Frustration for Sussex on rain-shortened day three

Play got under way six hours behind schedule on the third day of the LV=Insurance County Championship Group 3 match between Sussex and Kent. Kent resumed on 138 for 2, a lead of 27, at The 1st Central County Ground with the overnight batsmen Zak Crawley and Jack Leaning unbeaten on 61 and 18 respectively.

After the 24 overs that were bowled before the close, Kent had moved on to 220 for 3, a lead of 109, with Leaning unbeaten on 61.

The batsmen did their best to make up for lost time with a positive start after being frustrated by persistent rain and a very wet outfield at the southern end of the ground.  But Kent were helped on their way by not having to face Jofra Archer who, although taking the field, wasn't able add to his five overs from day two as a result of soreness in his elbow.

George Garton opened the bowling with Ollie Robinson and Leaning showed Kent’s positive intent from the first ball of the day, flicking Robinson through square-leg for four. Then the batsman pulled Garton behind square for four before upper-cutting Robinson to third man for another boundary.

Sussex made their first breakthrough with the score on 189 when Crawley, attempting to reverse sweep Jack Carson, was brilliantly caught at forward short-leg by Aaron Thomason for 85. He and Leaning had put on 130 for the third wicket. After an hour’s batting Kent had added 59 runs in 15 overs.

Sussex were sure they had Leaning caught behind off Robinson, but he survived and to add to the fast bowler's frustrations, his Kent namesake was dropped at first slip in the penultimate over of the day.

Providing an update on Jofra Archer's injury, Sussex head coach, Ian Salisbury said: “I think there was some confusion about the state of Jofra’s [right] elbow. Ben thought he was going to bowl but his elbow was sore and there was confusion over that and he couldn’t bowl.

"He’s not going to bowl tomorrow. Any time that Jofra can’t bowl you’re going to be frustrated as a leader, or as a team. But it happens. In sport people get injured. That’s life. That’s sport. He’s still willing to be out there because he wants Sussex to win."

Kent and England's Crawley said: "It was much nicer to bat today in the sun than in the overcast conditions of the past couple of days. Hopefully it will be overcast again tomorrow when we come to bowl, if we can get another 100 or so lead in the morning.  But if it’s sunny again we’re going to need a few more than that.

“Sussex were still ahead of the game at the start of play, so we had t make sure we didn’t lose wickets. I was disappointed to make another mistake between 50 and 100.  It’s something I will try to rectify.  But I feel in really good nick.  And if you can score 85 you can certainly score 100. I’m really pleased for Jack Leaning. He’s a really talented player and I’m really pleased for him. He’s a great bloke and he played some lovely strokes. He’s had a bit of a tough time but we all expected him to bounce back.

“I thought he [Archer] was going to start out today but he’s obviously having a bit of trouble with something. I’m not sure what it was. But he’s obviously not 100 per cent at the moment so hopefully he can get back to be fully fit for England.”