Sussex vs Surrey: Day Two

Tom Clark reached a classy century against a strong Surrey attack on day two of their pre-season match at The 1st Central County Ground before the rain brought a premature end to the game, which ended in a draw. 

Sussex finished on 165-3 from 49 overs when the rain came during the lunch break, having added 105 runs to their overnight score. 

Clark’s 100 was brought up off 159 balls, retiring on 102, after pulling a Jamie Overton bouncer to the square-leg boundary for four in the 44th over of the innings. 

He was one of seven Sussex batters to score more than 600 runs in the County Championship last year, and he will be hoping to build on his pre-season form in the 2024 Championship.  

Clark and Tom Alsop put on 124 for the second wicket, before the gutsy Alsop was caught at short-leg for 32. 

Sussex began day two, 60 for one, with Clark unbeaten on 40 and Alsop on 12. 

Yesterday’s toss was uncontested and an agreement between the two clubs gave Surrey the chance to bat first, with last year’s Division One County Champions reaching 221 for seven before declaring in the 50th over.

Tom Haines was the only batter out last evening caught by Lawes off the bowling of Dan Worrall for six. 

The Sussex batters started day two sensibly, largely playing defensively or leaving as Tom Lawes and Jordan Clark bowled a challenging line and length. 

The only early scare came off the first ball of the second over with Alsop pushing into the covers and taking off for a tight quick single, however, Dan Worrall’s direct throw missed the stumps at the bowler’s end. 

Clark struck the first boundary of the morning hitting Jordan Clark straight down the ground with a lovely on-drive. 

Soon after, Clark reached his 50 off 98 balls, top-edging a pull from Conor McKerr over the keeper to the vacant fine-leg boundary for four. 

The ninth over of the day saw Surrey introduce spin with Cam Steel, but Clark had seen enough in Steel’s second. He hit the leg-spinner for consecutive boundaries, the first a lofted drive over the bowler’s head, and the second a powerful reverse sweep through point. 

Alsop’s first boundary of the day also came with a reverse sweep off Steel, but the Sussex batter survived a close LBW shout a few balls later. 

The pair brought up the 100 for Sussex in the 34th over of the innings, just within the first hour’s play on day two, with Clark late-cutting a McKerr delivery to the third-man boundary for four. 

Three overs later they had their hundred partnership, the bulk having been scored by the impressive Clark, ably supported by Alsop. 

Alsop’s innings ended shortly after when he was caught at short-leg by Smith off the bowling of Steel for 32. 

As soon as Clark reached his ton he retired which brought James Coles to the crease joining Oli Carter, with the pair seeing Sussex through to lunch with the score 165 for three before the rain called time on the game. 

Sussex’s final pre-season friendly begins on Friday – another two-day game at The 1st Central County Ground against Hampshire. 

Report by Luke Ashbery

Sussex Cricket is delighted to announce that entry to day one of Sussex vs Northamptonshire on Friday 5th April is completely free of charge!

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