Yorkshire favourites but Sussex's fight keeps hopes alive

Sussex's Jack Carson and his off-spinning Yorkshire counterpart, Dom Bess finished with five wickets each at the end of day three of an enthralling LV = Insurance County Championship match between the two sides at The 1st Central County Ground. Yorkshire are favourites going into the final day, with Sussex needing 99 for victory with four wickets remaining.

The visitors frustrated Sussex in the morning session with the depth of their batting as they scored 305 in their second innings to set Sussex a challenging target of 235.  Then Bess took five wickets as Sussex wobbled to 86 for five, before they rallied to 136 for 6 at the close thanks to a 50-run partnership between Ben Brown and George Garton.

Yorkshire started the day on 163 for 5, a lead of 92, with Gary Ballance unbeaten on 36. Ollie Robinson bowled well without success but when he was replaced by Garton at the Cromwell Road end Sussex made their first breakthrough. Garton’s second delivery was a little short and Steven Patterson chopped the ball onto his stumps.

Ballance’s three-hour innings came to an end when he was lbw padding up to Carson for 74, to give the young spinner his fourth wicket of the innings and his second to involve a batsman with significant Test match experience.  Robinson, armed with the new ball, returned to the attack with the score 239 for 7 and in his third over he found the edge of Jordan Thompson’s bat prompting Aaron Thomason to pull off an amazing catch at first slip, sticking out his right hand at the last moment to seize the ball at head height.

⚡️ @AaronThomason24 ⚡️

Stunning reactions at first slip! 😲 pic.twitter.com/Pdcd7EOXB3

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) April 24, 2021

In Robinson’s next over he had Bess lbw with a ball that was destined to hit the top of the off stump. With nine wickets down, Yorkshire led by 183 and Sussex looked favourites, but the last wicket pair of David Willey and Duanne Olivier added 51 runs.

Yorkshire lost their last wicket to the tenth delivery after a delayed lunch when Olivier was lbw on the back foot to Carson, who bowled superbly for career best figures of five for 85.

Well bowled, @_jackcarson11! ✨

Here's how he ended Yorkshire's innings and secured his second first-class five-fer in the process! 👇🎥 pic.twitter.com/SpSnSvZDWb

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) April 24, 2021

In this compelling match the batting has seemed easier at the beginning of the innings and Sussex made a solid start to their chase before, at 45, Thomason gave Bess the charge and was bowled.    

   

Sussex went to tea on 59 for one, but then Tom Haines was caught down the leg-side and after that Yorkshire took control as Sussex lost three wickets for five runs.  Tom Clark, pushing forward, was caught at silly-point, Stiaan van Zyl, playing for non-existent spin, was bowled and Delray Rawlins fell first ball. Brown and Garton batted together for 18 overs and were agonisingly close to seeing Sussex through to the close, but Bess had the final word, removing Garton for 21 with what turned out to be the final ball of the day.

Sussex head coach, Ian Salisbury said, "This is a terrific, hard fought game of cricket and I’ve seen two outstanding young off-spinners out there today. I’m pleased for Dom Bess, who had a tough winter.  But Jack Carson is becoming a sensational off-spinner.  He’s a talented boy with the world at his feet.  He’s a feisty Irishman who works hard.  And now he’s getting the rewards for all the hard work he puts in.  He’s an attacking bowler who’s always looking to get wickets.  We’re going into the last day believing we can still win.”

Reflecting on his performance, Bess said, "It’s not about me, it’s about the team.  If I take five wickets, brilliant as long as we win the game.  Before this I didn’t have a pole – I had nought for about 300. 

“After India I started hating cricket.  I had some tough lessons in the winter.  But I also had some great support.  I’m still 23. I will know my game more in four years. Now the big thing is putting in performances for Yorkshire, building pressure and taking wickets.”

Watch highlights of day three here: