Brilliant Bopara’s ton earns Sussex Sharks T20 win over Kent Spitfures

Bopara played a magnificent, almost chanceless, innings to record his highest ever T20 score of 108 from 53 balls, with 18 fours and just one six, as Sussex posted a massive 228 for seven, Tom Clark getting their next highest score with 47.

Kent were 31 for one in reply after 3.2 overs when heavy rain began to fall and they were set a revised target of 129 from 10 overs via the Duckworth-Lewis Method. Needing to hit out as soon as play resumed, they lost wickets too regularly to seriously threaten Sussex and finished on 117 for four, although they remain in the top four.

Bopara said: “I’m pleased and for it come now as well. I’ve been batting middle order pretty much all my life so it’s just nice because hundreds are hard to come by when you’re batting middle order. I always had dreams of getting at least one more and I’m glad it’s come.

“I’m glad it’s come here as well, I was proper up for today.”

On only getting one T20 hundred before this, Bopara said: “I think that’s more to do with the position I bat. T20 hundreds are more for openers and number threes. It’s not often you get them at five, six where I’ve batted for most of my career. You’d have to do it from about 30 odd balls if you’re going to do it from there and I’m not quite capable of that. I’m not big and strong enough!

“The thing with T20 is you can be in a great place and hit three or four great shots and still get out. You might hit a really good shot straight to a fielder so it’s never one where you think I’m going to score runs today. In a four-day game it’s different, you can think right I’m on today, unless I get an absolute jaffa I’m scoring runs but T20 you haven’t got that control.

He was surprised to learn Essex had lost and that Sussex could still qualify for the last eight – even if it is a very long shot.

“I did speak about that before the game. We’re not out of it so let’s turn up today, let’s get to 14 points and let the other two mess it. Let’s see. As the competition guys have adopted I wanted from the start which is play with more freedom. Hit more sixes than the opposition, get more boundaries and if you want to go for wickets as a bowler, go or wickets. I don’t care if you get smacked.

"I think that’s now really taking effect. I don’t need to put too much price on my wicket, I don’t need to put too much price on the overs I bowl. It’s a game of luck so you’ve just got to ride it some times.”

It was another Friday night sell-out at the Spitfire Ground, but Kent’s decision to bowl first soon backfired as they struggled to cope with damp and blustery conditions.