Sussex suffer first defeat in Second XI T20

Sean Hunt's impressive cameo with the bat was not enough to save Sussex from defeat

Sussex suffered their first defeat of this year’s Second XI T20 competition in a high-scoring affair against Middlesex at Merchant Taylors’ School on Thursday.

Middlesex made the most of being asked to bat first by posting 234 for 2 from their 20 overs. Mitch Claydon and spinner Joe Pocklington were the only Sussex bowlers to go at less than ten an over. Stuart Meaker picked up both wickets on his way to 2 for 40 from four overs. Sam Robson made 70 from 46 balls at the top of the order, before Joshua de Caires (73 from 47) and Atharva Prasad (48 from 24) added an unbeaten 99 for the third wicket.

In reply, Harrison Ward got Sussex off to a promising start with 43 from 20 balls and was supported by Dan Ibrahim (29 from 20 balls). At 98 for 2 in the ninth over, Sussex were in the hunt, but four wickets for 15 runs in 22 balls shifted the momentum back in Middlesex’s favour.

Ben Brown (42 from 24 balls) and Sean Hunt (41 not out from 20 balls) played impressively, but had been left too much work to do and Sussex finished on 207 for 8 to give the home side a 27-run victory.

Despite the defeat, Sussex remain top of the South Division three matches of the group stage to play. The first of those is away against Kent on Monday 14th June.