Cox at his best as Spitfires inflict surprise defeat on Somerset
JORDAN Cox smashed a careerbest 94 to lead South Group strugglers Kent Spitfires to a surprise 32-run Vitality Blast victory over high-riding Somerset at Taunton on Friday night.
The visitors posted 202-5 after losing the toss on an evening of bright sunshine, as 21-year-old Cox led the way with a superb 94 off 47 balls, including six sixes and three fours, and Joe Denly contributed 41. Cheered on by a 6,000-plus crowd, Somerset could only manage 170-9 in reply, as skipper Tom Abell top-scored with 43 and Ben Green made 40. It was only the Spitfires’ second group victory in eight games and a second defeat for the home side in seven.
Kent made a scratchy start in excellent batting conditions, failing to score a boundary off the first three overs, which cost just 13 runs.
Indeed, after 17 overs, Kent looked short of par on 148-5. But Cox then hit two sixes off Josh Davey and the same over, which cost 24, saw George Linde clear the ropes before collecting another boundary.
The inspired Cox then hit three sixes in the same Green over to move within sight of a century. But the experienced Peter Siddle held his nerve to concede only five in a final over that saw the Spitfires topscorer run-out attempting to keep the strike with a two to fine leg.
Somerset’s reply got off to a poor start when Will Smeed was bowled by George Linde, but out marched Rilee Rossouw to smite two of the next three balls for six.
Tom Banton hit successive fours off Fred Klaassen in the third over, only to edge a catch behind off the final delivery to leave his side 25-2. With only two runs added, off-spinner Jack Leaning bowled Rossouw, aiming a heave over the legside.
Tom Abell reverse swept Jack Leaning for four and six to take Somerset to 44-3 at the end of the powerplay. But Tom Lammonby then fell to the same shot, pinned lbw by Qais Ahmad.
Lewis Gregory dispatched the leg-spinner for two maximums before top-edging a catch to wicketkeeper Billings off Grant Stewart and at halfway Somerset were 79-5. When Abell top-edged a pull off Klaassen to be caught at deep square and Roelof van der Merwe fell to a Sam Billings catch, the hosts were in dire straits.
Kent’s bowlers closed out the game for a comfortable success.
Somerset captain Abell said: “We came into this game full of confidence and it was a really good wicket, but they probably got 20 more than they should have done.
“Then you want to get off to a good start, but we were behind the rate and when that gets to 11 and 12 an over and you are losing wickets as well it is really difficult.”