Will Jacks’ scintillating 97 led Surrey to a fifth win in a row as they thrashed London rivals Middlesex by 75 runs at the Kia Oval.
The England all-rounder displayed his batting prowess, pummelling five 6s and ten 4s in a 56-ball masterclass. Noah Cornwell and Ryan Higgins were the pick of the Middlesex attack with two wickets apiece.
Middlesex were never in it in reply, subsiding to 119 all out, New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner taking 3-25.
Jacks sent the opening ball of the match to the fence before the first of his five sixes came from a clip over long leg. That was the prelude to 22 off the last over of the powerplay bowled by youngster Naavya Sharma, which took Jacks to 50 in only 24 balls.
There was a brief pause for breath before an audacious golf-swing shot into the crowd at long-off and after being given a life when dropped by Cornwell, another vicious pull over square leg off Helm took him into the 90s.
There would be no hundred as he holed out going for the century in the grand manner, one of three wickets in four balls for Helm (3-48), but this was scintillating stuff.
To Middlesex’s credit, others came and went as the hosts didn’t make the most of being 66-0 after the powerplay and 95-2 at halfway.
Dom Sibley, dropped on eight by Sharma, reached 27 before both being caught and bowled by Cornwell, and Sam Curran reached 26 before he was caught behind, as the visitors chipped away, Ryan Higgins hitting the stumps twice in the final over.
Kane Williamson, fresh from his 50 against Essex 24 hours earlier, ramped, paddled drove and cut Reece Topley for four boundaries in his second over to launch the chase, but the former New Zealand Test skipper fell in the next over, slapping Tom Curran straight to Jason Roy at cover.
Max Holden picked up the baton with fours to long leg and third, but perished attempting to sweep Mitchell Santner over the long boundary, while Ben Geddes, returning to face his former county, survived two vehement appeals in the same over, but left without scoring in the next trying to go over extra cover.
Eskinazi’s innings of less than a run a ball ended when he was bowled by Santner and Joe Cracknell, in his first game in the tournament this season, quickly came and went.
With the rate required now 14 an over, Santner then bowled Hollman to claim his third wicket as Middlesex folded.
