Six wickets for Ollie Robinson before Northants strike back

It is little wonder that Sussex seamer Ollie Robinson has been hoping for a call-up for the England Lions this summer.  While the sensational Jofra Archer, his Sussex team-mate, has been capturing headlines across the globe, Robinson has been slowly building a reputation as one of the most consistent opening bowlers on the county circuit.

When he took his fifth wicket on the opening day of the Specsavers County Championship Division Two match against Northants, he had reached 200 first-class wickets in only his 50th match. He has now taken 110 championship wickets since the beginning of last season. Last year he took 74 wickets at 18.66, and this summer he already has 36 at 18.77 as he spearheads his side’s bid for promotion.

Robinson was not fully fit for last week’s disappointing defeat at home to Durham.  But he was back to his best here, achieving nasty bounce and movement in both directions.

He finished with figures of 6-63 as Northants were bowled out for 273 in 87 overs.  But the away side were still happy with their score after winning the toss and sliding to 99 for six, and then 205 for nine.

Northants have replaced Durham at the foot of the table and are still looking for their first championship win of the season.  Their hopes of making an impact were encouraged by the number of Sussex absentees. They were already without Archer and the injured Mir Hamza.  And before this match all-rounder Chris Jordan (tonsillitis) and Stiaan van Zyl (tennis elbow) pulled out.

Sussex were more in need of Robinson than ever before, and he didn’t disappoint. He broke through with the last ball of the opening over, when he had Ricardo Vasconcelos lbw for two.

It was 29-2 when Rob Newton edged Robinson to keeper Ben Brown. Aaron Thomason replaced Abi Sakande at 58-2 and against his first delivery, down the leg-side-side, Temba Bavuma got an inside edge to Brown.  At 76, Alex Wakely, on 36, was beaten by David Wiese and Laurie Evans took the catch at second slip.

There didn’t look much chance of a recovery when Rob Keogh was lbw to  Robinson with just one run added to the lunch score. And in Robinson’s next over Luke Procter edged and Luke Wells took an outstanding catch at third slip, moving his long arms very quickly to his left to take the chance two-handed.

Northants were 99 for six.  But then captain Adam Rossington and Saif Zaib put on 51 for the seventh wicket and there was a last wicket stand of 68 between Nathan Buck and Ben Sanderson before Robinson and Abi Sakande finished off the innings.

Northants soon made an impact with the ball. Varun Chopra, signed on loan from Essex to stiffen their top order batting, made just five and the returning Phil Salt a single as the home side limped to 7 for 2 at the close. 

Speaking at the close of play, Robinson said: "I thought everyone bowled well this morning.  But in thought the first few overs I bowled I thought the pitch was a bit slow.  It wasn’t really nipping.  But then the shine came off the ball and it got a bit nippier.  We ran out of steam a little bit.  We missed Chris Jordan today. On another day we might have bowled them out for 160.

"When I went to Australia a few winters ago it improved my game.  I learned to be patient.  The ball out there doesn’t do as much as ours.  And my fitness has improved, allowing me to bowl more overs in a day, and longer spells.  My main goal is to get Sussex promoted this year.”