Sussex vs Glamorgan: Day Two Match Report

Skipper John Simpson became the first Sussex batter for ten years to score five Vitality County Championship hundreds in a season as the second division leaders took charge against Glamorgan at The 1st Central County Ground.

Simpson also passed 1,000 runs in his unbeaten 112 as Sussex responded to Glamorgan’s under-par 186 with 407 for 5, a lead of 221.

With promotion rivals Yorkshire and Middlesex in position to win their games it is crucial that Sussex do the same and apart from a careless hour before lunch, when they lost four wickets for 25, they were in control at Hove.

Simpson has so far added 194 for the fifth wicket with Tom Clark, who played his part with an unbeaten 73, and just before bad light intervened at 4.20pm the pair took 19 off ten balls to ensure Sussex collected a fourth batting point.

Ed Joyce – who also left Middlesex to move to the south coast – was the last batter as prolific as Simpson has been in what is his first year with Sussex, and not for the first time this season he made sure his team didn’t squander a good position.

At the start of the day Daniel Hughes and nightwatchman Henry Crocombe extended their second-wicket stand to 78 and their only alarm came when Dan Douthwaite put down a tough chance at midwicket when Crocombe was on 25.

Hughes looked on course for back-to-back hundreds but on 83 (14 fours) he chipped a straightforward catch to midwicket off Douthwaite, who was Glamorgan’s best bowler on a tough day. Crocombe forced Douthwaite through the covers for his seventh boundary to bring up a maiden first-class fifty before he was taken at short leg attacking off-spinner Ben Kellaway.

The ambidextrous Kellaway, who later in the day switched briefly to bowling left-arm spin, had Tom Alsop caught at slip pushing forward and James Coles, the only right-hander in Sussex’s top seven, wafted at a ball he could have ignored in the last over before lunch to give Douthwaite his second wicket. 

Clark’s fifty was his third of the season and here he was tied down early on by Kellaway in particular. He didn’t score a boundary until his 58th ball when he cut Kellaway through backward point but with Simpson counter-attacking at the other end Clark grew in confidence and Sussex assumed control. 

Glamorgan only bowled eight overs of seam with the new ball before Kellaway was back on again at the sea end and the 20-year-old from Newport, who is playing only his fourth first-class match, impressed with his control on a surface offering some turn.

But as the sixth-wicket stand prospered the only question was how many batting bonus points Sussex could secure in 110 overs. Simpson took two boundaries off Kellaway, the second of which took the left-hander to his 15th first-class hundred, as ten came off the 109th over and a pulled six off Ned Leonard from the first delivery of the next followed by three singles took them to a fourth point with two balls to spare.

By then the light was fading and shortly afterwards umpires Nigel Llong and Sue Redfern took the players off but with two days left and a good forecast Sussex will feel they have enough time to press home their advantage and secure a seventh win of the season. 

Report Provided by ECB Reporter's Network

Reaction from Captain John Simpson after his fifth century of the season

Jaydev Unadkat Receives County Cap

At lunchtime today Sussex seamer Jaydev Unadkat became the 163rd player to receive their County Cap, presented by England and Sussex legend, John Snow.

Jaydev became the third player this week to receive his County Cap, following on from James Coles and Daniel Hughes, who were presented with their caps yesterday.

The overseas Indian Test bowler joined Sussex for his first stint last season, playing the final three games of the County Championship season, taking 11 wickets at an average of 24.18.

He returned once again in 2024, this time for the final five County Championship games, and as of now has taken 12 wickets at an average of 15.25. 

The skillful left-armer has taken a total of 411 first-class wickets, as well as 3 Test wickets for India.

Congratulations, Jaydev! #GOSBTS

Sussex vs Glamorgan: Day One Match Report

Sussex, aiming to virtually clinch promotion to the first division of the Vitality  County Championship with their seventh victory of the season, made a good start when they bowled out Glamorgan for 186 in 57.3 overs, with left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat returning figures of four for 52.

Glamorgan, looking for just their second win and their first championship victory at Hove since 1975, were then made to suffer in the field as Tom Haines (48) and Daniel Hughes (57 not out) put on 110 for the first wicket.  

They missed their rested opening bowler Timm van der Gugten as Sussex ended the first day just 65 runs behind with nine wickets in hand.

Sussex, unchanged from their recent victory over Derbyshire, chose to bowl on an overcast, autumnal morning and their decision was soon rewarded.

With the third delivery of his opening over, Unadkat had Asa Tribe caught by Hughes at short leg.  Tribe, playing only his second first-class game, had faced just five deliveries.  

Unadkat made another breakthrough in his third over when he knocked back Sam Northeast’s middle stump via the inside edge of the batsman’s bat. This put a dent in Northeast’s away batting average of over hundred runs per innings for the season..

Glamorgan, who welcomed back James Harris and Ben Kellaway, lost their third wicket at 70 in the 20th over when Colin Ingram, having survived Ollie Robinson’s impressive opening burst with a combination of skill and good fortune, played forward defensively and lost his middle stump to a sharp delivery from Henry Crocombe.  

And in his next over Crocombe had Billy Root caught at second slip by Tom Clark.  Glamorgan went to lunch on 91 for four, with the battling Kiran Carlson unbeaten on 48.  But Robinson’s heroic nine-over opening spell was wicket-less.

Both Robinson and Unadkat showed a preference for bowling downhill from the Cromwell Road end.  But when they were replaced by part-time bowler Clark the medium-pacer struck twice in three balls after the interval.  

Kellaway gloved one down the leg-side and then Carlson was also caught behind.  He had faced 81 deliveries and struck eight fours in his 56.

Glamorgan lost their seventh wicket at 135, with Chris Cooke bowled by a Robinson delivery that trimmed his off bail, and looked likely to fold quickly.  

But then Dan Douthwaite and James Harris featured in an obdurate 16-over stand that yielded 49 runs.  

When Douthwaite removed his sweater and looked around the field he looked ready to adopt the long handle.  

But he was immediately caught behind and Unadkat struck again four balls later to dismiss Andy Gorvin, who was also caught behind to give wicketkeeper John Simpson his fourth catch of the innings.  

Harris was bowled by the off-spinner Jack Carson and Glamorgan had lost their last three wickets for two runs.  

When Sussex batted Haines almost played on early in his innings and Hughes was badly dropped by Root at deep backward square-leg off the bowling of Ned Leonard when he had made just eight.  

But both batsmen went on to punish the Glamorgan attack before Haines fell just before the close.  At the lunch interval Sussex awarded county caps to James Coles and Hughes.

Report Provided by ECB Reporter's Network

Reaction from Henry Crocombe after his two wickets on day one

James Coles and Daniel Hughes Awarded County Caps

Sussex pair James Coles and Daniel Hughes were today presented with their County Caps during the lunch break of the Vitality County Championship match between Sussex and Glamorgan at The 1st Central County Ground.

Spinning allrounder James Coles became the 161st player to receive their County Cap for Sussex, whilst overseas star Hughes became number 162.

Coles, a product of the talent development programme between Sussex and Oxfordshire Cricket, made his debut for Sussex at the age of just 16 and has gone on to make 32 first-class appearances for the Club.

Since breaking into the team, he has amassed 1689 first-class runs at an average of 33.78, with a high-score of 180. He has also taken 33 wickets.

Coles has also been a key figure in the Sharks' T20 campaign this season, with his runs and wickets helping the team to make Finals Day, which takes place this Saturday.

Coles was presented his cap by Sussex legend, Chris Nash. 

Daniel Hughes joined Sussex this season as an overseas batter and made an immediate impact in the Vitality Blast, finishing as the competitions leading run-scorer at the end of the group stages. 

He has accumulated 640 runs at the top order, with a top score of 96 not-out. Hughes also made his mark in the County Championship, accumulating 257 runs at an average of 51.4 and a top score of 144. 

The explosive opener was presented his cap by former Sussex captain and Chair, John Barclay. 

Sussex Seniors 1st XI Triumph in Vase Final

Last weekend the Sussex Seniors 1st XI beat Warwickshire comfortably to lift the Over 70s Vase at Banbury Cricket Club.

With poor weather around, Sussex travelled to Banbury last weekend hoping to get the Vase Final played against Warwickshire. As it turned out, under grey skies, after Martin Burgess the Sussex skipper, standing in for Roger Tidyman, won the toss and decided to field and fortunately, the rain did not arrive. 

Tight opening bowling by Coe and Daniels kept the scoring rate under 4 for the first half of the Warwickshire innings. After drinks, the opposition increased the rate as Sussex searched for wickets. 

After 30 overs the score stood at 117-1 with the game in the balance. At 40 overs Warwickshire were 197-2 and in a strong position.

However, Sussex suddenly turned the tables when Stilwell and Coe, bowling well at the death, conceded only 16 runs from the final 5 overs, whilst 4 wickets were taken including a team hat-trick. The final total to chase was 213 from 45 overs.

Sussex started positively and were never behind the required rate. Perera and Mansfield proceeded to put together an opening stand of 108 in 20 overs which helped to set up the victory. 

Once the openers departed, Perera with an excellent 61 off 53 balls, the attack was taken up by Seager and Johnson who combined brilliantly in a partnership of 104 to bring Sussex home with 55 balls to spare. 

Seager was particularly severe on the Warwickshire bowlers with 1 six and 15 fours in his 84 not out.

The Vase and medals were presented to Sussex and runners up Warwickshire by Geoff Beale the chairman of the England Seniors, who thanked all concerned, but especially Banbury CC for hosting the final.

Sussex vs Glamorgan: Match Preview

Sussex welcome Glamorgan to The 1st Central County Ground tomorrow for one of the final games in this year's Vitality County Championship. Sussex are closing in on promotion and Paul Farbrace has named a XX-player squad for the game, which starts at 1030am.

Squad

Alsop, Carson, Carter, Clark, Coles, Crocombe, Haines, Hudson-Prentice, Hughes, Hunt, Ibrahim, Robinson, Simpson (c, wk), Unadkat

Spectator Information

Now that we are in September, all County Championship games begin at 1030am. The gates at The 1st Central County Ground will continue to open at 930am for spectators. 

Ticket Information

Tickets are available to purchase for the first three days of the match via our ticketing website. Come down and support Sussex by the Sea as they look to secure promotion back to Division One. 

How to Watch

If you can't make it to the game tomorrow, you can catch every ball, free of charge, via the Match Day Centre on our livestream. The first ball is at 1030am. 

Finals Day Ticket and Travel Information

What a win! The Sharks have made it for Finals Day and there are a few hundred tickets available for our fans to come along and support the team. Here is the information you need to get your hands on them.

The Sharks will travel to Edgbaston in search of T20 gold at Finals Day on Saturday 14th September and although the day is officially sold out, we have a small number of tickets for Sharks fans available to purchase.

To purchase yours, please CLICK HERE and enter promo code: SHARKSFD24

Grab them while you can, once they are gone, they are gone! 

Coach Travel

To help supporters make their way to Edgbaston, the Club has arranged return coach for up to 49 supporters, leaving The 1st Central County Ground at 5:50am, with an additional pick-up at Pease Pottage services at approx. 30 minutes later. 

Coach tickets cost £30 per person and are on a first-come, first-served basis. This does NOT include your entry to Finals Day.

To book a coach seat, please click here and fill in the form.

Sussex Sharks vs Lancashire Lightning: Match Report

Sussex Sharks are through to Vitality Blast Finals Day for the sixth time after an outstanding performance by their bowling attack set up an emphatic eight-wicket win over Lancashire Lightning in a one-sided semi-final at The 1st Central County Ground.

The 2009 winners, who were runners-up six years ago, were on top from the moment Ollie Robinson spoiled Phil Salt’s return to the south coast by knocking out his middle stump with the first ball of the match. 

Robinson returned to the attack in the seventh over to york captain Keaton Jennings for 37, the first of five wickets to fall in four overs as Lancashire slid to 73 for 8 in the 11th over. 

It needed some bold hitting by Liam Livingstone, who top-scored with 43, to get Lancashire up to 114 as Jofra Archer, playing his first T20 for Sussex since 2021 and his first at Hove for more than five years, picked up two wickets and bowled at good pace.

But a target of 115 was never likely to trouble the Sharks in fast-scoring conditions. The pitch was flat, the outfield quick and Harrison Ward set the platform with six boundaries as Sussex knocked off 63 – more than half their target – in the powerplay. 

George Dockrell took a juggling one-handed catch to remove Ward and this season’s leading run scorer Daniel Hughes had taken his aggregate to 595 when he was bowled in Livingstone’s first over.

But James Coles and Tom Clark put on 45 unbroken for the third wicket, Clark hitting the winning runs with 5.5 overs to spare to ensure Sussex will be back at Edgbaston for the first time since 2020 on 14 September. 

A 5,000 full house at the 1st Central County Ground had been on their feet when Salt, shaping to play through the leg side, was bowled by Robinson after Lancashire, who had won both times in previous quarter-finals at Hove, had been put in. 

Brad Currie struck twice in the fourth over, bowling Matty Hurst off his pads before another former Sussex player Luke Wells was held by Archer trying to clear long on. 

Jennings and Livingstone briefly steadied things with 24 for the fourth wicket but when the Lancashire captain was beaten by Robinson’s late inswing in the eighth over, his partner watched a succession of middle-order teammates succumb to poor shot selection. Left-arm spinner James Coles picked up two cheap wickets and Tom Hartley slogged off-spinner Jack Carson to long on.

With only the tail for company Livingstone had little option but to take some risks. He twice lofted Tymal Mills onto the pavilion roof and crunched Archer over the long off boundary before he was run out by Robinson’s brilliant direct hit after being sent back by Luke Wood trying to steal the strike. 

Archer, who had picked up his first wicket when Steven Croft carved his ninth delivery to deep point, returned to finish the innings when he dismissed Saqib Mahmood with 27 deliveries not bowled.  

Report Provided by ECB Reporter's Network

Reaction from skipper Tymal Mills after leading the Sharks to Finals Day

Ward and Currie Sign T20 Contract Extensions

Sussex Cricket is delighted to announce that both Harrison Ward and Brad Currie have signed T20 contract extensions with the Club.

Harrison Ward has signed a two-year extension, while Brad Currie has signed an extended one-year deal.

A product of the Sussex Cricket and Oxfordshire Cricket talent development partnership, Ward has established himself as a vital player at the top of the Sussex Sharks T20 top-order, forming a formidable partnership with overseas batter, Daniel Hughes.

In this season’s T20 Vitality Blast, Ward has accumulated 314 runs in 11 innings, including three half-centuries and a top score of 68. 

His runs helped propel the Sharks to the knockout stages of the competition, setting up a home quarter-final against Lancashire Lightning on Wednesday 4th September at The 1st Central County Ground. 

On his new deal, Ward said: “I am delighted to sign a contract extension at Sussex. 

"It’s an exciting place to be at the moment and I’m happy to be at the Club for another two years. 

“We have a very good T20 squad, and we are only going to get better. Hopefully we can get to finals day and compete to win the Blast."

Brad Currie has also signed a new T20 deal with the Club and has taken 8 Blast wickets for the Sharks in 9 appearances. 

In 2023 Brad’s skills with the white ball were on full display, culminating in one of the performances of the T20 Vitality Blast campaign, when he took 3-27 against the Hampshire Hawks before pulling off what many have called “the greatest catch of all time”.

He returned to Hove this summer after featuring for Scotland in this year’s ICC T20 World Cup in the West Indies and United States, where he took 2-18 against Namibia before picking up an injury. 

Brad Currie said: “I’m delighted to have signed another extension with the Club. 

“I’m thoroughly enjoying my cricket at the moment, with the freedom to play in so many exciting games and I can only express how grateful to Sussex I am for this opportunity! 

“I look forward to seeing the Sharks fans in a packed-out Hove when we play Lancashire.”

Sussex Head Coach, Paul Farbrace said: “We are all very pleased that both Brad and Harrison will continue their development as players here at Hove and both have played their part in the team reaching a home quarter final in the Blast this season.

“Harrison has built an excellent partnership with Dan Hughes and has proved to be a top-quality opening pair. 

“The opportunity for Harrison to work closely with Dan has helped Harrison really grow his game.

“Brad missed the start of the Blast this season, but only because he was away with Scotland at the T20 World Cup, and but for injury would have helped Scotland progress even further. 

“Brad is now being picked around the world in other franchise tournaments and that’s testimony to the work he has done with James Kirtley to keep improving his white ball skills.”

Sussex Sharks vs Lancashire Lightning: Match Preview

The time has arrived! Tomorrow the Sharks welcome Lancashire Lightning to The 1st Central County Ground for the T20 Blast quarter-final, with a place at Finals Day up for grabs. Paul Farbrace has named a 15-player squad for the game, which starts at 7pm.

Squad

Alsop, Archer, Carson, Carter, Clark, Coles, Crocombe, Currie, Hudson-Prentice, Hughes, Lenham, Mills (c), Robinson, Simpson (wk), Ward

Team News

Jofra Archer returns to the Sharks squad! 

Tickets for the Game

Tickets for tomorrow's game are SOLD OUT! Thank you for your amazing support this season. The game will not be available on our livestream as it will be shown live on Sky Sports Cricket, with coverage starting at 630pm. 

Arrive Early

With nearly 5000 people expected at The 1st Central County Ground, we advise all fans to arrive in good time, to help reduce queues. If you have any queries or issues with your tickets, please head to the Box Office as early as possible. Gates open at 530pm.