries. Earlier, against India, Malan top-scored with a 77-run knock in the third T20I. It was the only T20I which the hosts won despite Suryakumar Yadav’s maiden T20I century.
Before going unsold in IPL 2022 mega auctions, the 34-year-old was picked for his base price of Rs 1.5 crore by Punjab Kings (PBKS). Despite being then-no.1 T20I batter on the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings, he did not get enough game time.
Malan only played one IPL game in 2021, in which he scored 26 runs. In the presence of openers like Chris Gayle, then-spinner KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal, Malan had to warm the benches.
Overall, Malan has scored 7,277 runs from 264 innings at an average of 32.24 including five centuries and 44 half-centuries.
