Sussex D40 vs Hampshire D40: Match report

Sussex D40 ran out 68-run winners against Hampshire in the penultimate game of the D40 Quest League season.

On a bright, but blustery day at Ansty CC, Sussex lost the toss and were asked to bat by Hampshire. Eager to get a first win of a significantly weather-interrupted season, the Sussex team talk was all about maximising the opportunity of batting on a good pitch & looking to take control of the game.

A tremendous start from the Sussex opening partnership of Scott Ridge (39) & Owen Piper (57) saw Sussex take control of proceedings, with the first wicket only falling once the duo had taken the score to 100, Piper falling LBW to Rochford (2/31).

Alfie Pyle joined Ridge, but his innings came to an end swiftly after the drinks break when he was clean bowled by an excellent delivery from Rochford for 6.

Callum Wolff joined Ridge now and the pair set about steadying things after two quick wickets. Having looked in control all innings Ridge was unfortunately caught & bowled by Alex MacAdam (1/21) off a leading edge leaving Sussex 133/3.

This wicket saw skipper James Bunday (21) join Wolff with clear intent of capitalising on the good start by pushing the scoring rate up a notch. The pair worked hard in building a partnership of 63 in quick time with positive running building pressure on fielders and bad balls being sent to the boundary.

Sadly a breakdown in communication saw both batters standing at the same end of the wicket and Bunday was the one that had to depart, but with Sussex now in a position to push well past 200 – which had not looked so likely a few overs previous.

Wolff was determined to cash in on his opportunity and duly pushed his own score past 50, batting well with Dan Gee (11*) until the end of Sussex’s 40 batting overs. Wolff closed with an unbeaten 59, coming at a run-a-ball, which was an excellent contribution to the total of 236/4.

Sussex had a good score to defend & headed to the tea interval determined to do just that in the second half.

Sussex’s bowling innings started brightly with the opening duo of Gee (2/28) & Pyle (2/14) both bowling seriously well.

This second excellent opening partnership of the day for Sussex, this time with ball rather than bat, set the tone for the innings and really broke the back of the Hampshire chase before it had begun.

The pair were backed up ably by Bunday (2/47), Charlie Ferguson (1/17), Jake Vosloo (2/36) & Declan Dexter (1/20) who all contributed well.

The fielding was largely excellent throughout, some tough chances for catches went begging which may have hurt on another day, but the writing was on the wall early in the innings and it was really a matter of when Sussex would pick up the final wicket to complete an impressive victory.

That wicket duly came when Jordan Dore (41) picked out James Dallaway who took a second fine catch of the day in the deep off Bunday’s bowling to wrap up the Hampshire reply for 168 all out.

Sussex can be rightly proud of a victory that saw contributions from all players, runs for all who batted, and wickets for all who bowled. A real team effort that showed the togetherness of the whole group & highlighted the need for all players to contribute, and that they can all be relied on to do so.

Sussex will travel north to Lancashire for their final game of the season hoping to build on an excellent win & finish the D40 campaign on a high.