Sussex Sharks VI vs Northants VI

Sussex Sharks VI vs Northamptonshire VI: Match Report

Yesterday Sussex hosted Northants in Blind Crickets National Division 1. Northants had drawn their first two games and Sussex's only outing had also ended in stalemate but “Play Cricket’s” win predictor was giving a 55% win chance to the visitors.

 Sussex won the toss and asked Northants to have a bat. Scoring proved tricky and despite the loss of 2  early wickets Northants saw off the Sussex opening bowlers and progressed to 63 for 2. 

Sussex threw the ball to Marcus Kipling who then turned the course of the match. First Opener Asif Ali (35) holed out to square leg, then Northants skipper, David Howells (17), was spectacularly caught at long on running backwards by Alex Towers. 

Northants innings then fell apart. Kipling took another 2 wickets to return figures of 4 wickets for just 5 runs off his 4 overs. 

The Northants innings then concluded as England's Mark Turnham swept powerfully straight into the arms of Dan Field at square leg, with it being the birthday of both players this was a dismissal for the trivia buffs. Northants' innings ended on 82 all out.

Callum Weir (21) was promoted to open and set a solid platform at a run-a-ball. With 42 overs to get the runs, Sussex knew that sensible batting was all that was needed. 

However, when Northants tried to entice Dan Field to hole out with short pitched bowling, he brought the game to an early close blasting 36 not-out off just 13 balls, with Sussex completing the chase in the 11th over.

The result moves Sussex to within 1 point of London Metro at the top of the table.

Sussex will host London Metro on July 6th at Blackstone in an enticing fixture, which will complete the first half of the season.