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Match Report

Encouraging signs on day one of friendly against Hampshire

26 Mar 2018

On Jason Gillespie's first day in charge of Sussex, Luke Wells and Luke Wright transported their good form from South Africa to Southampton. The pair both made half centuries on day one of the two-day friendly against Hampshire at The Ageas Bowl.

Their 122-run fourth wicket partnership in tricky conditions steadied the Sussex innings - after Hampshire’s new ball pairing of Chris Wood and Gareth Berg had left things looking decidedly unstable at 9-3 – and helped them to reach 206-4 at the close.

Wells witnessed the loss of three partners within the first seven overs as Phil Salt, Tom Haines and Harry Finch fell for ducks. He, however, looked untroubled.

The fluency with which he played against the moving ball is testament to the excellent form with which the left-hander has started the season. This was his fourth fifty in as many innings following on from his clean sweep on the pre-season tour.

Wells’ timing was impeccable and his drives zipped to the boundary, making it hard to believe that he was sending the ball across a lush, early-season English outfield rather than one parched by months of Cape Town sun.

Wells tweet

Despite his excellent form, Luke Wells is clearly hungry for more!

At the other end, Wright was rock-solid in defence, only occasionally allowing himself the release of a big shot when a delivery warranted it. It was one of those that took Sussex into the lead – a six over extra cover off Matt Salisbury.

Wright was on 38 when Wells was caught at mid-on off Salisbury for 90 in the 32nd over of the innings; his first driving error of the day.

That brought Ben Brown to the crease who made a breezy 40 not out. Wright went past fifty two overs after his captain has joined him and finished unbeaten on 73 at the close with Sussex 79 runs ahead.

Things are always liable to change in these pre-season matches, but as it stands Sussex are set to resume their first innings tomorrow morning.

Earlier, Hampshire had made 127-6 in the 45 overs that the captains had agreed would constitute the home side’s first innings.

Under blue skies, Ollie Robinson and Abi Sakande took the new ball for Sussex. Both beat the bats of the Hampshire opening pair on a regular basis but without creating any hard and fast chances.

With the score on 41-0, 17-year-old Academy bowler, Will Sheffield entered the attack in the thirteenth over and promptly bowled Jimmy Adams, a batsman 20 years and 218 first-class matches his senior, with a delicious inswinger.

Sakande then struck twice in his second spell, pinning Tom Alsop in front with his first ball back, before having Lewis McManus caught by Harry Finch at second slip.

The introduction of Will Beer brought Sussex another as Chris Wood, promoted up the order, was adjudged LBW for none.

Defying the notion that spinners aren’t effective on English wickets until later in the season, Beer then snared another victim soon after lunch as Gareth Berg became the second batsmen to fail to pick the leg-spinner and be dismissed leg before.

Hampshire’s hundred came up in the 36th over with opener Joe Weatherley holding things together on 71 not out.

Spin also accounted for the final wicket of Hampshire’s pre-agreed stint at the crease, with Danny Briggs bowling Calvin Dickinson for a duck in the 37th over.

The change of innings came soon after with Weatherley unbeaten on 87.

The Specsavers County Championship returns to The 1st Central County Ground on Friday 27th April, when Sussex welcome Gloucestershire. Catch every ball of Sussex’s Championship and Royal London One-Day Cup matches at Hove and enjoy a host of other benefits by becoming a Member for the 2018 season.

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