County Championship: Hants v Essex – Cox and Elgar hit centuries

Jordan Cox reminded England of his talent with his fourth County Championship century of the season.

Cox was released by England to play for Essex against Hampshire after not being selected for the first Test against Sri Lanka this week.

He responded with a scintillating 124-ball 141 as the visitors closed day two on 404-8 with help from Dean Elgar’s masterful 51st first-class century.

Mo Abbas removed Robin Das lbw for five in the third over before Elgar and Tom Westley simply occupied the crease for the rest of the morning session as the new-ball pressure subsided.

Westley, who had soaked up 18 balls before scoring, was dropped at second slip on 27 but otherwise, the captain and opener looked unbreakable.

Elgar’s fifty came in 122 balls, and his century in 170 as he began to open up for his third Championship century since replacing Alastair Cook as Essex opener.

Westley, having put on 144 with Elgar, fell for 64 when he was caught and bowled by Liam Dawson.

Cox was effervescent from almost the moment he arrived at the crease against an ageing ball.

His sixes off James Fuller and Nick Gubbins were the headlines of his aggressive streak and suggested he was making up for lost time following his appendix operation during the last round of matches.

Having been dropped on 92, he reached three figures in 92 balls, with a straight drive that summed up his endeavours but at the other end, Hampshire’s grind was rewarded.

Kyle Abbott found former international team-mate Elgar chipping to mid off – which ended a 154 alliance with Cox – and removed Matt Critchley’s off-stump bail.

Abbas picked up Paul Walter, caught off a loose shot to midwicket, and Michael Pepper, caught at first slip first ball.

Simon Harmer was then leg before to Dawson as the shadows grew longer.