Sussex Sharks start 2021 Vitality Blast with emphatic victory in Bristol

Phil Salt and George Garton gunned down a target of 178 with 16 balls to spare to get Sussex off to winning start in the Vitality Blast with a five-wicket win at Gloucestershire.

3,600 were admitted into Nevil Road, with all tickets sold in advance, but they were sent home disappointed by a flat-out chase.

Salt, in his first appearance of the season for Sussex, made 77 not out from 49 balls and Garton, who had only made 103 runs in 23 T20s before this, made 46 from only 25 balls as Sussex waltzed home.

Great to have you back, @PhilSalt1! 😏

His fifty came off just 32 balls with five fours and two maximums! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/vZyrdwdR9E

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) June 11, 2021

The chase was initially under pressure as David Payne held Travis Head, for 2, at short-third man before taking Ravi Bopara caught and bowled first ball. Josh Shaw then took out David Wiese’s off stump for only 11 and Delray Rawlins clubbed Graeme van Buuren to long-on to leave Sussex 57 for four after the Powerplay.

But Sussex kept the pedal down. Salt lifted two sixes over long-on and whipped Matt Taylor behind square for four. He slapped Shaw for two further boundaries and with Garton slog-sweeping two sixes to the short side, the chase was in control at 102 for four by halfway and they never relinquished their position.

It rendered Gloucestershire’s 177 for seven well short having been sent in. Glenn Phillips made 42 from 27 balls but he and the rest of the order threatened greater damage but Sussex took regular wickets to keep their hosts in check.

Sussex handed a debut to 16-year-old Archie Lenham, who became the second-youngest player in Blast history after Hamidullah Qadri for Derbyshire in 2017, and he enjoyed a fine debut with one for 34.

A legspinner who plays club cricket for Eastbourne, he was handed the seventh over and bowled with confidence, using his change-ups, bowling quickly and flat with a large leg-side boundary for comfort. He conceded five from his first over and then forced Jack Taylor to hole out to long-on, drawing a heart-warming joyful leap of celebration.

The second 16-year-old to take a wicket for us in the last week! 👏

What a moment for Archie Lenham on debut. @Delraw09's smart catch is off camera but look at those celebrations! 🥰 pic.twitter.com/A31Ek041Eo

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) June 11, 2021

A third over saw him heaved twice over deep midwicket by Phillips but was trusted with a final over that conceded only seven.

Garton’s career-best effort with the bat followed a fine performance with the ball where he claimed three for 19, including leaking only three from two overs in the Powerplay.

After the game, captain Chris Jordan, standing in for Luke Wright who split webbing in his hand on Thursday, said: "I’m very proud of the boys the way George and Phil played were mature, big innings and it’s very exciting for the team.

“We almost lost the game in the Powerplay but they kept the pressure on.

“The way young Archie bowled on debut was great, I thought he bowled very well and I hope it bodes well for him for the future."

Listen to CJ's full interview with BBC Sussex Sport's Adrian Harms here: