In this year’s UK County season, Kent thumped past Sussex at Canterbury with the help of a quadruple-century partnership which was only curtailed by a new regulation put in place.
Kent’s batting mainstay, Jordan Cox (238*) and Jack Leaning (220*) added a 423-run partnership for the second wicket. The dynamic duo helped Kent post a monumental 530-1 in reply to Sussex’s score of 332.
Leaning and Cox notched up Kent’s highest partnership in County cricket. Their mega-partnership is the third-highest unbroken second-wicket stand in first-class cricket history.
The two were all set to add to the agony of the Sussex bowler’s before a new regulation gave respite to the latter.
It was decided that due to the prolonged COVID-19 hiatus, each team’s first innings score would be capped at the end of 120 overs.
Due to the gap and lack of pre-season training, bowler’s might sustain an injury while bowling long spells. Also, the regular County Championship has been displaced by the Bob Willis Trophy, which is a shortened-red ball competition.
Therefore, the number overs per-day were reduced to 90 from the original quota of 96 overs. Further, teams can only bat for 120 overs in an innings♏ at the maximum.
DECLARATION | Ready for the numbers? 🧮
5️⃣3️⃣0️⃣/1️⃣ (1️⃣9️⃣8️⃣ lead)
2️⃣3️⃣8️⃣*
2️⃣2️⃣0️⃣*
4️⃣2️⃣3️⃣ partnership👏👏👏👏
— Kent Cricket (@KentCricket)
“It’s a dream come true and I am really happy. I was a bit nervous, everyone is a bit nervous when they walk out, but I said to myself, ‘it’s a good wicket, play good shots and you will get the rewards,” Cox was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.
“I was absolutely chuffed to get my first 100. I had dreamed of it but I never thought it would come this early,” he added.
Furthermore, England’s world-cup winner Jonny Bairstow played his first red-ball match for Yorkshir෴e in over two years. He managed to score 75 against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.
Elsewhere, in the Derbyshire and Leicestershire game, tweaker♌ Matt Critchley ended with his career-best tally of 6 for 73.
