RICKELTON "SUPER STOKED" TO FINALLY GET MAIDEN T20 TON

Like a river that never runs dry, Ryan Rickelton simply cannot stop scoring runs.

The Betway SA20 Season 2 leading run-scorer catapulted his game to the next level last night with a maiden T20 century for the Seattle Orcas in the Major League Cricket.

Rickelton had fallen short of the milestone on a few occasions during SA20 Season 2. He was dismissed for 98 against the Joburg Super Kings at the Wanderers, scored 94 not out against Paarl Royals at Newlands, and also struck 90 against the Pretoria Capitals at Centurion.

But he was not going to be denied at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas with the left-hander blitzing 103 not out to steer the Orcas to a nine-wicket victory over the Los Angeles Knight Riders.

Rickelton had familiar company in Proteas teammate and Durban's Super Giants opener Quinton de Kock for the majority of his innings as the South African pair shared a mammoth 152-run partnership.

After the near misses during SA20, Rickelton admitted he did suffer a bout of “The Nervous 90s”.

“I was panicking in the 90s and Quinny wasn’t helping me!” Rickelton joked.

“It was a shocking run (getting to a 100). I just had to run. I told Quinny we had to run no matter what. Luckily Sunny missed the stumps. Super stoked to get the ton.”

De Kock was content to play the anchor role to his likely successor at international level as he compiled a patient 51 not out.

Rickelton required 31 balls for his first half-century before utilising almost the exact same number of deliveries for the next 50 runs as he brought his century off 63 balls (9x4, 5x6).

He was particularly severe on Bangladesh star all-rounder Shakib Al Hassan, smashing the left-arm spinner for two consecutive sixes in the 11th over. He also took 15 runs off seamer Corne Dry’s over.

“I haven't played a lot of cricket for the last six to eight weeks, obviously with the World Cup around, so I was just looking forward to getting out on the park and middling a few and glad things went my way,” Rickelton said.

“It's always nice to play with Quinny. He's a phenomenal player, it was awesome for me to express.”

Earlier, it was the Paarl Royals duo of Jason Roy and David Miller that set up the LA Knight Riders’ 168/5.

Roy smashed 69 off 52 balls (5x4, 4x6) upfront before Miller finished off the innings with a flourish as he bludgeoned 44 not out off 22 balls (5x4, 2x6).

“From where we were I thought it was a really competitive score, but obviously not enough,” Miller said.