Sussex vs Leicestershire | Day Four

Sussex eased to a seven-wicket win to complete an early-season double over Leicestershire in the Rothesay County Championship at Hove. 

Two lengthy rain stoppages delayed their pursuit of a target of 131 after they had dismissed Leicestershire for 232 in their second innings, but Sussex rattled along at more than eight runs an over to reach their target in 15.3 overs.

They did, however, receive a five-run penalty from umpires Surendiran Shanmugam and Michael Gough which was added to Leicestershire’s second innings total for a level 2 disciplinary offence after Daniel Hughes was caught behind off the first ball. 

Between the delays Tom Clark and Dan Ibrahim batted aggressively, especially after a second stoppage.

Both pulled Tom Green for six in the same over while Clark took Ian Holland for a six and two boundaries in the same over, forcing skipper Holland to scatter his fielders in the hope of more rain. 

The second-wicket pair added 76 at 8.4 an over before the unfortunate Clark (39 off 30 balls) was bowled behind his legs by Green and Ibrahim bowled through the gate by Ajaz Patel for 48.

By then there were blue skies overhead and James Coles’s undefeated 32 led Sussex to their third victory of the season.

Sussex had set up victory by taking the last six wickets for 73 runs after Leicestershire resumed on 154 for 4.

They struck in the first over of the day when Jonny Tattersall shouldered arms to an inswinger from Ollie Robinson which knocked back his off stump.

Robinson bowled skillfully again and was also involved in the calamitous run-out which cost Steve Eskinazi his wicket after the former Middlesex man had defied Sussex for more than two hours for 26.

He deflected Eskinazi’s straight drive in his follow through with his boot but when Eskinazi set off for a run his partner Ben Cox stayed put, leaving both batters at the same end as Fynn Hudson-Prentice threw in from mid-on. 

Green lost his off stump to a ball from Hudson-Prentice that kept low and when Tom Scriven flicked to mid-wicket Leicestershire’s lead was only 78.

But the last two wickets added a further 57 as Ben Cox shepherded the tail effectively. Off-spinner Jack Carson pinned Patel but Cox’s last-wicket alliance with Tom Helm added a further 33 runs before Robinson took the second new ball and had Helm caught behind to finish things off as he and Hudson-Prentice shared six wickets.