Second XI draw with Somerset in Championship fixture

Jonty Jenner and Elliott Hooper both scored half-centuries as the Sussex Second XI drew with Somerset in the Second Eleven Championship on Thursday. 

After Tom Haines scored a century against the Cidermen in the Second Eleven Trophy on Monday, the three-day Championship fixture began on Tuesday at Blackstone with Somerset batting first. 

Eddie Byrom and Marcus Trescothick opened for the visitors, and Byrom was the first to fall when he was bowled by Luke Wells for just ten off 100 balls. Trescothick looked more comfortable in the middle - scoring eight boundaries - before he was trapped LBW by Adam Barton for 53 in the 38th over. 

After the two openers were dismissed, Ben Green and Tim Rouse batted brilliantly, and put on a 202-run partnership with both scoring centuries. Green's 100* included eleven fours and one six, while Rouse's 102* featured eleven fours, before Somerset declared on 311-2 off 97.3 overs. 

In reply, Harrison Ward and Tom Haines opened for Sussex, but the Somerset attack, which included the likes of Jack Brooks and Jack Leach, bowled well and gave little away. 

Hooper top-scored for the hosts, finishing unbeaten on 59 with an innings that included eleven fours and a single six. Hooper was well supported by Jenner, who scored 54, before the 21-year-old was LBW to England international, Leach. 

Sussex were all out for 183, with Somerset still 128 runs ahead when Steven Davies and Trescothick began the second innings. Ishwardot Sodi - an MCC Young Cricketer - was the first to make the breakthrough for the home side, when he had Trescothick caught by Will Sheffield for 19. 

Byrom, batting at three in the second innings, was next to fall, departing for 11 when he was once again beaten by Luke Wells' leg break. Davies top-scored for Somerset with 63, but he was caught behind by wicket-keeper Michael Burgess off the bowling of Will Collard. 

Collard got his second wicket of the innings when he bowled Tom Lammonby for 35, but Rouse and Charley Reed finished unbeaten on 38* and 9* respectively, as Somerset declared on 195 off 45 overs, and the match was drawn. Sussex took six points from the match, while the visitors took 13.

Sussex are back in action on Monday 13th May when they play MCC Young Cricketers at Shenley.