With his pace and accuracy, Marco Jansen is known for disturbing batters. But it was his brisk knock with the bat that helped the Sunrisers Eastern Cape register a hard-fought two-wicket win over the MI Cape Town in Match 12 of the SA20 2023 on Wednesday, January 18 at Newlands, Cape Town.
However, his counter-attacking knock was highlighted by him smashing MI Cape Town skipper and seasoned leggie Rashid Khan for 28 runs in an over. It completely changed the tone of the game, allowing the Sunrisers to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
When Marco Jansen unleashed his bat, the game changed dramatically. In the final five overs, anything could have happened. Rashid Khan, the captain of MI Cape Town, decided to bowl the 16th over after realising the need to take some quick wickets, but Jansen made sure the initiative was a failure by letting his bat speak for itself right away.
Rashid was hit for a huge six by Jansen on the first delivery, reducing the equation to 61 runs off 29 deliveries. Despite being far from the target and his team, having already lost six wickets early, the Proteas pacer displayed a fearless intent.
He was extremely fortunate when the following ball took a big outside edge off his bat and caused it to sprint for four without a slip being in place. On the third ball, the batter bravely moved down the track, cleared the boundary, and scored six more priceless runs.
With two more consecutive maximums, the tail-ender showed no remorse and completely destroyed the Afghan spin icon, reducing the equation to 39 runs from 24 balls and forcing MI Cape Town captain Rashid Khan to reconsider his approach.
Here is Marco Jansen’s exciting over
Some clean hitting by Marco Jansen as he smashes 2?8? runs off the Rashid over ?#Betway #SA20 #MICTvSEC | @Betway_India pic.twitter.com/504jSzfqXf
— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) January 18, 2023
The 22-year-old went on to play the innings of a lifetime. He played an excellent knock of 66 runs in just 27 balls, with three boundaries and as many as seven sixes. He helped his team win the match by two wickets.
