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Stoinis stand-off, Jack’s solo-effort and a Stubbs-astic at the Hundred

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Last updated on 18 Aug 2022 | 10:07 AM
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Stoinis stand-off, Jack’s solo-effort and a Stubbs-astic at the Hundred

What a week, huh? Captain, it’s Thursday

Bringing up a century in Jacks’ fashion

If you are a batter growing up watching The Hundred, there is only one way of bringing up a century – with a six. Will Jacks joined the Will club in hitting the second century of the Hundred. 108 off just 48 balls, against a promising bowling attack, Jacks’ surely is the talk of the town during the second week of the competition. But what was more impressive during his stay was his decision-making and clarity.

Chasing 138 against the Southern Brave, Jacks’ scored 108 runs, 76% of the runs required. What was more incredible was his interview, where he stressed that he didn’t really fancy running. And like he said, it didn’t matter who was bowling and when he saw Rehan Ahmed, a six was the only way he wanted to bring up his century with. A fine century but a finer approach. In four games this season, Jacks’ has scored 201 runs, hitting at 187.85. 

Stoinis disapproves of Hasnain

If you are not aware of what has happened here, probably cave is a fine place. Perhaps, the biggest moment of the last week, the one that went viral is this incident between Marcus Stoinis and Mohammad Hasnain. During his second spell of the day, Hasnain returned and bowled a thunderbolt of a delivery that took the upper half of the Australian all-rounder’s bat. This is exactly where the incident begun. 

The all-rounder on his way back to the dressing room was seen mimicking Hasnain’s action with a hint of suggestion – that the Pakistani pacer was chucking. It went viral but what was important was it could have had its own repercussions. Stoinis could have been fined but what transpired then sparked off a widespread debate. 

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar called it “shameful” and asked the ICC to take a decision on that. Stoinis avoided a formal sanction but the widespread criticism stood. 

A week for some quality hitting

Jacks’ scored a hundred but there was another effort that really sparked from the week – Adam Rossington’s half-century. Oh, the fastest half-century in the Hundred, off just 15 balls, after being dropped on nought, that’s really painful. Superchargers, you ought to do better than that.

“I kept looking to hit the sightscreen as hard as possible,” is what he said and is exactly what he delivered as well. He wasn’t the only quality hitter from last week’s action. How on earth could you forget Tristan Stubbs? How? Even if you are not a Mumbai Indians’ fan, Stubbs’ smacking the white-ball was just pristine. 

Against his country-mate, Tabraiz Shamsi, Stubbs took the attack outside the boundary rope. While the first one looked like a mishit, the more Shamsi bowled in the over, the far the ball was dispatched. Such was Stubbs’ raw-power that when he walked back to the hut, he had already put on a show. Originals went on to lose the match, sadly.

Against his country-mate, Tabraiz Shamsi, Stubbs took the attack outside the boundary rope. While the first one looked like a mishit, the more Shamsi bowled in the over, the far the ball was dispatched. Such was Stubbs’ raw-power that when he walked back to the hut, he had already put on a show. Originals went on to lose the match, sadly. 

Phoenix rises from the Ashes

Oh, that was probably the match of the season. If you wonder how Moeen Ali works as a skipper, please watch this match. Perhaps, the best day of his captaincy, so much so that the dressing room could just not believe that they had pulled off the heist. It was that – a heist – against the Welsh Fire. 

At 35/4 after 33 balls, pretty much everyone at the venue had already decided which way the game was going to go. Some even left but the ones that stayed were the ultimate winners. Dan Weston’s image from the night pretty much painted the perfect image. 23 off 20 balls, Josh Cobb and David Miller were at the crease, you’d put your house on Miller, right? 

That’s exactly where you’d have gone bankrupt. That exact moment. Over the next 20 balls, courtesy of Benny Howell, Tom Helm and Kane Richardson, Phoenix pulled off an ultimate RKO. Just look at that face. 

Sammy wants a six, he gets a six

Oh, this is yet another magic moment. Daren Sammy was in the commentary box, Andre Russell was at the crease against Matt Critchley. “He’s going to hit this out of the park,” said Sammy as Critchley tossed one up right in Sammy’s arc. BOOM! It went cracking from the bat to the long boundary. Magical stuff from Sammy, no wonder he has won two T20 World Cups. Or is it some sort of mystical connect between the two? We will never know! 

Karma works in a funny way, innit Billings?

When Reece Topley hit Alex Hales in the worst spot possible, Sam Billings and the entire Oval Invincibles were in chuckles. It wasn’t the first time that Hales has been hit there but still, it was sort of a comical relief for the bowling side. 

A year later, Billings was on the receiving end of a blow. He went down wincing in pain. When asked about it later, the wicketkeeper-batter reflected on the pain. You know which end you should not be on? Receiving end, of course.

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