Sussex vs Yorkshire: Day 2

Sussex vs Yorkshire: Day Two Match Report 

Sussex batter Tom Alsop batted for over 5 hours to leave a fascinating match in the balance on day two of the Vitality County Championship match against Yorkshire at The 1st Central County Ground. 

After 17 wickets had fallen on the first day, matters were a little less frenetic in a tightly fought contest at the half-way stage.

Yorkshire had gained a first innings lead of 45 in the morning and Sussex managed to drag themselves to 194 for seven in their second innings, a lead of 149.  

Their innings was held together by a dogged five-hour unbeaten 77 by Tom Alsop, who was bowled by a no-ball at 39 and dropped at 58.

Play started 45 minutes late in damp and murky conditions.  Yorkshire resumed on 176 for seven, a lead of 26 runs, and Sussex took just 33 minutes to take the three remaining wickets for the addition of 19 runs.

They broke through after 20 minutes play when Jordan Thompson, surprised by the bounce achieved by Ollie Robinson,  deflected the ball onto his stumps with his elbow.

For the next over Sean Hunt replaced Tom Haines at the sea end and from his fifth delivery he took a straightforward caught and bowled chance to dismiss Ben Coad.

And in the over after that Dom Leech shouldered arms and had his off stump plucked out by a delivery angled into him by Robinson.  

Yorkshire were all out for 195 with Hunt finishing with career-best figures of four for 64. Robinson (3-25) has bowled well this season without much luck and this was the first time in four matches that he had taken more than two wickets in an innings.

Yorkshire’s slender lead looked significant when they dismissed both Sussex openers inside the first three overs.  Haines was out second ball, after his attempted pull fell to Thompson in the second over.  

And in the following over Tom Clark, drove at Coad and was caught by Matthew Revis at cover.

Alsop and Cheteshwar Pujara brought Sussex back into the match with a third wicket stand worth 74 watchful runs in 24 overs. 

But then Pujara, playing his last innings at Hove this season, failed to get fully forward to one from Leech and was lbw for a 56-ball 33.

Alsop and James Coles took Sussex to tea at 123 for three, a lead of 78, with Alsop unbeaten on 52.  After the interval the Sussex batsmen battled hard against a disciplined Yorkshire attack.  

The visitors took the fourth Sussex wicket when Coles, who had added just two runs since the break, miscued his attempted pull off George Hill and was caught at square-leg for 28.  

John Simpson, was missed in the slips before he had scored but failed to make the most of his let-off.  When Coad replaced Root at the Cromwell Road end he immediately had the Sussex captain caught at first slip for an uncomfortable six; 140 for five.

Fynn Hudson-Prentice looked in the mood to take the attack to the Yorkshire bowlers but he was sixth out at 155, lbw shouldering arms to Thompson, and then Danny Lamb fell lbw for a duck to Coad.

Jack Carson was the next man in and he dug deep to support Tom Alsop, ensuring Sussex were still in with a chance of victory at the close of play.

Report Provided by ECB Reporters' Network 

Reaction from Paul Farbrace at stumps on day two