Brilliant Ben Cox takes Worcestershire to T20 title as calm Moeen Ali leads from the front.
On Finals Day, in front of a packed Edgbaston crowd, Worcestershire defeated Sussex to become Vitality T20 Blast champions.Their victory in the final on Saturday was built on a fine bowling performance with captain Moeen Ali picking up the vital wickets of Luke Wright, Delwray Rawlins and David Wiese and 20-year-old Pat Brown conceding just 15 runs from his four overs. Sussex, who scored 202 in the semifinal against Somerset, always looked light of a winning score by making 157 for 6 and Worcestershire chased it down for the loss of five wickets with their longer batting order being a clear advantage over their opponents.
In 2009,Sussex having won the t20 Blast but this time Worcestershire's first appearance at Finals Day was much better than Sussex they handled the pressure well and they were the youngest team on show.Sussex have the finest bowling attack in T20, certainly in England, perhaps in the world. But Worcestershire survived it, ultimately relished it, the youngest side in the tournament, the county that had never been to Finals Day.
But Ben Cox, one of the finest, most underrated wicketkeeper-batsmen in the country, saw Worcestershire through with an unbeaten 46 from 27 balls, challenging Sussex's pace attack with innovative flicks and glances. He was helped on his way by a single, stray delivery by Archer - a no-ball beamer which flew for four byes as his attempted scoop turned into a duck for cover, a resulting free hit and a six over square leg to exact full retribution.
As much as Moeen and Brown, this was Cox's day.
Score -
- Sussex - 157/6 (20.0 Ovs)
- Worcestershire - 158/5 (18.3 Ovs)
Worcestershire won by 5 wkts
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Ben Cox
