News
12 Jan 2026 • Dunedin
Bevon Jacobs has spent the last fortnight turning reliable starts into a string of match-defining fifties, and on Monday evening the Auckland opener nudged his way into the record books. An unbeaten 55 against Otago at the University Oval became his fifth straight half-century in men’s T20 cricket, drawing level with Devon Conway’s New Zealand mark. Only Afghanistan’s Sediquallah Atal (six) and India’s Riyan Parag (seven) have ever managed more on the trot.
The latest effort arrived in a measured 42 balls, the milestone sealed when Jacobs threaded Jacob Duffy – currently the No. 2-ranked T20I bowler – through extra-cover for four. From there he accelerated, finishing the chase of 160 with three sixes and a late four in his last nine deliveries.
“Yeah, it’s been really nice to contribute to the season and I’ve been enjoying myself out there,” he told the host broadcaster after collecting another Player-of-the-Match award. “There’s no secret to it … I guess I’ve just been having fun and I guess trying to keep it as simple as possible and just doing what I can to try and get the boys over the line.”
It has been an uncomplicated philosophy, yet one that is working. Scores of 78, 88, 53, 54 and now 55 mean the right-hander has matched Conway’s 2020-21 Super Smash run of four fifties, the Black Caps batter having added a further one in a T20I against Australia to set the previous high-water mark of five.
Jacobs already owns a reputation as one of the cleaner strikers in the country, a quality that surprised few when Mumbai Indians handed him an IPL deal in 2025 despite his lack of international caps. He did not receive a bid at last month’s auction, but Monday night underlined a broader skill-set. On a surface offering seam movement, Jacobs came in at 32 for 3 in the fifth over, bided his time alongside Mark Chapman, and waited for the Kookaburra to soften.
At 20 off 22, he finally unleashed: Jake Gibson was swatted over square-leg, then launched beyond wide long-on next ball. Left-arm spinner Ben Lockrose and seamer Matt Bacon tried hard-length variations yet could not dislodge him. The partnership with Chapman steadied Auckland and removed any panic.
“Yeah, 100% [wanted to be there at the finish]. I think me coming in early with Chappy, having someone with his experience is always awesome,” Jacobs said. “He kept my head straight and kind of just told me, ‘just bat for a bit, heaps of time out there and try and take it as deep as possible’ and so we were able to build that partnership and that was really helpful in the scheme of the game.”
Captain Sean Solia, fresh from a northern-hemisphere winter with Samoa, has watched the purple patch from close range. “It’s incredible and he’s a really talented kid and works hard,” Solia observed. “So, it’s no surprise that he’s performing as well as he is.”
Monday’s victory moves Auckland level with Canterbury on 16 points at the top of the Super Smash ladder; fittingly, the two sides meet again on Wednesday. Their previous encounter produced Jacobs’ unbeaten 88 off 45 balls in an unbroken 171-run stand for the fifth wicket. Canterbury’s bowlers, and indeed Jacobs himself, will be aware that another fifty would nudge him clear of Conway’s national record and within touching distance of the world mark.
For now, Jacobs prefers to play down the numbers, insisting there is “no secret”. Yet with form, rhythm and a smile on his face, the runs keep coming.
