Essex hat-trick hero Sam Cook revels in going back to basics

The first Englishman to bring up three in a row for the Eagles in the T20 Blast believes the current group are better than the one which won the title in 2019

Sam Cook has attributed his first senior hat-trick to keeping things simple after Essex Eagles beat Kent Spitfires in the T20 Blast.

Tawanda Muyeye, Sam Billings and Jordan Cox were dismissed in successive deliveries to help secure a four-wicket win at Canterbury, as part of match figures of 4 for 18 for the 25-year-old.

Cook's first three-in-a-row in professional cricket makes him the first Englishman to achieve the feat in the T20s for Essex.

Tim Southee, Shaun Tait and Simon Harmer - during victory at Sussex last Thursday (June 1) - are the others on the roll of honour.

Cook, a subject of interest from England scouts of late, had endured a slow start to the competition, taking three wickets in the opening four matches.

Simon Harmer celebrates on his way to a hat-trick over his own against Sussex (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

But successive four-wicket hauls - he picked up 4 for 20 in the Chelmsford win over Sussex - represents a timely return to form.

"To be honest I started the season pretty poorly in the powerplay so in the last couple of games I just tried to go back to basics as well, hit the seam and challenge the stumps and it's worked for the last couple of nights," he reflected, according to the ECB Reporters Network.

"In this format, you can try a million things and sometimes it is better to just try and simplify things and go back to what you do well. It's worked well in the last couple of games and hopefully, it will in the future."

The heroics from Cook and wickets for Daniel Sams, Shane Snater, Harmer and Matt Critchley limited Kent to 150 for 8 from their 20 overs. Though Feroze Khushi and Dan Lawrence departed early into the chase as the visitors were reduced to 31 for 4, Matt Critchley (63 not out) played a fine hand before Will Buttleman (17 not out) helped complete the job with 10 balls to spare.

Cook was part of the 2019 Blast triumph but believes this current squad are even stronger (Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

"It was nice to get the wickets but even more special to get it in a winning cause, that's the most important thing. We were happy to restrict them to 150 and to knock it off. The way Critch played, Butters played well at the end all the lads chipped in, so it was a good win on what appeared to be a tricky wicket."

Back-to-back victories leave Essex fifth in the South Group after six games but having played one game fewer than the top three of Somerset, Surrey and Hampshire Hawks. They travel to Glamorgan on Friday (June 9) before the Blast breaks for a round of County Championship fixtures.

Much of the squad remains unchanged from the group which scooped the 2019 title but Cook believes, following last term's quarter-final run, this year's roster is stronger than ever.

"Especially over the last two years, even though we did win it in 2019 I think we're a much, much better side than we were then," he added. "I think we've really evolved, we've had a bit of a change of personnel with young lads coming in and new faces, but everyone contributing is the most pleasing thing."

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