Malan the Rocket man back on song

DAWID MALAN smashed a devastating 98 at Old Trafford as Trent Rockets pulled off a record run chase in the Hundred against Jos Buttler’s Manchester Originals.

Malan followed his 88 off 49 against Northern Superchargers with a magnificent knock including nine sixes, as his side eased to a target of 190 with six balls left.

Slow starts have long been a factor in the conversation about England’s white-ball number three with an emphasis on Malan scoring at less than a run a ball at the start of his innings.

Despite being the number one ranked T20 batter in the world between September 2020 and

November 2021, talk about Malan’s intent from the outset had posed questions about the 34-year-old.

Yesterday he managed 27 off 12 in the powerplay before bringing up his half century in 23 balls by hammering Andre Russell over deep midwicket. Malan insisted afterwards that opening is where he enjoys batting the most — and with Jason Roy enduring a horror summer Buttler could see promoting Malan as a solution before the T20 World Cup in October.

‘That’s where I’ve played my whole career,’ said Malan. ‘The only spot available at England was three. Since I batted three for England everyone thinks I bat three, four or five no matter how many times I tell them I’m an opening batter. I got picked for England by opening and scoring runs for Middlesex.’ Earlier, Lewis Gregory chose to bowl after winning the toss. the Rockets were without Joe Root but it was two other England men who came out firing. Buttler and Phil Salt raced to 84 off the first 50 deliveries.

Cameos from Tristan Stubbs (27 off 10) and Laurie Evans (26 off 11) propelled the Originals to 189 for three. Salt batted throughout for a well composed 70 off 46.