Sharks vs Middlesex: Match Preview

The Sharks return to The 1st Central County Ground tonight for the final T20 Vitality Blast group game against Middlesex, with a home quarter-final still up for grabs. Paul Farbrace has named an unchanged squad from last night's trip to Somerset. 

Squad

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

Tickets are SOLD OUT!

Ticket's for tonight's game are sold out! Thank you for your support this season, it has been incredible. If the Sharks secure a home quarter-final, we will provide information on how to secure tickets as soon as possible.

How to Watch

As ever, every ball of the action will be available to watch free of charge on livestream via our Match Day Centre. The first ball is at 7pm.

Coming to the Game?

Check out all the information you need to plan your night by reading our Guide to the Game.

Somerset vs Sussex Sharks: Match Report

Ben Green claimed four wickets as holders Somerset leapfrogged Sussex Sharks into second place in the Vitality Blast South Group with a six-wicket victory at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton.

The visitors could post only 158 for nine after losing the toss, Harrison Ward top-scoring with a rapid 39 and medium-pacer Green finishing with four for 17 from three overs.

In reply, Somerset made 162 for four with 2.2 overs to spare, George Thomas blasting 42, with 7 fours, Tom Abell 47 not out and Sean Dickson 28. Tymal Mills was the most successful Sharks bowler with two for 28.

The result ensured Somerset of a quarter-final place and made them favourites to secure a home tie with one group game left to play.

The batting highlights of the Sharks’ six-over powerplay were Daniel Hughes’ three successive fours in the third over, bowled by Craig Overton, and the first six of the match struck by Ward off Jake Ball in the fifth over.

Hughes had fallen earlier in that over, miscuing a pull shot to mid-on and at the end of the powerplay Sussex were 49 for one. That became 66 for one when Ward greeted the introduction of Jack Leach with a four and six off his first two deliveries.

But the England left-arm spinner quickly struck back by having the opener caught sweeping after facing 23 balls, and that was as good as it got for the visitors as Somerset turned the screw in the middle overs.

Green struck twice in his first over, removing Tom Clark and John Simpson to catches in the deep, including a diving effort from George Thomas, and at the halfway point in their innings the Sharks were struggling on 71 for four.

Tom Alsop was dropped by Thomas off the first ball of the 13th over, sent down by Green, but perished to the next delivery as Overton pouched a comfortable catch at mid-on off a full toss.

James Coles, who hit a brisk 26, and Nathan McAndrew (20) paid the penalty for testing Dickson’s arm from the boundary edge and were both run out attempting to turn one run into two, while Green claimed his fourth wicket when the same fielder held a simple catch off McAndrew.

The Sussex total never looked likely to be enough. So it proved, as Tom Banton and Thomas got Somerset off to a flyer with a stand of 34 in four overs, ended when Banton clipped a catch to deep square off Mills’ first ball of the game.

At the end of the powerplay the hosts were 56 for one, with Thomas and Tom Kohler-Cadmore going well. They took the score to 70 in the eighth over when Thomas was caught at long-on off Danny Lamb, having faced 30 balls and enhanced his growing reputation as replacement for the injured Will Smeed.

Abell survived a caught and bowled chance to Mills, but the pace bowler struck later in the tenth over as Kohler-Cadmore, on 20, lofted a catch to deep cover. It mattered little as Abell and Dickson both cleared the ropes and Dickson ended any doubt about the result with three successive boundaries at the start of the 13th over.

With ten runs needed, Dickson was run out by Clark’s direct hit from the boundary, having done his job.

Report Provided by ECB Reporters' Network

Reaction from Paul Farbrace after defeat to Somerset

Sharks vs Somerset: Match Preview

The Sharks return to T20 action tomorrow night at 6.30pm away to Somerset in their penultimate fixture. Head Coach Paul Farbrace has named a 16-player squad for the game. 

Squad

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

Team News

Harrison Ward is available after suffering a shoulder injury against Essex last Saturday.

Middlesex Tickets Selling Fast

The Sharks are back in action at The 1st Central County Ground on Friday night for the final Blast group fixture, and tickets are selling fast.

Don't miss out on your chance to see the Sharks in one of only four remaining home games this summer. 

Plus, you can use promo code: T20GROUPS for 10% off all bookings of 6 or more tickets. Click here to purchase yours today.

Can't make the game?

As ever, every ball of the action will be available to watch free of charge on livestream via our Match Day Centre or the Somerset YouTube Channel.

Sharks vs Hertfordshire: Arundel Spectator Information

Sussex Sharks will play a 50-over National Counties friendly on Sunday 21st July at Arundel Castle, starting at 11am. We have pulled together all the information you may need to plan your day. 

Gate Times

The game gets underway at 11am, with gates open to all spectators from 930am.

Admission and Ticketing 

All Sussex Members can enter the ground free of charge upon production of their membership card. A £10 entry fee will apply to all non-members, with U16s also entering free of charge. Payment will need to be made by card. 

Parking

There will be a charge of £5 for each vehicle and parking will be in the top car park (clear signage will be placed and stewarded). Payment will be in cash only. Please have the money available to speed up entry. 

Additional Information

Some seating will be provided for spectators, however you are welcome to bring your own into the venue. Various food and drink outlets will also be available at the ground, if you do not want to bring your own. 

Further information can be found on the Arundel Castle Cricket website, click here for full details.

For directions to get to the ground, please visit: https://www.cricketatarundelcastle.co.uk/contact-us/ 

Sharks vs Essex: Match Report 

Essex, needing to win their last three games for a home quarter-final spot in the Vitality Blast, got off to a terrific  start with an improbable win over the Sussex Sharks by five wickets with nine balls to spare.

Essex were inspired by an heroic innings of 120 not out by Michael Pepper, who faced just 53 balls balls and hit nine sixes and nine fours  But he was well supported by Charlie Allison, who made an unbeaten 44 from 26 with a six and four fours. The pair stunned a sell-out crowd with a partnership worth 121 in nine overs.

Sussex had scored an impressive 207 for two. And Essex, who had chosen to bowl first, were soon set back on their heels when their turn came to bat.  Ollie Robinson broke through with only the second ball of the innings, when he had the dangerous Adam Rossington caught at deep square-leg. And when Tymal Mills brought himself on for the fourth over he immediately bowled Dean Elgar for eleven to make it 30 for two.

Then, when Robinson was switched to the Cromwell Road end, he took wickets with each of his first two deliveries, having Robin Das caught behind and then dismissing Paul Walter, who was caught at extra-cover from a leading edge.  

Essex looked out of it at 90 for five in the tenth over. But Pepper, who had launched his innings with an assault on spinner James Coles, was already well into his innings and managed to take his incredible strike rate to 200 for the competition this season.  He has scored 488 runs at an average of 48 and this was his second hundred.

Sussex themselves needed two wins out of three to win a home quarter-final spot. And for the second time in two days the their innings was based around a dominant partnership. On Friday it was Tom Alsop and John Simpson, who put on 139 against Kent.  And against Essex it was Daniel Hughes and Tom Clark, who added 110 for the second wicket in just 11 overs.

Once again Sussex had made a fast start, thanks to Hughes and Harrison Ward (15), who put on 34 in just 3.2 overs, before Ward was caught at mid-off. But then Hughes in particular powered Sussex to yet another big score, with an innings of 81 off 43 balls, with five sixes and eight fours, striking at a rate of 188 to take his total to 435 runs in the competition this season.

Twice in one over Hughes hitting Shane Snater over long leg for six to bring up his fifty off only 26 balls. At the halfway stage Sussex were 94 for one and then Hughes raised the hundred by hitting leg-spinner Matt Critchley for a massive six over mid-on.

At the other end, on a slightly  slow pitch, Clark did not find his timing early on. But after striking Walter over fine leg for six his tempo increased and he finished with an unbeaten 72 from 53 balls, with eight fours and two sixes. The in-form Alsop hit a bright 27 not out off 14, including a magnificent six over midwicket off Snater.  But it would not be enough.

Report Provided by ECB Reporters' Network

Reaction from Tom Clark after his highest ever T20 score 

Sharks vs Essex: Match Preview

The Sharks return to The 1st Central County Ground today to take on Essex, starting at 230pm. Paul Farbrace has made two additions to the squad that played at Canterbury last night. The Sharks will now play to secure a home quarter-final after securing qualification to the next round. 

Squad

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

Team News

Oli Carter and Ari Karvelas come into the squad. 

Sharks vs Essex Tickets SOLD OUT!

Ticket's for today's game are sold out! Thank you so much for your support this campaign. There is one final group game left this season, on Friday 19th July, when the Sharks welcome Middlesex to Hove, looking to secure a home quarter-final.

To get your tickets, please visit our ticketing website, before they are gone!

How to Watch

If you didn't get a ticket, don't worry - you can watch every single ball free of charge via our livestream on our Match Day Centre. The action gets underway at 230pm.

Kent Spitfires vs Sussex Sharks: Match Report

The Sussex Sharks thrashed the Kent Spitfires by 88 runs in Vitality Blast at Canterbury to book their spot in the quarter-finals.

The Sharks recovered from 64 for four to post 203 for four, thanks to an unbroken stand of 139 between Tom Alsop and John Simpson.

The hosts’ hopes had soared after Jas Singh took two wickets in three balls, but Alsop hammered Kent with 87 from just 41 deliveries, while Simpson played the anchor role with 53 from 39.

Tawanda Muyeye hit an elegant 45 from 25 balls, but James Coles took four for 12 as the Spitfires wilted in the face of an ever-steepening run rate, collapsing to 115 all out with 3.4 overs remaining.

It was a demoralising evening for the Spitfires, who squandered yet another promising position and remain rock-bottom of the South Group.

Their decision to field looked suspect when Marcus O’Riordan’s first over went for 17, all of which were scored by Harrison Ward.

Singh, however, changed the outlook, bowling Ward leg stump and getting Tom Clark caught by Jack Leaning at mid-off for a second ball duck.

Tom Rogers clean-bowled Coles for 14 and Nathan Gilchrist then removed Daniel Hughes for 16, victim of a staggering overhead catch by Sam Billings. 

It was as bright a spell as Kent have enjoyed in the Blast all season but from 64 for four Alsop joined Simpson to stabilise Sussex before they mounted an all out assault in the death overs.

They were 79 for four after 10 overs, and 151 for four after 15, giving them a platform to launch an assault in the final five. Kent missed the cut off by a minute and with an extra fielder in, Joey Evison’s 20th over went for 21 as Kent’s fielding, so tight for the first half of the innings, went to pieces, with catches dropped, run outs missed and the body language betraying a team whose morale is in freefall. 

After hitting a career-high 73 at Essex on Thursday night, Muyeye got off to an explosive start, but he lost his opening partner Daniel Bell-Drummond for two when he was lbw to Ollie Robinson.

Brad Currie then removed O’Riordan for a three-ball four, caught by Nathan McAndrew at mid-wicket.

The run rate did for a succession of batters. Muyeye played some wonderful strokes but perished when he flicked Coles to Currie on the square leg boundary.

Feroze Khushi skied Jack Carson to McAndrew for 22, Sam Billings was bowled by Coles for 14 from seven and Joey Evison dragged an Ollie Robinson bouncer onto this stumps and was bowled for six.

Coles took two wickets in four balls in the 14th, bowled Rogers for one and Gilchrist for a duck.

Jack Leaning straight-drove Currie to the boundary where he was caught by when Ward threw the ball to Alsop before going over the rope and the rout was confirmed when Singh chipped Carson to Hughes.

Report Provided by ECB Reporters' Network

Reaction from Tom Alsop after a match-winning knock

Tickets for Sharks vs Essex SOLD OUT!

Ticket's for tomorrow's T20 Vitality Blast game against Essex are sold out! Thank you so much for your support this campaign. There is one final group game left this season, on Friday 19th July, when the Sharks welcome Middlesex to Hove, looking to secure a home quarter-final.

To get your tickets, please visit our ticketing website, before they are gone!

Kent Spitfires vs Sussex Sharks: Match Preview

After an emphatic win over Hampshire last night, the Sharks travel to Canterbury to take on the Kent Spitfires, with a quarter-final spot in touching distance. Paul Farbrace has named a 15-player squad for the game, which starts at 630pm tomorrow. 

Squad

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

Team News

Brad Currie comes into the squad after being with Scotland at the World Cup, where he picked up an injury. 

Kent Livestream

The game will be shown on the Kent Cricket matchday centre at a cost of £5.99. To sign up and watch the game, please visit: https://kentcricketplay.co.uk/register 

You can still keep track of the scorecard and match stats on the Sussex matchday centre, however the livestream will not be available.

The first ball is at 630pm. 

Sharks vs Hampshire Hawks: Match Report

Sussex Sharks made it seven wins out of ten in the Vitality Blast when they beat Hampshire by 22 runs at The 1st Central County Ground. Hampshire have won just twice and will surely have to win all their remaining matches to make the quarter-finals.

Hampshire, chasing a target of 201, could not have got off to a worse start, losing two wickets in the first two overs. In the first, overseas batsman Ben McDermott was run out after hitting Ollie Robinson to extra-cover and calling for a single. And in the next over Tom Prest lobbed James Coles to Tom Clark at mid-on. 

But Vince and Joe Weatherley then breathed life into the Hampshire innings with a partnership worth 59 in just six overs. Vince hit Danny Lamb for a spectacular six over midwicket and out of the ground. And Weatherley, dropped on 21 by  Lamb, hit four fours and a six in a 23-ball 34 before he skied Jack Carson to Alsop at deep mid-off.

When Vince was bowled by Lamb for 32 Hampshire were up against it.  But a spirited partnership of 50 in five overs between Toby Albert (27) and Benny Howell (32) kept them on course.  

But while Hampshire were keeping up with the run-rate they continued to lose wickets. Albert, swiping to leg, was bowled by Coles, James Fuller prodded Coles to Lamb at midwicket and Howell was run out after Liam Dawson, who had just dug out a yorker by Robinson, did not leave his crease after his partner had called for a quick single.  

In the end Hampshire, bowled out for 178 in 19.1 overs, finished well short. The highlight of the Sussex innings was a partnership of 83 in nine overs between Clark and  Coles.  But on a good wicket the batting line-up maintained a heavy scoring rate throughout.

Hampshire made a good start when they dismissed Daniel Hughes, caught behind,  for a duck with the first ball of the third over - Hughes had scored 354 runs in the competition, striking at over 170 per 100 balls. 

But his equally aggressive opening partner Harrison Ward propelled the Sharks to a score of 57 from the six-over powerplay with a thumping 39 from 20 deliveries, with six fours and two sixes, with John Turner going for 20 off one over. But then Ward lobbed Fuller straight to Vince at mid-off.

Clark and Coles – the only right hander in the top six – then came together. Coles hit five fours and a six over-midwicket  in his 33-ball 46 and Clark scored five fours in his 37, made off 26 balls.  

And when they went the scoring rate was maintained, with former Hampshire batsman Tom Alsop cracking 35 from only 17 deliveries, with six fours, and the ramp-happy Lamb making 22 off 13.  Chris Wood and Fuller were the most impressive Hampshire bowlers on a difficult night.

Report Provided ECB Reporters' Network 

Reaction from James Coles after an outstanding performance with bat and ball