Rossouw: It's been a good rollercoaster ride

Rossouw: It's been a good rollercoaster ride

Proteas star batsman Rilee Rossouw has explained his passionate celebration as he notched up a record century in Thursday's victory over Bangladesh at the T20 World Cup.

Rossouw put out an impressive display with the bat as he became the first South African to score a T20 World Cup ton, and the first player overall to reach the mark at this year's edition in Australia.

His 109 runs off 56 balls ultimately propelled the Proteas to a 104-run victory at the Sydney Cricket Ground, and the 33-year-old's reaction upon crossing the century mark showed just how much it meant to him.

"I'm a very passionate man. And getting across the line, it meant a lot to me. It means a lot to my family back home. It's just been a good rollercoaster ride. Just to play with South Africa again, it's been amazing," Rossouw told the media after the match.

The well-travelled left-hander previously honed his skills in the Bangladesh Premier League, which he says has aided his game and certainly contributed to his confidence to go on and score big against The Tigers.

"I think that definitely does help. I was there for, what, three years, if I remember correctly, and two of them I was the leading run-scorer. I played against a lot of the boys back home and with a lot of them," he added.

"So I wasn't too unfamiliar with what was to be expected out there. I would say, yes, that definitely helped me in today's match."

Following a six-year exile, Rossouw has returned in blistering form and says the lengthy lay0ff from international cricket has made his success that much more special - hoping it will not be short-lived.

"I think it does. When you give up your right to play for your country and you expect, okay, that is going to be my last chance. So any moment you've got to cherish that you play for your country. And it's like I've mentioned before, super proud for not just for me but for my family back home.

"So it's been a great journey. It's been a long journey. But it's not finished yet, hopefully. So we're taking it one game at a time and hopefully get another opportunity to do well," he concluded.

By Chad Klate