Who is Evan Jones? 5 interesting facts about DSG all-rounder striking at 182 in SA20 2025-26

The 2026 cricketing season started with a bang as two of the 2025/26 SA20 favorites, Durban Super Giants (DSG) and Joburg Super Kings (JSK), thrilled fans with a high-scoring super over finish on New Year's Day. A seemingly one-sided clash turned into a humdinger thanks largely to DSG all-rounder Evan Jones.

Chasing 206, DSG were struggling at 108/4 in the 13th over when the 29-year-old walked out to bat. Yet, in no time, the big-hitting right-hander got his side back into the contest with a blistering 17-ball 43.

However, with the win in touching distance, Jones was unfortunately run out before DSG's eventual super over defeat. Despite the eventual heartbreak, Jones continues to win over fans with his late-game heroics in the ongoing SA 20 competition.

The Pretoria-born cricketer has scored his 91 runs this season at a strike rate of 182 in four matches. Numbers aside, Jones' ball-striking ability had fans curious to find out more about the all-rounder.

With that in mind, here are five interesting facts about Evan Jones, who is setting the 2025-26 SA20 on fire.

#1 The improbable transition from previous SA20 seasons

One can be forgiven for questioning how Evan Jones earned his name as an all-rounder, going by the ongoing SA20. While the 29-year-old has demolished with the bat, he has yet to bowl a single delivery this season.

However, the same question could have been asked in reverse during the first three SA20 seasons. Jones played 19 combined matches across the first three SA20 editions with minimal results with the bat.

The right-hander amassed only 70 runs across the three seasons, 21 fewer than his output this season alone. However, Jones enjoyed much success with the ball, especially in the maiden SA20 season.

He picked up 13 wickets with his right-arm medium-fast bowling in the 2022-23 SA20 season, followed by six combined wickets in the subsequent two editions. Thus, the ongoing SA20 campaign has been a role reversal for Evan Jones, with his batting doing all the talking.

#2 Evan Jones's Jacques Kallis-esque first-class pedigree

Those watching Evan Jones for the first time could be forgiven for assuming that the all-rounder is a T20 specialist. However, the 29-year-old boasts a first-class record that any past or present great would be proud of.

Having debuted at the first-class level in 2019, Jones has played 13 red-ball matches on the domestic circuit. He averages an incredible 64.28 despite batting predominantly in the lower order with three centuries and five half-centuries in 17 innings.

Jones' numbers with the ball are equally impressive, picking up 29 wickets at an average of 24.68. If a 50-30 batting to bowling average split is considered the gold standard for a legendary all-rounder, Jones' 64-24 splits are bordering on invincibility.

#3 What can't Evan Jones do on a cricketing field?

If the first two sections were evidence of Evan Jones being a multi-faceted talent who can do it all at a high level, there's more. The all-rounder debuted in T20s in 2019 for the Northerns against the Free State.

And what role does he play in that outing? Wicketkeeping! Jones kept wickets for his side in that game and in the 2019/20 CSA Provisional T20 Cup.

After scoring a now-trademark 15-ball 37 with the willow, he took three catches behind the wicket to cap off a memorable T20 debut.

#4 The rare List-A triple

It is not often that a cricketer achieves the triple of averaging over 30 with the bat and under 25 with the ball, while striking at over 100. However, in 24 List-A games, Evan Jones has done just that, thanks to his remarkable consistency, in addition to the match-winning exploits.

The DSG all-rounder boasts an excellent List-A average of 33.07 with a strike rate of over 113. Jones has also picked up his 17 wickets at a bowling average of 24.17.

He also boasts two half-centuries and a five-wicket haul, another rare double, in the format across domestic seasons.

#5 Evan Jones' heroics in the SA20 buildup

Evan Jones' brilliance in the ongoing SA20 should come as little surprise, given his latest first-class showing in October 2025. Playing his lone game for the Lions in the CSA 4-day competition thus far, the 29-year-old produced an all-round performance for the ages.

Jones produced a spell of 4/58 in the first innings to help shut the Western Province for 193. He then smashed an incredible 86-ball 76, coming into bat at No.8, helping his side to a massive 552/9 declared.

Jones capped off the memorable showing with another two wickets in the second innings as the Lions completed an innings and 134-run victory. In many ways, the contest was an appetizer for the meal Jones was set to dish out in the ongoing SA20 in three months.

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Edited by Venkatesh Ravichandran