Carla Rudd vigil in vain as Sussex lose to Nottinghamshire

Despite an impressive performance in the field and an obdurate innings from Carla Rudd, Sussex lost by 23 runs in a low-scoring Royal London One-Day Women’s Championship match against Nottinghamshire on Monday.

The game formed part of  Women’s County Cricket Day and there was a healthy crowd in situ at the Sir Rod Aldridge Cricket Centre.

They watched Sussex field first after captain Georgia Adams won the toss ahead of her one hundredth senior appearance for the county.

The new-ball pairing of Freya Davies and Tara Norris made early inroads with wickets in the third and fourth overs.

Nottinghamshire found it tough to score on a slow pitch and with big boundaries, so that when Nancy Harman and Linsey Smith struck with the last ball of the 19th and first ball of the 20th over respectively, Sussex were on top at 43 for 4.

A 52-run fifth wicket partnership swung things back the visitors’ way, but a brace from off-spinner Chiara Green – one via a catch off her own bowling and one bowled – meant that Notts were six down with the score on 101.

Norris was excellent at the death, adding two more scalps to her tally, before Paige Scholfield and Davies polished off the tail with Notts dismissed for 150.

The home side had bowled and fielded superbly, with the side’s catching a particular high point.

The Sussex reply did not start well, however. Adams, Izzy Collis, Green, Scholfield and Smith all departed cheaply in the face of some disciplined bowling led by experienced England international Jenny Gunn, and the home side were in desperate trouble at 29 for 6 in the 21st over.

Sussex’s number four, Carla Rudd was unmoved at the other end even if she was finding scoring difficult. She received some support from Ella Wadey and Davies who both made 13, but it was with Norris that she formed the first significant partnership of the innings.

The pair added 40 for the ninth wicket as Norris played some attacking shots and the runs began to flow more freely for Rudd. With 40 required, however, Norris was caught for 24 looking to clear the long, straight boundary.

That brought Harman to the crease and she and Rudd took Sussex to within 24 of victory. It was not meant to be, however, as Rudd was trapped in front having top-scored with 39 to give Nottinghamshire the win.

FULL SCORECARD HERE