Stiddard knock sees Sussex to first win of season against Kent

Sussex 2ndXI recorded their first win of the season on Tuesday with a two-wicket victory over Kent in the Second Eleven Trophy at The 1st Central County Ground.

After Kent made 257-9 from their 50 overs, wicketkeeper Matt Stiddard’s unbeaten 69 from just 61 balls saw Sussex home with an over to spare.

Six of the seven bowlers used by Sussex took wickets. Captain Will Beer – continuing his return from a side injury – bowled his full complement of ten overs, taking 2-38.

After all of Sussex’s top four made at least 20 – including 40 for Sussex Boys’ Academy player Harrison Ward at the top of the order - a 62-run sixth-wicket partnership between Brandon Gilmour (40) and Stiddard took the team within 39 runs of victory with 39 balls remaining.

Three quick wickets left Sussex on 237-8, but some confident hitting from Stiddard with solid support from Abdullah Nazir secured the win.

Stiddard is a product of the Surrey Academy and a business economics and finance graduate of Loughborough University.

This is his first season playing second eleven cricket for Sussex, having previously played for Kent 2nd XI on eight occasions between 2014 and 2016.

Sussex begin their three-day Second Eleven Championship match against Kent today, again at The 1st Central County Ground. Play gets underway at 11am and entry is free.  

A scorecard from Tuesday's Trophy match is available for download at the bottom of this page.