Blast from the past: Rory Hamilton-Brown & Chad Keegan

To accompany our Blast from the past ticket offer for this year's Vitality Blast, we're revealing the identities of each member of the Sussex Sharks squad that won the twenty20 Cup back in 2009 and looking at their contributions to that memorable campaign. In the second installment, we focus on a player whose all-round contributions played a big part in Sussex's trophy win and acknowledge the contributions of one of the side's squad players.

RORY HAMILTON-BROWN

Appearances: 13

Runs: 227

Average: 20.63

Highest: 69*

Wickets: 9

Average: 12.0

Economy: 6.75

Best: 4-15

In the second and final year of his first stint at Sussex, Rory Hamilton-Brown was one of just four players to feature in all 13 of the team’s matches in the 2009 twenty20 cup.

Batting in the lower-middle order, his campaign got off to a slow start with the then 21-year-old scoring 25 runs and taking no wickets in the first five matches.

Luke Wright’s involvement in the World twenty20 presented Hamilton-Brown with the opportunity to move up to the top of the order for the home match against Middlesex and the elevation worked wonders.

His 69 not out off 47 balls – his first T20 half century - allowed Sussex to cruise to a seven-wicket win. The added responsibility with the bat also had a positive impact on Rory’s bowling. He picked up 3-15 with his off-spin earlier in the evening to help dismiss the visitors for just 116.

Rory was a dependable performer with the bat throughout the knock-out stages 

Another man of the match performance followed in the quarter final against Warwickshire. Hamilton-Brown hit 27 off 21 balls from number three as the Sharks posted 152, before taking four wickets in three overs. His haul included Jonathan Trott, who with 56 from 46 balls, was the only man who looked like threatening Sussex’s trip to Edgbaston.

At finals day, Rory continued his reliability with bat, scoring 29 in the semi-final against Northants and 25 in the final against Somerset. Fittingly for Sussex’s leading catch-taker in the competition, his three grabs in that final were also a vital factor in Sussex’s 63-run win. As was his wicket of Peter Trego who having smashed 27 off 14 balls was in danger of single-handedly snatching victory from Sussex’s grasp. With the third ball of his solitary over, Hamilton-Brown had him caught by Dwayne Smith and ended Somerset’s hopes.

Rory's catching was a big part of Sussex's success

CHAD KEEGAN

Appearances: 2

Wickets: 1

Average: 23.0

Economy: 7.66

Best: 1-13

After joining Sussex at the start of the county season, Chad made two appearances in the group stages of the 2009 T20 campaign, coming in as a replacement for Yasir Arafat. The first came in the eight-wicket win against Essex at Chelmsford. He bowled two overs with the new ball, picking up the wicket of Alastair Cook.

The next evening in a rain-affected match at Hove, the Mohican-ed right-arm seamer bowled one over for ten runs during Kent’s 11 over innings. Despite not taking any wickets, Sussex edged a thriller by two runs.

Tickets for all seven of Sussex Sharks’ Vitality Blast group matches at The 1st Central County Ground, Hove go on sale at 10am on Thursday 1st March and can be purchased online or by phone on 0844 264 0202.

The Blast from the past promotion offering adult tickets for the match against Surrey on Friday 13th July at 2009 prices will then be available until the end of March.

An even better value way to catch that match and the rest of Sussex’s home group games is the T20 Blast Pass, which provides adult entry for the equivalent of £14.14 per match. For more details click here.