Will Beer scores brilliant century to lead second XI to victory

Will Beer scored a brilliant century against MCC Young Cricketers on Monday as Sussex secured a five-wicket win in the Second Eleven trophy.

Skipper Beer hit ten fours and two sixes to finish unbeaten on 109 off 100 balls, after he had won the toss and put the hosts into bat.

An incredible 236-run partnership from MCC openers Bradley Erasmus and Billy Mead put the young cricketers in a strong position, with the Sussex attack repelled by some impressive batting. 

Delray Rawlins finally made the breakthrough, however, and was the side's most impressive bowler, finishing with figures of 3-44 from his ten overs. He combined with wicket-keeper Michael Burgess to take the first wicket of the day, having Mead stumped on 113. 

After such a lengthy opening stand, the wickets then tumbled quickly. Two balls after Mead headed back to the dressing room, Erasmus joined him - caught behind by Burgess off the bowling of Rawlins for 116 - and then Beer trapped Kashif Ali LBW for two just four balls later. 

After being 236-0, the hosts were now 240-3, and that soon became 256-4 when Rawlins claimed his third wicket of the day, bowling Jack Potticary for six. The collapse continued two balls later, when Burgess and Beer ran-out Saf Imtiaz, and Sussex continued to get their rewards with the ball when captain Beer bowled Ishwarjot Sohi for three. 

Bas de Leede was the final MCC wicket to fall, with Beer catching him for 21 off the bowling of Usman Arif, and the hosts finished their 50 overs on 280-7. 

In reply, Harrison Ward and Tom Haines opened the batting for Sussex, but Haines, who scored an excellent century against Somerset last week, fell for four early on after being bowled by George Jackson.

Ward was next to go, caught behind by Imtiaz 20 off the bowling of Miles, before Burgess was dismissed six overs later for nine. Rawlins then fell for 27 off 32 balls to leave Sussex 70-4 at the end of the 17th over, with Beer next at the crease.

The second XI skipper scored a vital 75 in last month's thrilling Royal London One-Day Cup win against Essex Eagles, and once again steadied the ship with the bat here. 

Beer's impressive knock featured 12 boundaries, and was well supported by Joe Cooke's unbeaten 90 off 83 balls, after Jonty Jenner was out for four.

Cooke's seventh four was enough to secure the win, with attention now turning to the Second XI's three-day Championship fixture, which starts today against the same opposition at High Wycombe CC.