Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan impressed on his T20 Blast debut for Sussex Sharks with an unbeaten 81 off 60 deliveries. With his half-century in losing cause, Rizwan broke Umar Akmal's record for highest score by a Pakistan batter on T20 blast debut.
Akmal scored 76 not out in the 2015 edition of the tournament for Leicestershire against Nottinghamshire. However, Akmal’s half-century did not go in vain as he helped Leicestershire chase down the total with seven balls left in the innings.
Rizwan anchored Sussex's innings while wickets fell at regular intervals on the other end. None of the other batters could cross the 20-run mark. After Rizwan's unbeaten 81, the highest score by a batter was 13 by Luke Wright and Harrison Ward.
The 29-year-old reached his half-century in the 14th over of the innings after Glamorgan skipper David Lloyd won the toss and opted to field first at County Ground, Hove. His knock was studded with six fours and three sixes. In the first innings, Sussex managed to post 150/6.
In reply, In reply, Sam Northeast played the anchor role like Rizwan. He remained unbeaten for 63 off 52 deliveries. Marnus Labuschagne did well at the no.3 spot with a 41-run knock off 30 deliveries. Kiran Carlson played a cameo to boost the run rate. Northeast stayed till the end and helped Glamorgan chase down the total with seven balls to spare.
"It was a great performance by Rizwan. That's what you want from your overseas players, to come in & score runs like that & it's a shame we couldn't really support him & post a total that would have proved more challenging for Glamorgan," Sussex Head Coach James Kirtley said after Rizwan’s outstanding performance.
Rizwan recently regained his form after a few disappointing scores for Sussex in the First-Class format. He managed to score 136 runs in five innings while the Sussex's other overseas recruit Cheteshwar Pujara went on a century-hitting spree.
