David Wiese's top five Sussex performances

After it was confirmed David Wiese will return to Sussex in 2021, we've selected what we think are his top five performances in a Sussex shirt. Since arriving on the south coast in 2016, he's starred in all formats, and during the 2019 season, didn't miss a minute of action. 

Wiese played in every single match we played, scoring 1,206 runs and taking 46 wickets, and was in equally good form this year despite his late arrival due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The South African scored 281 runs at an average of 40.14 and with a strike-rate of 145.59.

You can find our top five David Wiese performances for Sussex below. Let us know via @SussexCCC on Twitter if we've forgotten any notable ones!

Sussex Sharks v Somerset, Vitality Blast semi-final, Edgbaston, 15th September 2018

The 2018 Vitality Blast semi-final was a fine opportunity for Wiese to show what he can do when the stakes are high. Luke Wright was going great guns at the top of the order as the Sharks batted first in their first T20 semi since 2012, but the skipper was struggling to find sustained support at the other end. Enter Wiese, who whalloped 52 from 29 balls – including one of the biggest straight sixes ever seen – and combined with Luke to add 120 for the fourth wicket in fewer than ten overs. The team made 202 for 8 from their 20 overs, a total Somerset could only get within 35 runs of as the Sharks booked their place in the final.

Sussex Sharks v Somerset, NatWest T20 Blast, The 1st Central County Ground, 1st June 2016

Wiese was at his brilliant best in his first ever appearance for the Sharks. A mammoth 156-run opening stand between Chris Nash & Luke Wright set the team up for an imposing total of 222 for 3 having been asked to bat first. The South African helped make sure Somerset got nowhere close, sending Peter Trego and James Hildreth packing on his way to four wickets in total. Tymal Mills stole the headlines for his electrifying dismissal of Chris Gayle, but Wiese had caught the attention of the Sussex management who would go on to convince the South African to join the club as a Kolpak player the following season.

Essex Eagles v Sussex Sharks, Vitality Blast, The Cloudfm County Ground, 4th July 2018

Hopes were high at Sussex as the Sharks began their 2018 Vitality Blast campaign with Jason Gillespie at the helm, and the world's number one T20 bowler, Rashid Khan in attack. However, it was Wiese who stole the headlines in the first game of the tournament, taking a stunning five-fer to earn his side a commanding 36-run victory. After the South African helped Luke Wright's side finish on 181-6 with an unbeaten 23, he bowled Tom Westley for 22, had Ryan Ten Doeschate caught behind for 0, and dismissed Ashar Zaidi for 20. Wiese then flew through Essex's lower order, with Matt Coles and Adam Zampa both out for ducks, to finish with figures of 5-24 and secure an opening-night win.

Hampshire v Sussex Sharks, Royal London One-Day Cup, The Ageas Bowl, 2nd May 2019

Sussex made the short trip along the coast to their south coast rivals, and reigning One-Day Cup champions, Hampshire full of confidence after a strong start to the 2019 competition. David had already impressed with a match-winning display against Surrey, but it was here at The Ageas Bowl where he wrote his name in Sussex folklore. After Ben Brown's men were set the daunting target of 356, the skipper and Wiese put on a club-record 232 for the sixth wicket, with the South African smashing 171 off just 141 balls. He peppered the boundary with 14 fours and nine sixes in a display of brute force and incredible hitting. Despite being caught in the deep while looking to go big again, it was still the highest score in Sharks history, and a knock that will live long in the memory.

Warwickshire v Sussex, Specsavers County Championship, Edgbaston, 16th April 2018

Wiese's maiden first-class century for Sussex came in thrilling fashion, with the South African all-rounder cracking 106 off just 105 balls to score first Championship ton of the 2018 season. Seventy-four of Wiese's runs came from boundaries, with the then 32-year-old hitting 14 fours and three sixes. He batted forcefully from the off, hitting cleanly on his way to three figures in 91 balls, and his century before lunch was all the more creditable when compared to the batting travails of most counties in the opening round of matches around the country, with rain and overcast conditions making conditions extremely tough. It was a mightily impressive knock, and followed figures of 4-56 for Wiese in Warwickshire's second innings.