Sharks cruise to semi-final of Royal London Cup

Sussex propelled themselves towards a home semi-final in the Royal London One-Day Cup after their rampant batsmen made 400 for four against Middlesex at The 1st Central County Ground, hitting 249 from their last 20 overs.

They were led by an unbeaten 189 not out by Tom Alsop, his best List A score, while captain Chet Pujara continued his spectacular form with 132, the pair adding 240 for the third wicket in 27 overs as Sussex topped Group A with six wins in eight matches.

The Sussex total was their highest score in one-day cricket, beating their 399 in a 40-over game in Horsham. 

Long before they were finished, they had passed their previous one-day best against Middlesex, 333 for four at Hove last year. 

It was also the highest one-day score against Middlesex, beating Nottinghamshire’s 368 for two at Lord’s in the same competition in 2014.

That left Middlesex needing to beat their previous best chase (292 for four against Surrey at Lord’s in 2014) by a big margin.  Essentially, Middlesex were required to play Twenty20 cricket for 50 overs. 

And, with their deep batting, they kept coming at the Sussex bowlers even as the wickets tumbled. 

Joe Cracknell led the way with a 73-ball 71, with ten fours and there were plenty of bright cameos, but the task was overwhelming, and they were bowled out for 243 in 38.1 overs.

Tom Alsop and Ali Orr took 58 runs off the opening ten overs before Orr was caught behind against the impressive Thilan Walallawita, and it was 95 for two in the 18th over when Tom Clark was bowled Max Harris. 

Alsop and Pujara then took the innings away from the visitors, putting on a massive 240 for the third wicket in 27 overs.

Pujara started methodically, as he always does, and reached his half-century from 49 deliveries; he then doubled his strike rate, scoring 82 more from another 41, finishing with 20 fours and two sixes in his third century in the competition.

After 32 overs Sussex were 160 for two, scoring at exactly five an over.  They added 240 runs in their final 18 overs. 

The spinners Walallawita and Luke Hollman – early on – put a brake on the Sussex scoring.

But Middlesex’s success with their slower bowlers ended when Stoneman’s three overs went for 33 and both Alsop and Pujara got after Martin Andersson, who conceded 110 in his nine overs, and Harris, who went from 90 in ten.

In response, Middlesex never looked like chasing down what was a mammoth total set by the Sharks.

Once again the home side were disciplined with the ball, never letting the Middlesex batters settle.

There was a wicket for Fynn Hudson-Prentice, who bowled for the first time this season following a stress fracture to his back.

Young seamer Henry Crocombe once again finished wit his best List A bowling figures, taking 3-33 from his 7 overs, in another brilliant one-day display.

Delray Rawlins, who has gone from strength to strength in the Royal London Cup, took another 3 wickets, and there were also wickets for Currie, Karvelas and Coles as Sussex wrapped up the innings in just 38.1 overs.

The Sharks have earned themselves a home semi-final, due to take place on Tuesday 30th August at The 1st Central Country Ground.