South Africa all-rounder Marco Jansen has been tearing up for the Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) in the ongoing season of the SA20. He has now become the first-ever bowler to rack up 50 wickets in the tournament's history. He bagged this monumental feat during SEC's encounter against the Paarl Royals at St. George's Park in Gqeberha.
Jansen's fiery first over
Jansen recorded figures of 2/25 in his quota of four overs which was enough to see him surpass 50 wickets in the tournament. The 25-year-old first racked up the wicket of Asa Tribe for seven runs in the fourth over before sending Lhuan-dre Pretorious back to the pavilion for 11 runs just three deliveries later.
Players with the most wickets in SA20 -
1. Marco Jansen - 51 wickets
2. Ottneil Baartman - 46 wickets
3. Kagiso Rabada - 34 wickets
4. Bjorn Fortuin - 32 wickets
5. Eathan Bosch - 32 wickets
6. Keshav Maharaj - 30 wickets
Thanks to Jansen, SEC managed to restrict the Royals down to 19/2 at one stage. However, eventually the target of 150 wouldn't be enough for Tristan Stubbs & Co. as a fiery inning of 71* from David Miller carried the Royals to a 5-wicket win. They reached the target with just two deliveries left to spare.
Jansen's numbers in SA20
Meanwhile, this is Jansen's fourth SA20 season with SEC. He has been a part of the ffranchise ever since the league began in 2023. He played key roles in the side becoming champions in both the 2023 and 2024 season and will be hoping to get them to their third title in the ongoing campaign. The all-rounder has also contributed well with the bat and currently has 514 runs under his name in the tournament, including three half-centuries.
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Jansen has so far clinched four wickets in three games in the ongoing season of the SA20. He hasn't looked to be in the best of form in the early part of the campaign but will be aiming to pick up the pace and rack up more wickets as the season progresses. He will next be in action when SEC will face the Joburg Super Kings on January 3.