Jordan Cox was “absolutely chuffed” to score his maiden first-class hundred on Sunday as Kent dominated proceedings against Sussex in their Bob Willis Trophy group game.

After bowling Sussex out for 332 early on in the day, Kent reached stumps on 338 for the loss of just one wicket with Cox not out on 167 after putting on an unbeaten partnership of 231 with Jack Leaning, who scored 110 not out.

The game is Cox’s fifth first-class game for Kent, and it’s safe to say he was buzzing to get his first century after play on Sunday.

“I was a bit nervous going out in my fifth game, but I told myself it’s a good wicket, so play good shots and you’ll get the reward” said the 19-year-old. “I did that, and luckily it came off.

“I was absolutely chuffed to get my first 100. I had dreamt of it, but never thought it was going to come this early. I was told when I came back from lunch to stick in there, keep going, so was a bit excited to start going after it but I was told to keep working and keep my head down and make sure I put them under the pump for a lot longer.

“Early on it did a bit with the new ball but it was always a case of saying to myself and Deebz [Daniel Bell-Drummond] to get through it. Then it will be easier – as it showed.”

Cox reached his 100 with a six down the ground off spinner Jack Carson, and was only in the so called ‘nervous 90s’ for six balls.

“I am not going to lie, when I was on 97, I was very nervous” he said.

“But I told myself to play good shots, and I saw this ball early in flight and thought it was six or out. I went for it and it came out of the middle of my bat and I turned to the boys and knew.

“It is the happiest moment of my career so far.”

Cox and Leaning saw play out for the day, and the two have formed a good friendship since Leaning’s arrival earlier on this year.

Cox himself is pretty new to the senior team, having played just four first-class games, one List A game and seven T20s.

“I was thrilled for him” said Cox, speaking about Leaning. “Since he has come in, he has been a really close friend, so for him to get a 100 here made my day as much as scoring my runs has. I was really happy for him.

“[The players are] such a good bunch. Coming into the side I wanted to prove I should be in it. That was quite a big thing for me, and to score a ton today is a dream come true. I am really happy.”

Kent can bat for a maximum of 35 more overs on Monday until they will be forced to declare under tournament rules, but Cox expects the team to carry on where they left off and go big.

“I do not want to give too much away!” he joked.

“I imagine it will be the same old, same old. We are striking OK at the moment, so it is just about putting the bowlers under pressure, manipulating the fielders and putting them where we want to put them.

“It is going to be hard because the new ball is coming, but it is about getting in and the wicket is beautiful. It is doing a bit, but that is the odd ball. The newer ball goes further, so it is not a problem for us.

“I am not really thinking about the 200, I am thinking about how as a team we can put pressure on Sussex and keep them in the dirt. Hopefully we’ll only need to bat once.

“I am still there at the end of the day and I hope they [Sussex] are miserable tomorrow morning as well.”