Round-up for the week ending 17th February: career-best for Stiaan van Zyl

In just his second match of the South African domestic season, Stiann van Zyl posted the second highest score of the 2017/18 Sunfoil Series four-day competition. Scored off just 287 balls, his 228 for Cape Cobras during their match against Lions at Paarl was also a career best for the 30-year-old, and took his first-class century count to 24. Having finished up on 574-8 (the next best individual score after Stiaan’s was 66), Lions were bowled out for 562 in their first innings. After his seven-hour stay at the crease and with a draw all but guaranteed, Stiaan was given a rest in the Cobras’ second innings which had reached 117-4 when stumps were drawn on the final day.

Chris Jordan’s match stats of six not out and four overs, none for 41 might not appear particularly impressive on paper, but out in the middle he played a crucial role in England’s victory over New Zealand in their T20 tri series match at Hamilton on Sunday. Coming in at number nine, CJ faced one delivery and promptly dispatched it for six to lift England to 194-7; a match-winning contribution when you consider England’s two-run margin of victory. The all-rounder also conceded just a single boundary from his fourth and final over; his trademark yorkers leaving the hosts needing 12 off the final over, a task that was beyond them. Despite their win, England were denied a place in the tri series final thanks to New Zealand’s superior tournament net run rate.

CJ is congratulated by England captain Eoin Morgan

CJ was on the losing side when the two sides met earlier in the week in Wellington. He was among the most economical England bowlers and picked up the big wicket of Kane Williamson during the New Zealand innings and demonstrated that he is still one of the very best fielders in the world with a life-affirming one handed grab on the long-off boundary to dismiss Colin de Grandhomme. CJ made a run-a-ball six during England’s chase, which ultimately fell 13 runs short.

The focus of Michael Burgess and Phil Salt’s weekend was Adelaide University’s appearance at the Adelaide Oval in the South Australia state T20 grand final on Sunday. Before that, however, they had the second day of their first grade match against Sturt. Having resumed their first innings from the previous weekend on 85-4, Sturt surpassed AUCC’s first innings total of 192, reaching 197 all out. Michael took three catches behind the stumps, with Phil grabbing one in the outfield. There was time for another 26 overs, which allowed Phil to make a 42-ball 59 at the top of the order, Michael to reach 13 not out, and Adelaide University to finish the match on 132-3 in their second innings.

Sunday’s T20 grand final carried extra interest for Sussex supporters with former batsman, Joe Gatting on the team sheet for Tea Tree Gully, Adelaide University’s opponents. Batting first, AUCC had reached 106-3 after 16 overs – with rare failures for Michael (2) and Phil (1) - when the rain cut their innings short. Without any Duckworth Lewis involvement, the interruption proved crucial. Chasing 107 in 16 overs, Tea Tree Gully reached their total for loss of three wickets in 13 overs. AUCC have another shot at white ball silverware next weekend in the state one-day cup final on Sunday.

Ollie Robinson and Delray Rawlins are the remaining Sussex players in New South Wales Premier Cricket, with Abi Sakande now back in the UK. Ollie has plenty of overs under his belt so far this winter, and added another 20 on Saturday as St. George took to the field on day two of their first grade match against Randwick Petersham. Ollie finished with 0-57 as Randwick Petersham overcame St George’s 325 and recorded a first innings victory with two wickets and 2.1 overs to spare.

Delray had a quiet day two of Sydney’s second grade match against Eastern Suburbs on Saturday. Having already been dismissed the previous weekend, Delray spent much of the day in the pavilion as Sydney were dismissed for 140, some way off Eastern Suburbs’ first innings total of 220. Eastern Suburbs then had 29 overs to bat in their second innings, reaching 69-2 at the close. Delray bowled one over of his left-arm spin, going for two runs.

Ishant Sharma makes his winter watch debut having signed for the first two months of Sussex’s season earlier this week. The seamer was in one-day action for Delhi against Himachal Pradesh in India’s Vijay Hazare Trophy on Thursday. Opening the bowling, Ishant finished with very respectable figures of ten overs, 2-39 as Himachal Pradesh racked up 304-5 in their fifty overs. Batting at number ten, Ishant was run out for four as Delhi were bowled out for 302, agonisingly short of a thrilling victory.