IPL 2024: 6,6,4,6,6 - Will Jacks dismantles Rashid Khan to bring up maiden 100 for RCB | Watch
Will Jacks and Virat Kohli during the RCB innings
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Will Jacks was at his imperious best as he smashed his maiden IPL century to guide the team to a convincing nine-wicket victory against Gujarat Titans (GT), away from home. The English batter smashed GT superstar Rashid Khan for 28 runs to reach the milestone and announce his arrival on the IPL stage.
Set a challenging target of 201, the match was in the balance up until the 14th over when RCB needed 53runs in 36 balls. However, things went pear-shaped for GT in front of their home crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad when Mohit Sharma bowled the 15th over.
Jacks pummeled the first two balls of the over for a four and six to bring up his fifty. From thereon, it was pure carnage as the next four deliveries yielded 17 runs. With only 24 runs left to defend, captain Shubman Gill summoned Rashid Khan into the attack to conjure up his magic.
Virat Kohli, facing the first ball miscued the ball to deep midwicket for a single, bringing Jacks on strike. The no. 3 batter immediately went bang andsmashed 6, 6, 4, 6 on the next four deliveries to bring the scores level.
With only one run required for victory and six runs to reach his personal milestone, Jacks slog swepta long hop on middle and leg over the deep midwicket boundary to kill the chase and reach his last fifty in only 10 deliveries. The previous record was 13 deliveries, set by Chris Gayle against Pune Warriors Indian in Bengaluru in 2013.
"Amazing feeling right now. Faf and Virat got us off to a very good start. I struggled early on, Virat kept his intensity up and I had the chance to get my rhythm. Once we had the time-out, we said let's get two really good overs and win the game. I just kept going and amazing feeling right now," said Jacks, who was adjudged the Player of the Match.
The win helps RCB keep their narrow hopes of qualifying for the playoffs alive. The team is now only two points adrift of the sixth spot and could make a late dash for the top 4 if it keeps the winning momentum going from here.
(With inputs from agencies)