Watch: Mohammad Rizwan became the highest-scoring Pakistani debutant in T20 Blast history, racking up an unbeaten 81 in Sussex Sharks’ opening loss to Glamorgan on Thursday night.

Wisden’s T20 Cricketer of the Year for 2021 continued his fine form in white-ball cricket, topping Umar Akmal’s previous high of 76 not out for a Pakistan player on debut in the Blast.

Rizwan took just a handful of balls to get his eye in, reaching 28 from 18 balls during the powerplay as Glamorgan won the toss and elected to field first. He took a special liking to the bowling of Michael Neser, pumping the Aussie over the leg side for two sixes in the game’s opening overs.

Sussex Sharks, however, failed to find a partner for the Pakistan international; Luke Wright and Harrison Ward provided the most support to Rizwan with 13 runs each. Rizwan’s fellow debutant, Josh Phillipe, scored just five runs as he was controversially run out in the fourth over – replays showed he may have been home, with the absence of a third umpire meaning the decision was made on the field.

The wicketkeeper’s knock featured three sixes and six fours, as he finished on an unbeaten 81 from 60 deliveries. Sussex reached 150-5 at the end of their 20 overs. 40-year-old Michael Hogan was the pick of the bowlers for Glamorgan, taking 3-26.

Steve Finn, yet another debutant for Sussex Shark, wasted no time taking his first Blast wicket of the year in Glamorgan’s chase, captain David Lloyd playing onto his own stumps in the second over. From then on, Sam Northeast and Marnus Labuschagne showed immense control at the crease, putting on a second wicket stand of 82 from 61 balls.

Rizwan’s dominant performance ended up being in vain, as Glamorgan completed the chase with seven balls and seven wickets to spare.

Watch the best of the Rizwan knock below:

All class from @iMRizwanPak in his 81 not out 👌 #Blast22 pic.twitter.com/rSaJM7IhNV

— Vitality Blast (@VitalityBlast) May 27, 2022