By Gareth James
Chris Cooke admitted smashing a century was “not even on my radar” before he made history with a ton to inspire Glamorgan to victory at Middlesex.
The wicketkeeper ensured a memorable Vitality Blast T20 triumph by striking Glamorgan’s fastest-ever century in T20 cricket off a mere 38 deliveries.
The remarkable feat propelled his team to a resounding 29-run victory over Middlesex in a high-scoring affair at Northwood.
Cooke’s unbeaten knock of 113, coupled with Colin Ingram’s undefeated 92, steered Glamorgan to an imposing total of 238-3.
Middlesex fought back valiantly through the contributions of Joe Cracknell (77) and Stevie Eskinazi (59).
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WHAT A KNOCK! Chris Cooke brings up his from just 3⃣8⃣ balls!!!!
UNBELIEVABLE! A maiden T20 century as he celebrates becoming our record T20 appearance holder!
: https://t.co/eaO2H3lHRt#OhGlammyGlammy | #MIDvGLAM pic.twitter.com/lb5njEbzWj
— Glamorgan Cricket (@GlamCricket) May 31, 2023
However, once the opening partnership was dismantled, Middlesex struggled to maintain the required momentum, ultimately finishing on 209-5.
Cooke, who turned 37 on Tuesday, said: “Not a bad way to celebrate my birthday and appearances record.
“I’m really glad we got over the line in the end, and I guess it was one of those days where everything comes off the middle of the bat which is nice.
“A T20 hundred wasn’t really on my radar, I’m a bit speechless but really chuffed we can go 2-1 up (two wins from three).
“It was about hitting strong shots, trying to hit the gaps since it was a quick-scoring ground. Colin and I just got into a really nice rhythm.
“It was quite frantic out there (in the Middlesex innings) but hats off to Pete (Hatzoglou), the way he bowled got us back in the game. We always knew a few wickets would get us back in the game and put pressure on the new batters.”
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“I’m a bit speechless at the moment!”
Chris Cooke after scoring our fastest-ever T20 century in our victory over Middlesex #OhGlammyGlammy | #MIDvGLAM pic.twitter.com/QkbhDML1Zj
— Glamorgan Cricket (@GlamCricket) May 31, 2023
Ingram, scorer of Glamorgan’s previous fastest hundred, said: “I thoroughly enjoyed watching Chris bat.
“Over the last few years we all know Chris can hit in that way and coming up the order gives him a bit more of an opportunity to do it more often.
“I was extremely excited for him today and it was great to be at the non-striker’s end to watch that sort of innings.”
Middlesex batter Joe Cracknell said: “We always know at out-grounds there’s going to be a few more runs scored, but hats off to Cooke and Ingram, some of the striking was phenomenal.
“I don’t think even if it was a big stadium, any boundary would be big enough.
“We got ourselves in a position with the bat where we thought we could have chased it and anything was possible, but regular wickets slowed the run-rate slightly and unfortunately we were on the wrong end of the result again.”
The partnership between Ingram and Cooke, standing at a formidable 187 runs, etched its name in the annals of Glamorgan’s T20 history as their highest-ever partnership. Additionally, it stood as the highest fourth-wicket stand for any county. Cooke’s innings included 19 boundaries, setting a new Glamorgan record.
In a separate milestone, Cooke surpassed Glamorgan’s appearances record in T20 cricket (138).
He capitalized on a dropped catch by Pieter Malan on 57, punishing the opposition by dispatching the next four deliveries for an impressive 20 runs.
In an astonishing display of power-hitting, Cooke raced from 50 to 100 in a mere 12 balls, delivering an array of remarkable straight shots and registering Glamorgan’s seventh century in the T20 format.
His innings featured 12 fours and seven sixes, overshadowing Ingram, who himself struck seven fours and six sixes.
️ | MIDDLESEX V GLAMORGAN | MATCH REPORT
Read about our defeat to Glamorgan in the @VitalityBlast at Merchant Taylors’ School.#OneMiddlesex #Blast23— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) May 31, 2023