Worcestershire vs Sussex - Day One

Ollie Robinson produced a timely reminder of his capabilities the day after England selected their squad for upcoming Ashes series, with a stunning six wicket haul that saw Sussex take charge on day one of their Division One clash against Worcestershire.

Taking two wickets in the first over of the match, Robinson went on to finish with season-best figures of 6-68 as he and Jaydev Unadkat combined to skittle Worcestershire for 123.

Dan Lategan (41) top scored for the home side, with contributions from Matthew Waite and Gareth Roderick the only other scores of note.

James Coles registered a measured century during a dominant afternoon session for the visitors, that saw skipper John Simpson finish 62* with Sussex finishing the day 228-5, leading by 105 runs.

Returning to action for the first time since Saturday’s One Day Cup final triumph, already relegated Worcestershire were brought back down to earth with a bump, as a searing spell from Ollie Robinson saw the former England seamer take four wickets in the first hour of the match.

Youngster Rehaan Edavalath was caught behind with the third ball of the match, before Pear’s skipper Jake Libby saw his off-stump sent kart wheeling after facing just one ball as the Pears fell to 1-2.

19-year-old Dan Lategan provided a classy counter-attacking cameo for the hosts, easing the ball through the vacant offside whenever the opportunity arose, but Robinson continued his unrelenting start to the morning claiming two further scalps, including that of first-class debutant Isaac Mohammed who was pinned LBW, with a sobering opening hour rounded off with the dismissal of Rob Jones who suffered the same fate, leaving his side in a heap at 36-4.

Lategan continued his repost, but Worcestershire woes deepened with Gareth Roderick (22) caught behind after an encouraging start to his innings off the bowling of Jaydev Unadkat, before Robinson collected his fifth wicket of a superb spell by removing the key man, Lategan, for his resolute 41.

Robinson almost secured his sixth wicket on a morning session dominated by the bowlers, but the umpires were not convinced John Simpson had held onto a rebound catch behind, as lunch was taken with Worcestershire 91-6.

Unadkat picked up where he left off after the resumption as Ethan Brookes became his second victim with a regulation catch provided to James Coles at slip.

Unadkat took his season tally of wickets to 13, after removing Tom Taylor caught behind for nine and trapping Ben Allison in front without scoring as the Pears’ landslide continued.

Robinson completed his six-fer with the wicket of Matthew Waite, who was the last man out for 33 as Worcestershire were dismissed for 123.

The Pears hit back in resilient fashion as Ben Allison led the way in an inspired early spell, taking three wickets to help reduce Sussex to 67-4.

The seamer first trapped LBW Hughes (24), before taking a stunning one-handed caught and bowled to remove Carter and bowling Alsop for just one, whilst Tom Taylor took his 51st Championship wicket of the season to drag the hosts back into the contest.

John Simpson and James Coles led the Sussex revival however, dominating an afternoon session that saw the fifth wicket pair add 90 runs before Tea, with Coles reaching a fluent fifty in the process.

Both batters moved past 1,000 first-class for the season during the evening session, with Coles reaching his century from 105 balls, before he was bowled by Ben Gibbon as Simpson (62*) helped close a dominant day for the visitors on 228-5, leading by 105 runs as bad light stopped play.

ECB Network report supported by Rothesay