Will Jacks, despite 26 T20 internationals for England, is yet to achieve a half-century or century.
England white-ball batsman Will Jacks delivered a spectacular performance in the T20 Blast on Friday night, leading Surrey to a commanding 75-run victory over Middlesex at the Kia Oval.
Before a capacity crowd, Jacks smashed 97 runs off 56 balls, including five sixes, contributing to Surrey’s third win in four days.
This victory places them second in the South Group, four points behind Somerset, who, with seven wins from eight matches, strengthened their lead after a six-wicket triumph over Glamorgan.
Northamptonshire, despite previously topping the North Group, suffered their second consecutive defeat, losing by 24 runs to Nottinghamshire Outlaws.
Lancashire climbed to second place with a resounding 80-run victory over Derbyshire, posting a massive 243-7. Durham also secured a comfortable 63-run win against Yorkshire.
Two thrilling finishes saw Gloucestershire edge past Hampshire by two wickets on the last ball and Bears snatch a one-wicket win over Worcestershire, both in dramatic final-over encounters.
Essex, however, remains winless after a 47-run home defeat against Kent.
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2023 champions and last year’s runners-up, Somerset, showcased their T20 prowess at Sophia Gardens.
Their seam attack, featuring Matt Henry, Riley Meredith, and captain Lewis Gregory, reduced Glamorgan to a precarious 49-5 by the ninth over, a deficit they couldn’t overcome.
Glamorgan’s total of 130-9 proved insufficient as Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s 38 and Gregory’s winning run, with 20 balls remaining, sealed Somerset’s victory.
Middlesex captain Stevie Eskinazi’s decision to field first against Surrey proved costly, as Jacks’ explosive batting dominated the innings.
Jacks fell three runs short of a century, and late-innings wickets restricted Surrey to 194-8.
Middlesex’s chase faltered due to regular wicket losses, with New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner impressing with figures of 3-25.
Jacks ultimately claimed the final wicket, bowling Middlesex out for a mere 119.
Essex, in their pursuit of a first win, chose to chase at Chelmsford’s Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, but Kent’s Tawenda Muyeye’s maiden T20 century (100 off 59 balls) propelled Kent to an imposing 219-3.
Despite Dean Elgar’s 50, Matt Parkinson’s career-best T20 figures of 5-23 left Essex’s chase in disarray.
Simon Harmer’s late blitz (55 off 21 balls, including four consecutive sixes) couldn’t prevent Essex from being bowled out for 172.
Gloucestershire, after a six-game losing streak to start their title defense, secured their second consecutive win in a thrilling Bristol encounter.
David Payne’s 3-20 restricted Hampshire to 124-9. Despite D’Arcy Short’s 49, a tense finish saw Payne hit a six off the final ball to secure a two-wicket victory.
The match featured pink attire in tribute to club president Syd Lawrence and to raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association, following Lawrence’s MND diagnosis last year.
Northamptonshire, after a stellar start to the T20 season with six consecutive wins (five batting first), faced defeat.
Nottinghamshire’s Tom Moores’ 53 guided them to 164-8. Farhan Ahmed’s wickets put Northants on the backfoot at 45-4, ultimately resulting in their all-out score of 140.
The Edgbaston derby witnessed Worcestershire bowled out for 134, with Dan Mousley’s 4-19 for Bears. Sam Hain’s 38* steered Bears to a thrilling one-wicket victory.
In their rematch, Yorkshire were bowled out for 130 against Durham’s 193-4, built on Graham Clark’s 53 and Jimmy Neesham’s 42*.
Luke Wells’ record-breaking eight sixes (83 runs) and Matty Hurst’s 59 propelled Lancashire to a massive total against Derbyshire, who were bowled out for 163 in reply.
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