Match Report

Luke Wells displays all-round credentials in first tour friendly against Middlesex

19 Mar 2018

A few days later than planned after Wednesday’s fixture against Western Province Academy was washed out, Sussex saw their first match action of 2018 on Sunday.

A 12-man team - with eleven batting - took on fellow tourists Middlesex in a 50-over friendly at the Vineyard Oval in Cape Town, ultimately falling to a 13-run defeat. Sussex would have played as a 13-man unit, but Luke Wright missed out as a result of an upset stomach.

There were encouraging signs for the season ahead as a number of batsmen and bowlers made contributions. Luke Wells was particularly impressive, taking two wickets with his leg-spin before scoring a fluent half-century at the top of the order.

It was agreed that Middlesex would bat first in this the first of two friendlies in as many days between the sides and Sussex, led by ‘keeper Ben Brown, looked sharp in the field from the outset.

Phil Salt gave Sussex an early breakthrough with a direct hit from cover to run out Sam Robson for two with the score on ten. Ollie Robinson then bowled James Franklin for 12 to leave Middlesex 37-2.

Robinson bowled with good pace and was unlucky not to add further wickets as the innings progressed. He opened the bowling with one of two of the Sussex Academy boys playing in this match, Will Sheffield. The 17-year-old swung the new ball with impressive control.

Steve Eskinazi and Max Holden rebuilt the Middlesex innings, putting on 76 for the third wicket before Wells caught Holden off his own bowling for 36.

A slightly sluggish, dry wicket suited the slow bowlers, with Wells bowling Esknazi (71) soon after.

In his first bowl since undergoing surgery on his knee over the winter, Danny Briggs delivered six tidy overs and picked up Middlesex’s fifth wicket when Robinson caught Robbie White with the score on 172.

Off-spinner, Jack Carson – the other Academician in the side – also kept the Middlesex batsmen on a reasonably tight leash. His four overs cost 21 runs.

Adam Barton was perhaps the pick of the Sussex bowlers. The left-arm seamer adapted intelligently to the wicket and his cutters proved a challenge for the middle-order to get away.

The 22-year-old MCC Young Cricketer bowled Scott and James Harris in quick succession to reduce Middlesex to 189-7.

A brisk 43-run eighth wicket partnership between Ollie Rayner and James Fuller took Middlesex past two hundred, before Abi Sakande had Fuller caught by Sheffield with the score on 232.

A few more blows from Rayner ultimately helped Middlesex to 266-9 from their 50 overs, the former Sussex man ending unbeaten on 43 from 21 balls.

Phil Salt and Wells got the Sussex reply off to a positive start, before Salt was caught off Tom Helm for 19 off 16 balls with the score on 28.

Wells and Tom Haines then looked like they might build a match-winning partnership.

Pushing for a regular place in Sussex’s white-ball side, Wells played authoritatively and tailored his innings to the conditions.

Always looking to be positive, he used his feet well to negate spin and a series of sweetly timed drives brought him nine boundaries. Two lofted sixes down the ground off Rayner were particularly pleasing on the eye.

Having put on 77 with Haines, however, Wells was dismissed for 60 off 64 balls when he was caught by Rayner off the bowling of Harry Podmore.

Haines followed shortly after for a watchful 30 and was the first of three of Sussex’s top-order to get an encouraging start before losing their wicket. Both Ben Brown (30) and Michael Burgess (29) looked well-set, but were unable to go on.

Jofra Archer – who after a busy winter was rested from bowling duties – hit a pugnacious 33 from number seven, but the rest of the lower order were unable to offer much support and Sussex were ultimately dismissed for 253 inside the 48th over.

The side have another opportunity for some match practice on Monday with Middlesex the opposition once again, with Sussex batting first on this occasion.

Follow the Sussex Cricket twitter account for updates throughout the day.

Tour friendly vs. Middlesex: Individual contributions

Phil Salt: 1 run out & 19 (16)

Luke Wells: 7-0-36-2, 1 catch & 60 (64)

Tom Haines: 30 (49)

Ben Brown*+: 30 (44)

Michael Burgess: 29 (29)

Ollie Robinson: 8-0-39-1, 1catch & 4 (7)

Jofra Archer: 33 (32)

Danny Briggs: 6-0-28-1 & 6 (10)

Jack Carson: 4-0-21-0 & 4 (13)

Abi Sakande: 9-0-61-1 & 7 (23)