‘He kept me calm at the other end’ – Peter Handscomb opens up on batting with Ajinkya Rahane

Peter Handscomb and Ajinkya Rahane(Twitter)

During the Metro Bank One-Day Cup encounter, Leicestershire Foxes emerged victorious against Sussex, thanks in large to a brilliant partnership between Peter Handscomb and Ajinkya Rahane. The Australian batter Handscomb has opened up on the pivotal role the Indian batter played in their match-winning stand.

Leicestershire, after a strong start, found themselves in a tricky position having lost quick wickets. It was at this point that Handscomb and Rahane came together, steadying the ship and ultimately helping their team to a formidable total of 363/7 in their allotted 50 overs.

The Aussie scored an impactful 119 off just 80 deliveries and credited Rahane for his composure during their 146-run partnership.

“Ajinkya kept me calm at the other end. We knew we were able to launch at the back end and we scored over 100 runs together. It was beautiful to bat with him,” Handscomb told BBC Radio.

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Ajinkya Rahane shines with a powerful 68-run knock

The veteran Indian batter has a wealth of experience with him and provided the support that allowed Handscomb to play his natural, aggressive game.

The partnership was not just about Rahane’s calming presence, however. The 36-year-old contributed a valuable half-century of his own, perfectly complementing Handscomb’s explosive innings. Both the batters rotated the strike well and accelerated whenever required.

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While Sussex put up a strong fight in response, with Tom Haines scoring a magnificent hundred, Leicestershire’s total proved too much to overcome as they registered a 10-run victory.

Despite a minor setback against Warwickshire, the Maharashtra-born has consistently contributed, including an excellent fifty against Nottinghamshire and a crucial 37 against Essex. His latest knock of 68 against Sussex shows his value to the Leicestershire team.