Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) had a strong performance in IPL 2023 and missed out on a place in the playoffs. Although their top order was in excellent form, they lacked firepower in the middle order. However, it seems the team has found a solution in England batsman Will Jacks, who recently showcased his big-hitting abilities in the Vitality T20 Blast. In a match between Surrey and Middlesex, Jacques displayed his power, particularly targeting leg-spinner Luke Hollman.
5 consecutive sixes in a single over by Will Jacks.
RCB players to watch out for in IPL 2024pic.twitter.com/L6hc1r7UWe– Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) 22 June 2023
Jack unleashed an unbelievable attack on Hallman, hitting five consecutive sixes in the first five balls of an over. He came close to achieving the rare feat of hitting six sixes in an over, a record held by Yuvraj Singh and Herschelle Gibbs. Unfortunately, he missed the sixth six as he failed to dispatch a brilliant full toss from Hallman. Significantly, Jaques could not participate in IPL 2023 due to injury, yet RCB bought him in the auction for Rs 3.2 crore.
Jacques scored 96 runs in just 45 balls in his blistering innings, which included 8 fours and 7 sixes. He made a tremendous opening partnership of 177 runs with Laurie Evans for Surrey. However, after scoring such a crucial score in just 12.4 overs, Surrey could not sustain the momentum and could manage only 75 runs from the remaining 44 balls to reach a total of 252/7. Unfortunately, even this impressive score was not enough to ensure a Surrey victory.
When Middlesex started the chase, openers Stephen Eskinazi and Joe Cracknell got off to a flying start, scoring 90 runs in just 6.1 overs. Eskinazi continued his aggressive batting and scored 73 off 39 balls. After this, Max Holden and Ryan Higgins laid a strong foundation by adding 105 runs for the third wicket. Holden contributed 68 runs from 35 balls, while Higgins scored 48 runs from just 24 balls. A brief innings of 11 runs from 3 balls by Jack Davies ensured victory for Middlesex with only 4 balls to spare. This successful run chase is the second highest run chase in T20 history.
With Will Jacks showcasing his remarkable hitting ability, Royal Challengers Bangalore can now count on him to provide the required firepower in their middle order. His explosive performance in the Vitality T20 Blast indicates that he has the potential to make a significant impact in the IPL and enhance RCB’s chances of success in future tournaments.