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Cape Town – Keaton Jennings, son of former Proteas coach and iconic Transvaal wicketkeeper Ray, on Monday became the first batsman to reach 1,000 runs in England’s County Championship.
Jennings was unbeaten on 20 (second innings) at lunch on day three of Durham’s match against Middlesex at Lord’s, enough to propel him to the landmark ahead of anyone else in either Division One – where Durham ply their trade – or Two.
The Johannesburg-born left-hander, who aims to represent England after qualifying earlier this year, had entered his 11th Championship game of the campaign on 965 runs at an average of 68.93 and top score of 221 not out.
He had made 27 in the first knock at Lord’s.
It meant that the 24-year-old edged a closely-fought battle to reach the four-figure mark first: nearest to him in Division One is veteran Somerset and former England batsman Marcus Trescothick, who stood on 942 runs (average 55.41) after 11 appearances in the four-day competition although his team are not in action in the current round.
The most runs in Division Two are the property of Kent’s Sam Northeast – 995 after 11 games at 90.45.
Apart from having an illustrious father, Keaton is also the brother of 36-year-old Dylan, the long-retired former Easterns and Gauteng gloveman.
He is a former captain of the SA U19 side.
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