Rawlins and Kapil score half-centuries as seconds draw

Delray Rawlins and Aneesh Kapil both scored half-centuries as Sussex drew with Lancashire in a three-day friendly at Horsham CC this week.

Much like the rest of the country, heavy rainfall disrupted the action in West Sussex after the home side won the toss and elected to bat on Tuesday. 

Brandon Gilmour and Tom Haines opened the batting but were first to fall in cloudy conditions, with Gilmour out for 0 and Haines dismissed for 16. 

Saf Imtiaz also fell for nought when he was caught behind by George Lavelle off the bowling of Toby Lester, but Kapil offered some much needed resistance with a well crafted 50 off 99 balls.

Kapil's half-century included two fours and a single six, and when he was joined at the crease by Rawlins, the pair looked to rebuild the Sussex innings.

Rawlins raced to his fifty in just 45 balls, with seven fours and one six taking him to the milestone, before he was bowled by George Burrows and Kapil was stumped by Lavelle either side of lunch.

Alastair Orr finished not out on 31 off 55 balls, but could only watch on as Stephen Parry bowled well at the death to dismiss Elliott Hooper for 25 off 19 balls, Harry Startin for nine and Shaw for five and leave Sussex all out for 234 off 54.3 overs. 

In reply, Lancashire openers Jamie Crawley and Owais Shah added 80 for the first wicket before Crawley was caught by Nick Oxley off the bowling of Startin for 41. 

On day two, Shah continued to bat well after his confident start the previous afternoon, and was well supported by Danny Lamb, who scored 28 before being caught by Rawlins off the bowling of Harman, and Jake Lehmann, who scored 59*. 

Shah was eventually dismissed for 120, after facing 155 balls and scoring fifteen fours and four sixes, when was bowled by Oxley. Lavelle added seven runs to Lancashire's total before the visitors declared on 275-3 off 69 overs. 

Sussex's second innings got underway, but the match was quickly drawn after persistent rainfall with Rawlins unbeaten on eight and Haines unbeaten on 0 having not faced a ball.