Jacks cracks rapid 25-ball century

Surrey batsman Will Jacks has smashed a world record 25-ball century in a 10-over practice match against fellow county side Lancashire in Dubai.

But the match was soured by a nasty injury to Lancs spinner Matt Parkinson who was struck in the face by a return shot and was taken to hospital.

Parkinson was able to walk from the ground after receiving several minutes of medical attention on the side of the pitch.

He had been struck after a wide ball across the left-handed Surrey and former England opener Mark Stoneman was flat batted straight back at him. Stoneman, Jacks and surrounding players reacted in horror and immediately signalled for medical attention as Parkinson lay face down on the turf.

Parkinson had been expected to play for the Melbourne Stars in this year's KFC BBL season but had to withdraw after a slower than expected recovery from a back stress injury.

Lancashire confirmed Parkinson had been hit in the lower jaw on the left side of his face and had been taken to a local hospital for further assessment.

Parkinson later took to social media to reveal the aftermath of the injury.

Stoneman, clearly rattled by the incident, holed out in the deep next ball, but Parkinson's injury did not curb Jacks' attacking instincts.

The previous record for a century in a so-called T10 match had been the 26 balls it took Pakistan's Babar Azam in a charity match in December 27.

"People were just chatting that 120-130 was an average score so I just wanted to try and have fun, really, that was it," Jacks said.

"I didn't even think about the hundred until I was on 98. It all happened quite quickly!"

Jacks' incredible knock included six successive sixes off the one over from England ODI and T20-capped Lancashire bowler Stephen Parry at the ICC Academy ground.

The 20-year-old Jacks had started the game by taking 28 from the first over to set the tone and brought up his fifty from 14 balls in the third over.

He was starved of strike in the fourth over, which saw Parkinson injured, and started the game's fifth over with a scarcely believable 62 runs from 16 deliveries.

Parry started his first over with a wide, and things did not get any better for the 33-year-old left-arm leg-spinner.

Jacks despatched the deliveries for straight drive, slog sweep, slog sweep and a full toss belted over long on for four successive sixes. Jacks' connection with the fifth ball – aimed fuller outside the off-stump and – was not as clean and the batter bounced on his toes, willing the ball over the rope.

It duly obliged and the final ball – wider still – had Jacks down on one knee and swiping with a cross bat stroke that saw the ball go over long on as he celebrated with a raise of the bat and embrace of his teammate, Rikki Clarke. He was 98 from 22 balls.

He didn't have it as easy against spinner Steven Croft, facing two dot balls before he carved a boundary through point to bring up the 100 from his 25th delivery to spark more celebrations.

Surrey made 176 and won the match by 95 runs. The two clubs are on a pre-season tour and are currently playing a T10 Festival tri-series that also includes the UAE side.