Yorkshire vs Sussex: Day 1 match report

New ball duo Matthew Fisher and Ben Coad helped Yorkshire make the absolute most of only 42 overs of play possible on a rainy day one at Headingley as they restricted promotion-chasing Sussex to 120 for six.

Sussex, third in Division Two with eight draws and a win, are one of only two unbeaten sides in either division of the LV= Insurance County Championship this season - Glamorgan the other.

But they were put under intense early pressure after electing to bat first under a cloudy sky and on a green-tinged pitch.

Seamers Fisher and Coad shone with four for 53 from 13 overs and two for 10 from 12 respectively during a day including a pair of two-hour plus rain delays.

After electing to bat, Sussex captain Tom Alsop top-scored with 35, while 54 overs were not bowled.

One of Yorkshire’s major issues over the past season-and-a-half of four-day cricket - they were relegated last September - has been the lack of matches Coad and Fisher have played. With them fit and firing, the county look a completely different proposition.

Yorkshire have only won twice since the start of 2022, and this is only Coad’s 11th Championship appearance and only Fisher’s ninth in that time. 

They have only played together on six occasions in that period but complement each other superbly. 

While Coad is not blessed with the pace that Fisher has, he will find any ounce of help off the pitch or through the air to terrorise batters. And that’s exactly what they did.

An all Tom opening partnership was removed as Sussex slipped to 18 for three inside six overs, including Fisher’s wickets with successive deliveries.

Coad made the initial breakthrough by getting Tom Clark caught at second slip by Adam Lyth, leaving the score at six for one in the third over.

England fringe quick Fisher then had the other left-handed opener Tom Haines caught behind by Jonny Tattersall before bowling James Coles first ball. He played expansively at an in-ducker, leaving the Hove county 18 for three in the sixth over.

A two-and-a-quarter-hour rain delay, including lunch, then came from 11.55am before Coad and Fisher struck once more apiece prior to the rain returning at 3.20pm, resulting in another two-and-a-half-hour break.

Coad forced Oli Carter to inside-edge a drive onto his stumps before Danial Ibrahim feathered a forward defensive shot against Fisher behind as the score fell to 57 for five in the 25th over.

Sussex captain Alsop batted with a decent slice of fortune in his 96-ball 35, which came to an end late in the day when he edged Fisher shoulder high to Ryan Rickelton at third slip - 76 for six in the 33rd over.

The first five of the left-hander’s six boundaries were scored behind the wicket, including his first which was inside-edged just past his off-stump off Fisher. 

Sussex were at least boosted late in the day by Fynn Hudson-Prentice and Australian overseas seamer Nathan McAndrew, who shared an unbroken 44 for the seventh wicket. 

Hudson-Prentice looked the most assured Sussex batter on show with 29 not out and McAndrew was strong on the pull and cut in hitting six boundaries in an unbeaten 25.

Report provided by ECB Reporter's Network

Reaction on day 1 from Paul Farbrace