SMILING RILEE SMASHES FASTEST TON IN LPL HISTORY

"See ball, hit the ball!”

That’s Rilee Rossouw’s simple formula for success and which helped the Pretoria Capitals star blast the fastest century in Lanka Premier League history off just 44 balls yesterday.

Playing for the Jaffna Kings, the left-hander finished unbeaten on 108 from 50 deliveries (12x4, 6x6) that set up his team's seven-wicket victory over the Colombo Strikers.

Rossouw strode to the crease in his favoured No 3 position after the dismissal of his former Pretoria Capitals teammate Kusal Mendis in the third over and immediately went on the rampage.

Rossouw took umbrage against anything pitched remotely short by the Strikers bowlers as he pulled with great power with 39 runs flowing off his bat through the mid-wicket region.

Bangladesh seamer Taskin Ahmed was the serial offender for the Strikers with Rossouw punishing him for three sixes over the leg-side as he took 30 runs off just 10 Taksin deliveries.

Rossouw combined excellently with Avishka Fernando (58 off 35 balls, 7x4, 2x6) as the pair compiled 120-run partnership for the third wicket.

And after Fernando departed, Rossouw finished off the job with another unbroken 40-run stand with his captain Charith Asalanka to ensure the Kings strode over the line.

Having missed out on Proteas’ selection for the recent ICC Men's T20 World Cup squad in the USA and West Indies, the 35-year-old Rossouw is simply wanting to make the most of what's still left of his cricket career.

“I’m just trying to enjoy myself out there. Trying to keep it simple. ‘See ball, hit the ball.'

“Kandy was a bit slow and not that easy to bat on. So, you give yourself a bit of time, see if it's a flat wicket, and then go hard. This has been beautiful to bat on. The wicket came on really nicely," he said.