Watch Crazy Scoreboard As Kent Duo Score Double Centuries Before New Rule Halts Record-Breaking Stand

A stunning quadruple-century partnership in the ongoing Bob Willis Trophy came to an end on Monday only by a new regulation for this year’s county season. The partnership, however, was enough for Kent to register a thumping win over Sussex in Canterbury.

Kent duo Jordan Cox and Jack Leaning both scored unbeaten double centuries as they shared an incredible partnership of 423 runs for the second wicket. Cox scored 238 while Leaning scored 220. Both players registered their maiden first-class centuries for Kent.

Cox, a 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman was playing just his fifth first-class game, while Leaning had moved from Yorkshire in the off-season. Riding on the twin double tons, Kent racked up an incredible 530 for just 1 wicket in reply to Sussex’s total of 332.

The 423-run stand is the county’s highest partnership ever and the third-highest unbroken second-wicket stand in the history of first-class cricket. And the batsmen could have added more runs to their already huge partnership but they had to head back to the hut because of the new rule that has been introduced for this season that caps each team’s first innings at 120 overs.

With the county season delayed by four months due to COVID-19, the regular County Championship has been replaced by a shortened red-ball competition, the Bob Willis Trophy. In another change, the number of overs per day has been reduced to 90 from 96 too.

The Kent duo, meanwhile, enjoyed their time in the middle as they scored at almost 4.5 runs an over during their 95-over partnership. The stand was studded with an incredible 56 fours and three sixes.

Darren Stevens stars with the ball for Kent:

After Cox and Leaning’s stunning knocks, Darren Stevens starred with the ball, taking five wickets as Kent thrashed Sussex by an innings and 25 runs. The 44-year old took 5 for 50 as Sussex were shot out for 173.

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