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* @jjordancox
2️⃣2️⃣0️⃣* @JackLeaning1
4️⃣2️⃣3️⃣ partnership👏👏👏👏 #SuperKent150 pic.twitter.com/oAa93s9ncf
— Kent Cricket (@KentCricket) August 10, 2020
“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 Yorkshire 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.
