FOR THE RECORD: THE CENTURIONS

Centuries are hard to come by at the best of times for batters, which is why getting one in a T20 match is even more impressive.

Betway SA20 Season 2, delivered four such milestones: from dominant tone-setting, to anchoring a run chase, to smashing to all corners and mounting a record-breaking rearguard effort.

Here is a reminder how Rassie van der Dussen, Jordan Hermann, Will Jacks and Kyle Verreynne added their names to the League’s Century club:

RASSIE VAN DER DUSSEN (MI CAPE TOWN)

Match: Joburg Super Kings vs MI Cape Town (Match 4, Wanderers, 13 January 2024)

Score: 104 off 50 balls

Strike rate: 208.00 | Fours: 9 | Sixes: 6

MI Cape Town’s Rassie van der Dussen brought up the first century of Betway SA20 Season 2 off 46 balls (9 x 4, 6 x 6) in Match 4 against Joburg Super Kings. In the process, ‘RVD’ joined 'The Centurion Club' which JSK’s Faf du Plessis, Durban’s Super Giants’ Heinrich Klaasen and Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s Aiden Markram established during the inaugural season.

Van der Dussen and his opening partner Ryan Rickelton had set the tone for a record-breaking opening weekend of Season 2, by shattering the all-time competition record for any partnership with their 200-run opening stand at Wanderers – a ground both call home during the domestic season. When van der Dussen was eventually dismissed for a superb 104 (50 balls), he did so to rapturous applause at the ‘Bullring’

JORDAN HERMANN (SUNRISERS EASTERN CAPE)

Match: MI Cape Town vs Sunrisers Eastern Cape (Match 8, Newlands, 16 January 2024)

Score: 106 not out off 62 balls

Strike rate: 170.96 | Fours: 8 | Sixes: 6

All the Season 1 centuries and indeed Rassie van der Dussen’s first of Season 2 had been scored on the Highveld. So Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s Jordan Hermann created a unique bit of history when he joined ‘the club’ at Newlands during Match 8 against MI Cape Town.

READ MORE: Hermann comes of age

The stylish left-hander fronted up to a MICT attack that included seasoned internationals such as Proteas duo Kagiso Rabada and Beuran Hendricks along with England internationals Sam Curran and Olly Stone to piece together a splendid 106 not off 62 balls (8x4, 6x6) that lifted the Sunrisers to a thrilling four-run victory.-It was the eventual champions first win of the campaign, and they never looked back again..

WILL JACKS (PRETORIA CAPITALS)

Match: Pretoria Capitals vs Durban’s Super Giants (Match 10, Centurion, 18 January 2024)

Score: 101 off 42 balls

Strike rate: 240.47 | Fours: 8 | Sixes: 9

Will Jacks delivered the third century of this year’s competition with a sizzling 101 (42 balls, 8x4, 9x6) that set up Pretoria Capitals’ 204/9 in Match 10 against Durban’s Super Giants. The ton, and his two wickets in DSG’s reply helped the home side edge the clash by 17 runs.

READ MORE: Centurion my favourite ground to bat on - Jacks

In Season 1 Jacks fast became a firm fan favourite at Centurion, especially with his sixes being caught in the crowd by spectators. As it happened, this was the second consecutive match that Jacks offered up a Betway Catch 2 Million, which was cleanly taken one-handed by George van Heerden.

More than that, the Englishman was one of two batters – alongside Joburg Super Kings’ Reeza Hedricks to get a 90 in Season 1 – so getting over the line this time around cued significant celebrations.

KYLE VERREYNNE (PRETORIA CAPITALS)

Match: Pretoria Capitals vs MI Cape Town (Match 26, Centurion, 1 February 2024)

Score: 116 not out off 52 balls

Strike rate: 223.07 | Fours: 7 | Sixes: 9

Kyle Verreynne rewrote the SA20 records books with the highest ever score of 116 not out, but it was not enough to prevent the Pretoria Capitals from falling to a 34-run defeat to MI Cape Town at Centurion in Match 26.

READ MORE: Backing himself pays dividends for Verreynne

Capitals at one stage of their chase were 42-6 before Verreynne enthralled the Centurion crowd with 52-ball innings that included seven boundaries and nine sixes. In the process, he denied his home town the bonus point they were desperate for in the Race for the Playoffs (which both eventually missed out on) but also bettered Joburg Super Kings captain Faf du Plessis’s 113 not out from Season 1.