New Zealand batter Bevon Jacobs scored an unbeaten 202 off 137 balls against Otago in the Ford Trophy on Thursday, November 12, setting a new national record with 21 sixes in a List A innings. However, he fell short of the world record of 23 sixes held by Australia's D'Arcy Short. Despite Jacobs' remarkable innings, Auckland Aces lost the match.
Jacobs, batting at No. 4, came to the crease after Auckland had lost three wickets for just 39 runs. He initially focused on stabilising the innings before accelerating his scoring rate and converting his maiden List A century into a double century.
In the match played at Eden Park Outer Oval in Auckland, Jacobs remained unbeaten on 202 from 137 deliveries, hitting 21 sixes and seven fours. Notably, he took 97 balls to reach his first century but scored the next 100 runs in just 40 deliveries.
Jacobs initially prioritised building partnerships rather than taking unnecessary risks. He added 100 runs for the fourth wicket with Lachlan Stackpole, who contributed 46 runs. He then shared a 94-run partnership with Ryan Harrison, who scored 32.
Jacobs accelerated significantly towards the end of the innings. He hit five sixes in the final over bowled by Otago's Jack Cumming, completing his double century during the over. His innings helped Auckland reach 334 for eight in their allotted 50 overs.
Jacobs' innings came close to breaking the world record for the most sixes in a single List A innings. The record of 23 sixes is held by Australia's D'Arcy Short, who scored 257 off 148 balls for Western Australia against Queensland on September 28, 2018. His innings included 23 sixes and 15 fours.
Jacobs finished with 21 sixes, two short of Short's tally. He needed three more sixes to equal and surpass the existing record. Nevertheless, he became the New Zealand batter with the most sixes in a single List A innings.
He also moved ahead of Gary Snaith and former England captain Eoin Morgan, both of whom had hit 17 sixes in a List A innings.
Jacobs became the fourth New Zealand batter to score a double century in men's List A cricket. Jamie How achieved the feat in 2012, Martin Guptill in 2015 and Chad Bowes in 2024.
His innings was also the third double century in Ford Trophy history. Before Jacobs, Jamie How had scored 222, while Chad Bowes had made 205.
Jacobs also registered the highest individual List A score for Auckland Aces, surpassing Colin Munro's previous record of an unbeaten 174 in the 2017-18 season.
Among the highest individual List A scores by New Zealand batters, Martin Guptill's unbeaten 237 and Amelia Kerr's unbeaten 232 are also notable performances.
