Sussex vs Leicestershire: Day 4

Sussex vs Leicestershire: Day Four Match Report

Leicestershire’s Louis Kimber rewrote the record books with an astonishing 243 but it came in a losing cause against Sussex in a dramatic final day at The 1st Central County Ground.

The 27-year-old produced one of the best innings in County Championship history, scoring the fastest double hundred from balls faced (100), hitting the most sixes and the most runs in a single over.

Kimber was last out when he dragged a leg-cutter from Nathan McAndrew onto his stumps with only last man Josh Hull for company as Sussex squeezed home by 18 runs to strengthen their position at the top of the second division.

Kimber faced just 127 balls and 206 of his runs came in boundaries with 20 fours and 21 sixes, breaking Ben Stokes’ Championship record of 17 sixes set in 2022. 

Every Sussex player warmly congratulated him and his teammates and the backroom teams from both sides formed a guard of honour as he walked off to a standing ovation. 

It was the third time in three years that a Leicestershire batter had scored a double hundred in this fixture. 

What made it even more remarkable was Kimber’s record until today. He made his only previous century against Sussex in 2022 and averages a modest 24.46 but he cut, pulled and drove the Sussex attack to distraction in an uninhibited exhibition of power and timing in the fourth-highest score by a No.8 in first-class cricket.

He offered a difficult chance on 17 to Tom Alsop at slip which burst through his hands and Jack Carson nearly hung on to a ball struck with ferocious power over deep mid-wicket which took Kimber to 150, but otherwise there was very little Sussex’s bowlers could do to stop the onslaught. 

Kimber was circumspect initially and scored 26 off his first 30 balls before a calculated assault took him to a 37-ball fifty.

When Ben Mike lobbed up a simple catch to mid-off Leicestershire needed 29 to win and with No. 11 Hull, who averages 3.25, for company Kimber had no option but to go for broke. His 21st six off Robinson sailed over long on but in the next over McAndrew had the final word.

Report Provided by ECB Reporters' Network

Reaction from Paul Farbrace after another remarkable win for Sussex on day four