Sussex Sharks vs Surrey

By Paul Weaver at Hove, ECB Reporters network supported by Rothesay

Surrey’s inconsistent Vitality Blast season received a major boost at Hove when they beat Sussex by seven wickets wickets with 4.3 overs to spare.  

Surrey must have thought they would be facing a chase well in excess of 200 when Sussex surged to 92 without loss in seven overs.

But Sussex failed to double their score from that position, losing ten wickets for 77 runs as bowlers Dan Lawrence and Tom Lawes put a stranglehold on the home team.

That left Surrey needing just 172 for victory and Will Jacks, with memories of his century here last season, and Australian Josh Philippe, making his first appearance for the club, led the way with a century stand for the second wicket, each scoring fifty from 25 deliveries.

After the early loss of Jason Roy, Surrey raced to 124 for one at the halfway stage. Philippe fell for 52 but Jacks, with an unbeaten 70 off 39 balls, saw Surrey comfortably home in the company of Lawrence with 27 balls remaining.

Sussex had chosen to bat and made a great start to their innings, striking 80 without loss off the six-over powerplay.

Dan Hughes, Sussex’s leading scorer in the competition this season, was matched by opening partner Harrison Ward, fresh from a 41-ball century for the second team at Horsham in midweek.

When Surrey captain Sam Curran came on to bowl the last over of the powerplay Ward hit him for 4-6-4-6-dot-4, the first six flying over square-leg and out of the ground.

But from 94 without loss in the eighth over Sussex lost quick wickets as Lawrence and Lawes brought some control back to the Surrey attack.

Ward was first to go, lbw to Lawrence whose opening over cost just two runs. Ward’s  29-ball 49 included seven fours and two sixes.

And in the next over Hughes drove Tom Lawes straight to Chris Jordan at extra-cover for a 19-ball 45, with six fours and two sixes.

James Coles, playing probably his last Vitality Blast game for Sussex before joining England’s T20 squad, had scored just two when he lifted Lawes to Jordan at long-on.

In the next over Oli Carter was bowled by Lawes for another two and when John Simpson swung Lawes straight into the hands of Lawrence at deep midwicket Sussex were suddenly 122 for five and had lost five wickets in as many overs for just 28 runs.

At that stage Sussex, with a long tail, relied on Tom Alsop, and he played well for 31 before clipping Reece Topley to fine leg.

Unusually, Lawrence and Lawes bowled out their full allocation in one spell, and in tandem, taking the first five wickets and turning the game.