Blistering fifties from Aneesh Kapil & Luke Wright give Sussex first T20 win

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Sussex began their Second XI T20 campaign with a win and a loss in a double header against Essex at Billericay CC on Thursday.

In the second match of the day, half-centuries for Luke Wright (58 off 34 balls) and Aneesh Kapil (54 not out off 25 balls) saw the visitors chase down Essex’s 191 for four with four balls and six wickets to spare.

Reese Topley and Ish Sohi were Sussex’s most economical bowlers, conceding 25 and 23 runs from their four overs respectively. Sohi was also rewarded with the wickets of Essex’s top scorer, Matt Pepper with the final ball of the innings.

Abi Sakande (2 for 33) and Elliot Hooper (1 for 52) were Sussex’s other wicket takers.

In the first match of the day, Essex also batted first. A 37-ball 57 from the experienced Varun Chopra was the main contribution to the home side’s 174 for 5.

Topley was very impressive on his way to figures of one for 12 from his four overs. Tom Haines picked up two wickets, with Sakande and Hooper taking one each.

After the loss of Wright, Haines (46 off 27) and Garton (38 off 36) put on 45 for the second-wicket to keep Sussex on track.

Garton and Kapil then added 47 for the third wicket before the latter’s dismissal prompted a collapse that saw Sussex slide from 113 for 2 to 144 for 9, handing Essex a 20-run victory.

The seconds are next in action on Monday, with two Second XI T20 matches against Glamorgan at Horsham.

Scorecards from both of Thursday’s games can be downloaded below.