Ryan Rickelton, who spent the entire T20 World Cup on the bench, made an immediate impact in his first ICC Champions Trophy match with a brilliant century.
Despite being part of South Africa’s squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup, Rickelton didn’t get a chance to play. But when he finally stepped onto the big stage in an ICC tournament, he made it count. With a superb century in the Champions Trophy, the Proteas opener etched his name alongside some of his country’s greats.
Facing Afghanistan in Karachi on Friday, Rickelton scored 103 runs off 106 balls, smashing seven fours and a six.
This was the first ODI century for the 28-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman, achieved in just his seventh match. He became only the fifth South African to score a century in the Champions Trophy, joining the ranks of Herschelle Gibbs, Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, and Hashim Amla.
Before Rickelton, only one other South African had scored a century on debut in an ICC tournament. In the 1996 World Cup, Gary Kirsten hammered an unbeaten 188 against the UAE in Rawalpindi, a record that still stands as South Africa’s highest individual ODI score.
Rickelton’s remarkable form continued as this was his second consecutive century in international cricket. Just last month, he smashed a stunning 259 against Pakistan in a Test match in Centurion.
His century, along with fifties from Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, and Aiden Markram, helped South Africa post a strong total of 315/6 in 50 overs.
After Tony de Zorzi’s early departure in the sixth over, Rickelton built a crucial 129-run partnership with Bavuma for the second wicket. He reached his half-century in 48 balls and brought up his century in 101 balls, only to be run out in the very next over.
Coming in at No. 5, Markram smashed a fifty off just 33 balls, making it the fastest half-century for South Africa in Champions Trophy history. The previous record belonged to Graeme Smith, who had reached his fifty in 40 balls against Sri Lanka in Centurion back in 2009.
