Orr top scores for Sussex on an entertaining day 3

Ali Orr top scored for Sussex making 59 runs after New Zealand declared on 342-3* overnight, but the hosts were eventually bowled out for 247.

The friendly Tour fixture enabled both sides to rotate their squad’s and gave Sussex the opportunity to give vital time out in the middle for a number of players who recently returned for injury.

Openers Ali Orr and Tom Haines were first at the crease for the hosts, and it was Orr who made the most of the excellent conditions in an impressive innings that saw him hit 11 boundaries, including three sixes.

Skipper Haines made a quick 41 off 56, a knock that included nine fours, before he was caught by Will Young off the bowling of Colin de Grandhomme.

Both Tom Alsop and Tom Clark can feel aggrieved to have been given out by the umpire. Alsop was given caught behind although the ball appeared to have missed the edge of his bat and clipped his back leg.

Shortly after Clark was given lbw off the bowling of Jacob Duffy, however it appeared that the ball may have been drifting down the legside.

Orr was eventually trapped lbw by Matt Henry, making way for wicket-keeper Oli Carter who was buoyed by his composed 72 away at Leicestershire the week before.  

The returning Fynn Hudson-Prentice can take confidence from his knock of 39, playing an important role in stabilising the Sussex innings alongside Orr as they put together a partnership of 57 after lunch.

Fynn was bowled by de Grandhomme and was replaced at the crease by another returnee in Dan Ibrahim. The right-arm fast bowler managed to get 11 valuable overs under his belt yesterday following a shoulder injury that he sustained just before the start of the LV= Insurance County Championship.

Ibrahim and Carter were both dismissed either side of tea. Rawlins and Atkins fell next, then Ollie Robinson came to the middle for an entertaining cameo and wasted no time making 36 from 23 before being caught by Duffy off Bracewell’s bowling.

Sussex were all out for 247 with 10 overs remaining in the day but can take many positives against one of the world’s best in international cricket.

New Zealand took the opportunity to squeeze in a little more batting, closing the day on 40 runs.

Day 4 ticket information

Due to the expected poor weather, entry to The 1st Central County Ground tomorrow will be free of charge for our fourth and final day against New Zealand.