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The South African legend, Jacques Kallis has scored an extraordinary fifty in the US Masters T10 League, filled with crisp strokes and power hits, reminding fans of his heyday in the sport. On August 19, Saturday, the 47-year-old, who was playing for California Knights against Texas Chargers, scored 64 runs off 31 balls, including eight fours and three maximums at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground, Lauderhill.
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Earlier in the day, Suresh Raina, the captain of California Knights, won the toss and decided to bat first against Texas Chargers. The start for the team was horrible, losing the key wicket of the former Australian T20 World Cup winning captain Aaron Finch without scoring on the second ball of the innings, caught behind the stumps by Ben Dunk off the bowling of Fidel Edwards.
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Then, the Indian domestic cricketer Milind Kumar joined Jacques Kallis in the middle, matching each other stroke for stroke from the second over onwards. They went onto stitch together an unbeaten partnership of 158 runs, against a hapless bowling attack of Texas Chargers, to help California Knights put a formidable total on the board in the allotted 10 overs.
Watch Jacques Kallis batting masterclass in US Masters T10 League here:
While Milind Kumar scored at a quicker rate than the South African all-rounder, staying unbeaten at 76 runs off just 28 balls with seven fours and six maximums, the spotlight during the first innings of California Knights firmly belonged to Jacques Kallis. T10 cricket is known for its batting blitz of the highest order, and the aforementioned partnership between an unlikely duo, delivered it in spades.
In defence of 158 run total, the bowlers of California Knights were exceptional, reducing Texas Chargers to just 110/8 to win the contest with a big margin of 48 runs. Ashley Nurse took three wickets for just 12 runs in his two over spell, scalping for Mukhtar Ahmed and Ben Dunk, who had put together a 56 run partnership in double quick time for the second wicket.