Will Jacks cracks 70 from 24 as Surrey romp to London Derby victory

Will Jacks' blistering half-century saw Surrey beat London rivals Middlesex by 54 runs at Lord's in their first game of the 2021 Vitality Blast campaign.

Jacks sent the hosts' bowling to all parts as he plundered 70 in 24 balls with five sixes and nine fours in Surrey's total of 223 for 7. Jacks' half-century, in 15 balls, was English cricket's third fastest in history. Surrey's total was the highest ever achieved in a domestic T20 magtch at Lord's.

Paul Stirling, fresh from international duty with Ireland hit a spirited 58 in reply, but Sam Curran claimed 4 for 29 as Middlesex could only muster 169 for 9

Faced with a Middlesex new-ball pairing of Ethan Bamber and Blake Cullen, with only one previous Blast appearance between them, Jacks wasted no time powering three boundaries from the former's opening over.

Bamber's next saw Jacks hit him for six behind square, before launching a second blow into the Grandstand.

The 50-stand with Jason Roy came up in the fourth over, Jacks celebrating by clubbing Cullen for a huge six. His fifty came in just 15 balls with three sixes and eight fours and two more massive shots into the stands followed.

A century looked a certainty but a comedic mix-up caused him to be run out by Chris Green's underarm throw.

Roy went on to make 45 before being bowled by Nathan Sowter but Middlesex compounded their misery when Cullen bowled two head-high no-balls which Tom Curran despatched for six. The youngster was immediately removed from the attack by the umpires.

Only Green with 1 for 25 and Sowter, 3 for 40, emerged from the carnage with credit.

Tasked with chasing a target of 224, the hosts were looking to Stirling for inspiration and he soon responded with a huge straight six off Matt Dunn.

Opening partner Stevie Eskinazi caught the mood taking three fours from one Sam Curran over as 50 came up in 26 balls.

Stirling despatched Jordan Clark into the Mound Stand before striking Dunn for successive maximums to reach his fifty in 22 balls. But on 58 he suffered the same fate that befell Jacks earlier when he was run out by Tom Curran's sharp return.

Curran was in the action again when his stunning one-handed catch off the bowling of Dan Moriarty saw the end of Eskinazi for 36.

As the required rate climbed, Eoin Morgan struck successive sixes, but when he holed out in the deep for 32 Middlesex's hopes of victory fizzled out.