Sussex Seniors 50+ 1st XI reach Quarter-Finals

Sussex Seniors 50+ 1st XI reach ECB 50+ County Championship Quarter-Finals

Sussex won the toss and decided to bat on what seemed a good Preston Nomads wicket. Martin Barry was out early on, but Jason Finch and Jason Oates then batted beautifully for the next 13 overs, until Jason Finch was bowled having scored a run-a-ball 37. 

Jason Oates was then well partnered by Tim Van Noort (24) to take the score onto 128-3 with 20 overs to go. As the ball softened and Dorset took the pace off the ball, scoring became more difficult; though Jason Oates reached a brilliant century with two consecutive sixes.

He was eventually caught for 106 from 108 balls; a fantastic innings, which showed his outstanding temperament and skill, as well as his wonderful ability to still hit a long ball. Brad Smith (39) and the Sussex lower order then accelerated the scoring to reach a total of 265-7 from 45 overs.

Sussex were keen to keep things tight early on in the Dorset reply; the aim being to get the required rate upwards of six as early as possible. However, Dorset started fluently, with the openers batting positively and Sussex not quite exerting the control they would have hoped for, and which had been a hallmark of their success in defending totals previously.

However, a combination of each of the team raising their game, and a strong belief in each other as a team, along with some excellent decisions from Jason Finch, allowed Sussex to exert increasing pressure on Dorset; scoring became difficult, particularly as the ball softened. 

Of particular note in the exertion of this pressure were Imran Khan (9-0-29-1) and Jason Oates (9-0-28-1), who both expertly judged the required pace to bowl on the Nomads’ track. Jason Finch (6-0-28-1), Tim Van Noort (6-0-25-0) and Mike Murray (9-0-36-1) all continued the good work, to maintain the squeeze and raise the required run rate to more than 10 runs per over.

Then, a resurgent Harry Chetwood (6-0-30-4) spinning the ball prodigiously, took four wickets in his final three overs to end the game, with Sussex winning by 81 runs. Though Jason Oates should rightly take the man of the match plaudits for his brilliant all-round display, it was a fantastic team performance and another example of the way that Sussex have been able to raise their levels and respond successfully to changing game situations.

It is an exciting run for Sussex this year, who are unbeaten in the competition this season. 

Under the excellent captaincy of Jason Finch, there is a belief in the side which has allowed team members to express their skill sets when required, and has also seen the whole team finding ways to dig deep and work hard for each other under pressure. Sussex have been seeded 4 in the knockouts after winning the South-East Group 5 and now await Leicestershire in a home tie in the quarter-finals.

Report written by Cheg Abraham.

For a full review of their season so far, please see the document below. The remaining fixtures & results for all Sussex Seniors teams can be found here.