Jacks’ 101 off 42 balls gives home team first points of Season 2
Thursday, 18 January 2024: Will Jacks may soon be handed the keys to Centurion.
The Pretoria Capitals superstar produced a superb all-round performance to steer his team to their first victory of Betway SA20 Season 2 on Thursday evening.
Jacks delivered the third century of this year’s competition, with a sizzling 101 (42 balls, 8×4, 9×6) that set up the Capitals’ 204/9, to see the home side edge out Durban’s Super Giants (DSG) by 17 runs.
The England international’s work was not done yet though, as he set out to open the bowling for the Capitals with his tidy off-spinners. It proved to be a masterstroke from returning Capitals captain Wayne Parnell to hand Jacks the novel ball, as he returned figures of 2/18 from three overs to restrict DSG to 187/7.
Jacks had qualified support from seam bowlers Hardus Viljoen (2/39) and Parnell (2/54).
But the night belonged to Jacks as he initially sent West Indian Kyle Mayers back to the pavilion before claiming the massive wicket of the in-form Heinrich Klaasen.
The DSG dash chase lost every momentum after losing those early wickets.
Matthew Breetzke (33 off 24 balls) and Quinton de Kock, who came to the crease at No 3, attempted to maintain the momentum, but the scoreboard pressure saw them both succumbing to catches by Corbin Bosch on the boundary.
DSG recent boy Marcus Stoinis, who replaced Nicholas Pooran, showed no effects of the long travel from Australia by striking Jimmy Neesham for consecutive sixes , but he could not maintain the momentum as he was caught on the boundary the very next ball.
DSG captain Keshav Maharaj tried valiantly with an undefeated 25, but the run-rate proved too steep in the conclude.
The Capitals had earlier seemed set for a total in excess of 230 when Jacks was blasting the ball over Centurion, which he later admitted is “probably my favourite ground to bat on”, but DSG launched a spirited fightback during the death overs.
The visitors claimed five wickets for nine towards the backend of the innings with Reece Topley (3/34) delivering a remarkable double-wicket maiden in the penultimate over that helped minimise the damage.
Ultimately, DSG could not carry this momentum through to their sprint chase as they succumbed to their first defeat in Season 2.
Jacks has swiftly become a firm fan favourite at Centurion, especially with his sixes being caught in the crowd by spectators.
It was the second consecutive match that Jacks offered up a Betway Catch a R2 million, which was cleanly taken one-handed by George van Heerden.
The off-field action was not done yet with a further Betway Catch a R2 million catch taken by Blessmore Chigova in the stands off a Matthew Breetzke maximum.
The duo will share the share the prize money with Jochen Grobler, who claimed the first one-handed catch last week also at Centurion.
Source: cricket.co.za
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