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Wicketkeeper-batter Jordan Cox's incredible knock of 139 not out led Essex to their highest successful run chase in T20 Blast. On July 17, Essex chased down the target of 221 against Hampshire at County Ground, Chelmsford, with four wickets and four balls to spare.
Cox's 139 is the highest score in the ongoing T20 Blast season, surpassing Glamorgan's Dan Lawrence's 54-ball 120.
Cox enters elite lists
It is the second-highest score for Essex in T20 Blast history. The top spot belongs to Graham Napier with unbeaten 152 from 58 balls against Sussex at the same venue in 2008. Cox's unbeaten 139 is the seventh-highest score in T20 Blast's history. In addition, is the seventh-highest score in a run chase in format's history as well. Last but not the least, this is the sixth-highest score by a wicketkeeper-batter in T20s.
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Carthwright's blazing fifty, Albert plays anchor knock
Earlier, Essex skipper Simon Harmer won the toss and opted to bowl first. Tom Prest did the bulk of scoring in the powerplay overs whereas Toby Albert played himself in. Hampshire were 53 for no loss after powerplay overs. Prest departed for a 24-ball 41 to Luc Benkenstein in the seventh over. Skipper Harmer got into action and got the wicket of Joe Weatherley for a single-digit score.
After getting a wildcard contract in The Hundred, Hilton Cartwright smashed fours and sixes, reaching his fifty from just 21 deliveries. Harmer broke the partnership with Carwright's wicket. He hit three fours and five sixes in his 23-ball 56. In the same over, Albert reached his fifty from 40 balls. Benny Howell could not score a boundary and lost his wicket in the 18th over. Albert went berserk in the penultimate over and hit Mohammad Amir for five consecutive fours before losing his wicket. The opener scored 84 runs from 55 balls, including 12 fours and a six. In the last over, James Fuller hit Mackenzie Jones for two fours and two sixes before getting out of the penultimate ball. Hampshire posted a challenging total of 220/6.
Cox gets Essex's run chase going
Essex got off to a blazing start in the run chase. Sonny Baker conceded 19 runs in his first over. Chris Wood got the breakthrough in form of Paul Walter who scored 13 runs from six deliveries. In the next over, Scott Currie knocked over Michael Pepper for an 11-ball 23. Cox did not take much time to settle and hit Fuller for three consecutive fours and a six. After powerplay overs, Essex were 71/2. In the eighth over, Cox hit Howell for three sixes. He reached his fifty from 22 balls. On the other end, Charlie Allison was struggling and lost his wicket to Liam Dawson, who has been recently recalled into England's Test squad after eight years.
After a few quiet overs, Howell was brought back into the attack. Cox hit him for three consecutive sixes in the 27-run over. But he did not get support from the other end. Matthew Critchley was dismissed by Baker for a run-a-ball 13. Dawson finished his spell with Benkenstein's wicket in the 15th over. In the 17th over, Cox reached his century from 47 balls. On the next delivery, Noah Thain got out. Cox carried the run chase on his back with captain Harmer joining him in the middle. In the final over, 11 runs were needed. Cox hit Fuller for two consecutive sixes to finish off the runchase. He hit 11 fours and as many sixes in his electrifying knock.
Consolation win for Essex
Cox's maiden ton helped Essex register their third win from 13 games. They are already out of the quater-finals race but the win is a consolation. Also, if they win their next game, they can avoid finishing at the bottom of the points table.
Cox's recent form and international career so far
Cox had been struggling since T20 Blast's resumption. He registered scores of 25, 10, 1 and 4 in the second phase before notching up a hundred.
Last year, he made his ODI and T20I debut. In T20I series against Australia, he did not live up to the expectations and scored just 17 runs from two games. Later, in the ODIs against England, he scored 22 runs from three games. He would have made his Test debut in New Zealand but a thumb fracture during nets session ruled him out of the tour.
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