Jofra Archer's top five performances for Sussex and England

Over what should have been our scheduled 2020 Vitality Blast campaign, 1st Central are putting the Sharks in the spotlight. This week, it's the turn of our #SharkAttack.

Today, we’ve taken a trip down memory lane to look back at five of Jofra Archer's most memorable performances in both a Sussex shirt and on the international stage…

Sussex CCC vs. Pakistan - 2016 tourist match

Archer was the star of the show on his first-class debut, taking figures of 4-49 against Pakistan at The 1st Central County Ground back in 2016.

The then 21-year-old, who was playing for Horsham in the Sussex Cricket League at the time, struck in only his second over to have Shan Masood caught behind for four, and then trapped the experienced Mohammad Hafeez LBW for 17.

Pakistan, who were touring the country ahead of that summer’s Test series against England, re-grouped to declare on 365-5, but Archer still managed to dismiss Azhar Ali for 146, and visiting captain, Misbah-ul-Haq for 68.

The match was eventually drawn after Harry Finch scored a splendid 103 in reply, while Luke Wells hit 93 and Phil salt also enjoyed an impressive first-class debut, finishing unbeaten on 37.

England vs. Pakistan - 2019 IT20

It was also against Pakistan that Archer made his IT20 debut, impressing at Sophia Gardens to take figures of 2-29, before Eoin Morgan led England to victory.

With his first ball of the day, Archer immediately topped 90mph and forced Imam-ul-Haq into gloving a hook shot to Ben Foakes.

When he returned to the attack, Archer then broke up the dangerous duo of Haris Sohail and Babar Azam, who had put on a third-wicket stand of 103.

Haris was the first to go when Archer’s slower ball saw the batsman pick out David Willey in the deep, and soon after Azam was the victim, as Archer capitalised on a mix-up in the middle to swivel and crash the ball into the non-striker’s stumps.

Pakistan completed their 20 overs on 173-6, before Morgan hit 57 to see his side home.

A special debut was capped off by the fact it was the first time Archer and his great friend, Chris Jordan, played for England together - while Phil salt was also called up to the squad for the first time.

Middlesex vs. Sussex Sharks - 2018 Vitality Blast

Archer sealed Sussex Sharks a stunning win in the 2018 Vitality Blast by taking a hat-trick against Middlesex at the Home of Cricket.

The fast-bowler had previously only played at Lord’s twice, but on his third appearance, he looked right at home and took the key wicket of Eoin Morgan.

Morgan had looked like steering Middlesex to victory, after the Sharks set their hosts 168 to win, but Archer had him caught on the boundary for 90 at the start of the final over.

Sussex’s hero then bowled Josh Simpson with a perfect yorker, and trapped James Fuller LBW with his very next ball as Sussex snuck home to win by 12 runs.

It was an amazing performance, and led the MCC to ask for Archer to donate his shirt to the Lord’s museum, which he was more than happy to do.

England vs. New Zealand - 2019 World Cup Final

Since taking his hat-trick at Lord’s, Archer has enjoyed many more memorable moments at the Home of Cricket, but his greatest is surely the World Cup final triumph.

Archer took 20 wickets on route to the final, which is the most ever recorded by an England bowler in a single World Cup campaign, while he also bowled more dot balls (371) than anyone else.

In the final, the Sussex star took 1-42 from his ten overs – bowling Matt Henry - as New Zealand set the hosts 242 to win.

That was a total Eoin Morgan’s men could only match after Ben Stokes’ heroics, so the final headed to a super-over.

Stokes returned to the crease alongside Jos Buttler, and England registered 15 from their six deliveries. In reply, it was Martin Guptill and Jimmy Neesham versus Archer, and what followed was the most dramatic conclusion to a cricket match ever.

After the first ball was adjudged as a wide, Neesham launched the second ball of Archer’s over into the crowd for six to put the World Cup trophy within New Zealand’s grasp.

They needed seven off the final four balls, and then 3 off the last two, but Archer showed nerves of steel to win his country the World Cup…

England vs. Australia - 2019 Ashes

After shining during the World Cup for England, Archer did the same during the Ashes.

The Sussex man produced a host of impressive performances during the series, but his display at Headingley, which David Warner described as “incredible Test bowling”, was arguably Archer’s finest.

He ripped the Australian batting order apart, first dismissing Marcus Harris with a beauty in the third over.

Warner was Archer’s next victim, with the batsman edging a fine delivery behind to Jonny Bairstow, and then Matthew Wade could do little to stop another terrific Archer delivery from trickling onto his stumps.

Archer was on fire by now, and after forcing James Pattinson to a 86mph delivery into the grateful hands of Joe Root at first slip, he got a deserved fifth when Pat Cummins was caught behind by Bairstow.

When Nathan Lyon was trapped LBW for 1, Archer had his sixth and figures of 6-45 – the best by an England bowler against Australia at Headlingley since Bob Willis in 1981. It was also Archer’s maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket in just his second Test match.