Rilee Rossouw makes no secret of his determination to finish the Vitality Blast as the leading run-scorer in the competition as that target adds an intriguing sub plot to Somerset’s semi-final clash with Hampshire at Edgbaston on Saturday.
The second game of Finals Day sees Rossouw come up against the only player who has outscored him in the Blast so far, Hawks captain James Vince. The 31-year-old England Test batsman and one-day international has 653 runs to his name, at an average of 54.41, compared to Rossouw’s 600 at exactly 50.
It is a deficit Somerset’s 32-year-old South African intends to close, first by helping his side beat Hampshire and then winning the final against either Lancashire or Yorkshire.
Rossouw told me: “I would love to overtake Vince. I want to be the leading run-scorer in the Blast this season and the opportunity will be there.
“I take great pride in what I do and it’s my target to be player of the tournament. If it is my day, it will happen and, if it isn’t I won’t mind too much - providing we lift the trophy. That is the most important thing. Above all, I want to make runs at Edgbaston to help the team lift the trophy.”
One accolade Rilee is already assured of claiming is that of hitting the most sixes in the Blast. He has cleared the ropes 40 times in 15 innings for Somerset, 11 more than his nearest rival, Aussie Chris Lynn for Northamptonshire.
Rossouw also has the highest strike-rate of players featuring regularly in the Blast at 197.36, having bludgeoned 49 fours.
In this column on May 26, I predicted that the addition of the powerful left-hander could give Somerset the most explosive batting line up in the competition. But I never envisaged a score of 265 for five, achieved in last Saturday’s quarter-final against Derbyshire and the highest ever total in English domestic T20 cricket.
Rossouw contributed 93, from just 36 balls. When I asked if he could have imagined how well he would perform when joining Somerset, he smiled and replied modestly: “Could you have imagined it?”
Rilee added: “My time with the club has been fantastic, with everyone welcoming me with open arms. I have loved playing at Taunton. The crowd is our twelfth man and the atmosphere is amazing.
“Having played around the world, it is up there with the best I have ever experienced. But the job is not done yet. Knock-out cricket is unpredictable and Hampshire have been on a great run recently to we will need to be at our best on Finals Day.”
Wife Marike, daughter Robyn (7) and son Roscoe (3) have been on hand to support Rossouw this summer, also forming a tie with the county, and there is some good news for Somerset fans whatever the outcome on Saturday. “I would love to come back next season,” he said.
