RAPIDS star Ben Cox has revealed his joy at lifting his first piece of silverware after a tough week which saw the big-hitter experience the highs and lows of professional cricket.
The wicketkeeper batsman bounced back in style after not being selected for the Specsavers County Championship clash against Surrey to win two man of the match awards on finals day.
Cox smashed 55 off 34 balls in the semi-final win over Lancashire Lightning to help the Rapids recover from a perilous 97-6 before his memorable unbeaten 46 in the final triumph over Sussex Sharks sealed glory for the Rapids.
“There were 11 of us out there, I just chipped in. Browny (Pat Brown) did outstandingly with the ball, as did all the bowlers and in my opinion the game was won in that first half,” he said.
“Mo and Clarkey set the tone perfectly and we just went from there.
“As a professional you go through emotions and over the past week I have had low and high. To bounce back in the way I did and to put in two performances to help to win a trophy for the club means the most to me.”
Cox admits his game plan was to see off the threat of spinners Will Beer and Danny Briggs before picking up the necessary runs against the quicker bowlers.
“I knew I would be able to use the pace and go behind the wicket. Some days it comes off, I have had plenty when it hasn’t but this was my day for some reason,” he said.
“I chipped one over long off and just got over Luke Wright who got a hand on one, another went just over the stumps. Little things need to go your way.”
Head coach Kevin Sharp praised the ‘brilliant response’ of Cox after he was dropped which included a century for the seconds before his finals day heroics.
“Someone had to play outstandingly well for us to get over the line on Saturday and Ben Cox did that,” Sharp said.
“He showed what he is capable of. It was a very difficult decision (to drop) on Ben. He is such a key member of this team but the decision was made on the balance of the team and on some performances.
“It was so tough and it was tough for Ben to accept that, but I have to say he responded brilliantly. He practiced superbly well for Saturday and he went out and did what he did. He deserves to be back in the team.”