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Kai Schwoerer / Getty Images
Will Jordan pitched six fours and two sixes in his 49 for Team Rugby against Team Cricket at Black Clash.
So far uncompetitive cricket in the last five years.
All Blacks rising star Will Jordan stood out with the bat, throwing 49 of 29 balls for Team Rugby at Friday night’s Black Clash at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval.
Jordan’s stellar blow ultimately proved for naught as Team Cricket triumphed by two runs to record two wins in two years in the festival match. Former Black Cap Peter Fulton put Team Cricket on the road to victory, scoring a striking 80 of 51 balls on his 189-5.
All Blacks teammate Jordie Barrett gave his team hope, hitting two 6s off Grant Elliott in the penultimate over, which counted for double runs.
READ MORE:
* Black Clash: Peter Fulton hits five sixes in a row in flashy 80s
* Rusty Will Jordan eager to impress with the bat in Black Clash T20 match
* Jordie Barrett, Brendon McCullum lead the rugby team to the triumph of Black Clash T20
TVNZ
All Black Will Jordan was half a century away.
The rugby team required eight of six balls in the final, but the great Daniel Vettori of the Black Caps wreaked havoc, capturing three hard-to-get runs.
Jason Spice hit a final ball limit with a required six to lead Team Rugby to an unexpected victory.
Playing in his first Black Clash, Jordan admitted his nerves before the game. A talented first-rate hitter for a season and a half in Christchurch Boys’ High’s First XI, Jordan hadn’t played a proper game since the 2015 Gillette Cup college nationals.
You shouldn’t have worried.
Kai Schwoerer / Getty Images
Will Jordan scored 49 for Team Rugby at Friday night’s Black Clash at Hagley Oval.
Jordan showed off his cricket skills, transporting former Team Cricket Black Caps bowlers around Hagley Oval.
It looked like the 22-year-old was going to score a well-earned half century, but he walked away for 49 and gave wicketkeeper Adam Parore a pass at Craig McMillan’s bowling alley.
At Christchurch Boys ‘High, Jordan scored highly, scoring 103 not out against Palmerston North Boys’ High in the 2015 Gillette Cup Finals, his senior year at the school.
While he loved his cricket in school, Jordan never seriously contemplated a professional future in the sport – going down the rugby route after being offered a spot at Crusaders ‘academy after his senior year at Boys’ High.
Kai Schwoerer / Getty Images
Former Black Cap Peter Fulton was in dominant bat contact at Friday night’s Black Clash at Hagley Oval for Team Cricket.
It didn’t take long for Jordan to start working with the bat, starting with former Blues and Hurricanes running back Ofisa Tonu’u. He hit his first six of innings from Jacob Oram’s bowling alley, sending him on the deep square leg.
Receiving a life in nine when Nathan McCullum missed a difficult opportunity on the third slip, the Crusaders wing made Team Cricket pay.
Jordan pummeled McCullum for a six in midfield right in front of his Crusaders’ teammates in the crowd, who cheered him loudly.
Kai Schwoerer / Getty Images
Team Rugby’s Jordie Barrett reacts after missing a catch at Black Clash on Friday.
He hit six fours and two sixes on his impressive punch.
Vettori was excellent in the final overs, taking three wickets for 11 and slowing down Team Rugby as they chased an unexpected victory.
Offspinner McCullum finished at 3-20, while McMillan was also effective at 2-25.
Wicketkeeper Parore also turned the clock back with the former Black Caps’ glove taking three wickets and a stump.
TAKE A LOOK:
Team Cricket 189-5 in 20 overs (Peter Fulton 80, Hamish Marshall 37, Grant Elliott 34th; Andy Ellis 3-15) beat Team Rugby 187-9 in 20 overs (Will Jordan 49, Kaylum Boshier 31, Jordie Barrett 30th, Ofisa Tonu’u 29; Daniel Vettori 3-11, Nathan McCullum 3-20, Craig McMillan 2-25) for two races.
