Sharks concede opening game of T20 Blast

Sussex fell to an opening match defeat at the start of the Vitality Blast campaign.

Mohammad Rizwan made a brilliant 81 not-out in his first T20 innings at The 1st Central Ground as the Sharks set Glamorgan a target of 151 to win the game.

The 29-year-old was making his Blast debut and showed all the skills that have taken him to third in the ICC world rankings, hitting three sixes and six fours and facing 60 balls. 

Fellow debutant Josh Philippe was run out, however he can count himself unfortunate that a third umpire was not present, as on second look he may have been home.

Glamorgan fielded with intensity and took some fantastic catches to restrict the home side to a total that looked as though it would be at least 20 or so runs short.

Steve Finn started his Sharks career by taking the wicket of Glamorgan opener David Lloyd who played onto his stumps to give the home side early belief.

From then on Labuschagne and Northeast took control of the game as they put on a second wicket stand of 82 off 61 balls.

Labuschagne eventually fell to a great catch by Harrison Ward off the left-arm spin of Delray Rawlins, but it was not enough to stop the visitors winning the game with an over to spare.

Reaction from Head Coach James Kirtley