Will Jacks has come to the fore for the Pretoria Capitals again making an impact with bat and ball alike. James Richardson takes a look at who are the hottest performers in the SA20 after the second week.
Bat & Ball – A Jacks of all Trades
Jacks was the match-winner as the Capitals got on the board against the Durban Super Giants adding another ton to his collection in T20 cricket.
He has also been a more than useful spin option for his skipper taking five wickets from the three matches where he was used as a bowler.
The Capitals might have cause for concern with Harry Brook leaving the England squad in India which could see Jacks get a call-up although he hasn’t added to his two Tests since featuring against Pakistan in December 2022.
Will Jacks is the King of Centurion 👑#Betway #SA20 #WelcomeToIncredible #PCvDSG pic.twitter.com/TvhnZcI3DN
— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) January 18, 2024
Rickleton and Buttler going big for Cape teams
Ryan Rickleton also continues to pile on the runs for MI Cape Town even if the franchise aren’t getting the results they would like.
He leads the runscorers in the tournament to date and his four half-centuries in a row established him as one of the hot batters in the series.
Ominously for the bowlers in this tournament, Jos Buttler has also started to find form with the England superstar now a strong performer for the Paarl Royals.
He has scored 170 runs in his last three innings at an average of 85.00 and is a big part of why the Royals have done so well this term.
Whenever I see Ryan Rickelton,I can't stop myself from admiring him.
— Sujeet Suman (@sujeetsuman1991) January 16, 2024
He is not only gonna replace Quinton de Kock but he is gonna achieve better height in future than him.#BBL13 #SLvZIM #SachinTendulkar #AUSvWI #U19WorldCup #INDvAFG #SA20 #Zimbabwepic.twitter.com/ZyUZp9KuE0
Ngidi and Baartman shine with the ball
Although MI Cape Town got hold of him at Newlands in the Cape derby, the Royals’ Lungi Ngidi remains the form bowler in the SA20.
Ngidi bounced back from that mauling to play a part in the Royals’ big win over the same MI Cape Town when they visited Boland Park.
Ngidi leads the way for wicket-takers in the tournament so far ahead of a few Proteas teammates and foreign stars.
Among those is Ottniel Baartman who took the tournament’s best bowling figures so far when he last bowled.
Baartman was the man chiefly responsible for the demolition of the Royals for a record-low score.
The 30-year-old is really coming into his own as an experienced franchise campaigner.
Baartman has shown why the national team have shown so much interest in him and it is great for South African cricket to have players like him doing well.
Meanwhile, Keshav Maharaj has been the bowler who has done the best strangle jobs in the tournament so far.
Also starring with the ball has been Proteas quick Lizaad Williams and foreign players Reece Topley and Daniel Worrall.
Ottniel Baartman the beast 🧡🔥pic.twitter.com/0fezl7dCur
— SunRisers OrangeArmy Official (@srhfansofficial) January 17, 2024
