T20 Captain Tymal Mills Visits Hailsham Community College

Sussex Sharks’ T20 captain Tymal Mills paid a special visit to Hailsham Community College last month to take part in a coaching session delivered by the Sussex Cricket Foundation.

As well as getting stuck into a training session, Mills answered questions from students at the college about his career, life at Sussex and the experience of winning the T20 World Cup.

Amazingly, Hailsham Community College won the visit in a competition held as part of the 2019 Cricket World Cup, but due to COVID, were unable to schedule it until now.

Hailsham Community College is part of the Sussex Cricket Foundation’s Chance to Shine Secondary School Girls Programme. Chance to Shine provides funding to the Foundation to deliver this programme in a number of state secondary schools across the County.

The programme is designed to provide opportunities for girls to access cricket and give the chance to play cricket outside of the school environment, as well as to help them develop leadership skills.

The initiative links into Hailsham Cricket Club, who are one of six teams participating in this summer’s Aldridge@BACA Sussex Women’s Premier League.

Hamish Russell, Territory Manager for the Sussex Cricket Foundation, said: "It was wonderful to see the girls of Hailsham Community College get the chance to showcase their skills in front of an England cricketer and World Cup winner in Tymal. 

“Growing the Women & Girls across the county is a priority for the Sussex Cricket Foundation so we are grateful to Chance to Shine and Tymal for creating this event to inspire more girls to develop a passion for cricket".

To find out more about Women & Girls’ cricket in Sussex, or to find out more about the Sussex Cricket Foundation, please visit: https://sussexcricket.co.uk/sussex-cricket-foundation 

Special T20 Blast Ticket Discount for Local Schools!

The Blast is back in just two week’s time and the Sussex Cricket Foundation has secured a special discount for local schools to purchase tickets to support the Sharks. If you are part of a local school and would like access to purchase tickets for a school trip, please contact foundation@sussexcricket.co.uk 

Sussex vs Yorkshire: Match Preview 

After tasting defeat at Glamorgan for the first time in the County Championship this season, Sussex will look to bounce back to winning ways tomorrow when they welcome Joe Root and his Yorkshire side to The 1st Central County Ground. Paul Farbrace has named a 13-player squad for the match.

Squad

Alsop, Carson, Carter, Clark, Coles, Haines, Hudson-Prentice, Hunt, Karvelas, Lamb, Pujara, Robinson, Simpson* (wk)

Team News

Jayden Seales is being rested due to a minor groin injury, whilst Ollie Robinson returns to the squad.  

Ticket Information

Tickets to the first three days are available to purchase online here. As always, we recommend purchasing your tickets in advance, to save money and to protect yourself, should the game by impacted by rain. Full details can be found in our Refund Policy. 

Free Entry After 4pm

Entry to all County Championship games at The 1st Central County Ground after 4pm is free of charge. 

How to Watch

As ever, every ball is available to watch, free of charge, on our livestream via our Match Centre. Action gets underway from 11am tomorrow. 

Watch: Jayden Seales Talks to talkSPORT About Life at Sussex

It's fair to say Jayden Seales has hit the ground running at The 1st Central County Ground this season. The overseas star is currently the leading wicket-taker in Division Two of the County Championship, with his wickets and performances propelling Sussex to top of the table. 

Jayden recently spoke with Steve Harmison and Neil Manthorpe about life at Good Old Sussex by the Sea, his relationship with Paul Farbrace and the tips and tricks he has picked up from fellow Sussex stars Ollie Robinson and Cheteshwar Pujara. 

Visit the talkSPORT Cricket YouTube channel to watch the full interview. 

Record Breaking Sussex Storm To Fifth Primary Club Cup Success

On a glorious day at The 1st Central County ground in Hove Northants Steelbacks and Sussex Sharks finally contested the delayed 2023 BCEW Primary Club Heindrich Swanepoel Cup Final after a mix of rail strikes and rain prevented the game going ahead last season. 

Rail disruption still had an impact as Northants were delayed and the game finally got underway twenty minutes later than scheduled with Northants winning the toss and electing to field.

The Sussex innings started solidly as the Northants bowlers looked to keep things tight, The first wicket fell at 27 with Dave Daniels being run out for 12 with an excellent throw from Northants skipper David Howells. 

Mark Bond, having scored 31 played on off Gerald Porter’s bowling with the score on 106 and this brought Dan Field and Si Ledwith together for the partnership that would change the game.

Si’s 80 not out, off just 52 balls with 11 fours was a magnificent innings but that was eclipsed by Dan’s 154 off just 80 balls with 19 fours and 5 sixes.

This was the highest score by an individual batter in the cup final’s 44 year history. Si & Dan’s partnership of 180 was another all time cup final record.

Northants did claim three late wickets with Asif Ali finally dismissing Dan Field who was one of two catches for David Howells. Howard Greenhill also picked up a wicket and a run out as Sussex finally closed on 322/5, the highest ever cup final score by a wide margin.

Northants needed a fast start to have a chance at such a massive chase but some outstanding Sharks bowling made that impossible. Joe Harrison and Phil Daniels kept the score down to just 5 runs for the opening 5 overs with Phil (5.2 overs, 2 maidens, 3 for 3) clean bowling Northants dangerous opener Asif Ali. 

Joe was then replaced by totally blind bowler Ian “Tiny” Morris (6overs, 3 for 38) and as Northants looked to hit out they twice picked out Dan Field in the deep and the contest was effectively over. 

Alex Towers (6 overs, 3 for 24) ensured there would be no fightback from the middle order and when Si Ledwith took a sharp chance behind the stumps Northants were 94 all out in the 25th over, Gerald Porters battling 21 was the only score of note.

It was a tough day for Northants who had fielded in the hottest part of the day and came up against a Sussex side who turned in a complete team performance. 

The Partially sighted Player of the match was awarded to Dan Field for his destructive innings and the Totally blind Player of the match was awarded to Ian Tiny Morris whose 3 wickets at the top of the innings effectively ended Northants hopes of chasing the score down.

The biggest winner of the day was Blind Cricket, Sussex Cricket had promoted the game and there was an appreciative crowd soaking up the South Coast sunshine and enjoying a history making spectacle.

BCEW would like to sincerely thank Tom Belcher, Emma Brooke & the whole team at Sussex Cricket for staging such a terrific final. We would also like to thank The Primary Club without who our game couldn’t continue to grow.

Report provided by the BCEW

The Cup Final Records Sussex Smashed:

Highest Batter Score

154 Dan Field in 2023 for Sussex v Northants

150no Justin Hollingsworth in 2015 for Warwickshire v Metro

133 Matt Dean in 2015 for Metro v Warwickshire

Highest Partnerships

180 Dan Field & Si Ledwith in 2023 for Sussex v Northants

139 Nick Ebbeck & Prem Sellathurai in 2022 for Metro v Sussex

130 Justin Hollingsworth & Luke Sugg in 2015 for Warwickshire v Metro

Highest Team Totals

322/5 Sussex Sharks in 2023 v Northants Steelbacks

260/5 Warwickshire Bears in 2015 v Metro

260/9 Metro in 2009 v Essex Tigers

Sussex Cricket would also like to thank Webtrends Optimize, sponsors of the Sussex Disability Cricket teams. 

Sussex Sharks D40 vs Lancashire: Match Report

The Sussex Sharks D40 ran out comprehensive winners against Lancashire, winning by 9 wickets at The 1st Central County Ground yesterday.

In another historic weekend of disability cricket at The 1st Central County Grounds, the Sussex Sharks put together a batting and bowling performance against Lancashire that ensured the home side took away 30 points in the D40 Quest fixture. 

It was the visitors who claimed victory at the toss and decided to have a bat in the glorious Sussex sunshine, but the Sussex bowling attack ensured they were never able to post a significant total.

The Lancashire openers Adam Finneran and Krisitan Collinge made a good start, putting on 54 for the opening stand before Charlie Ferguson got the breakthrough for Sussex to halt them in their tracks.

From there on the Sussex bowlers took control of the innings, mainly down to the skill of Jake Vosloo, who picked up four wickets to dismantle the Lancashire top and middle order. He finished on figures of 4-12 from his six overs. 

Wickets for Stuart and Pyle ensured Lancashire were all out for 93, from just 22.5 overs. 

In reply, Sussex lost opener Scott Ridge for 5 runs, and at that point Lancashire might have fancied their chances, or at least to take a few more wickets.

However, Owen Piper (55) and Elliot Brown (27) ensured there were no more blips along the way to victory. Sussex chased down the total in just 19.2 overs, with Brown achoring the innings while Piper picked off 9 fours and 1 six. 

To view the full scorecard, please visit the Sussex Disability Play Cricket page.

Matchday Dining Returns | Saturday 18th May 

Sussex Cricket is delighted to announce that the Matchday Dining offer is once again available to book on Saturday 18th May (day two of Sussex vs Yorkshire) at The 1st Central County Ground.

Members and spectators are invited for a special two-course carvery at lunchtime during the second day of the Vitality County Championship in Cow Corner. 

Take your pick of either two meats or vegan option, as well as a dessert of the day for £28.50pp and enjoy while you sit back with perfect views of the pitch. Please note: price does not include a match ticket. 

To book your seat in Cow Corner, please contact 01273 827100. We look forward to welcoming you to The 1st Central County Ground.

Glamorgan vs Sussex: Day Three Match Report

Glamorgan secured a nine wicket victory over Sussex in the Vitality County Championship with Andy Gorvin starring on his way to career best figures of five for 40. 

Glamorgan were dismissed for 411 in the opening overs of day three to lead Sussex by 133 runs on first innings. 

A flurry of wickets at the start of the Sussex innings put them a long way behind in this contest and they never really recovered from that position as Glamorgan bowled them out for 188. Gorvin’s five wickets were supported by three for 34 from Mir Hamza and two for 21 from Mason Crane. 

Glamorgan needed 7.5 overs to reach their victory target to claim 23 points from this game with Sussex managing four bonus points.

The morning started with Glamorgan’s innings coming to an end thanks to a direct hit run out from Tom Haines with no runs added to the overnight total. From there it had a very familiar feel to the second morning of this match as the new ball wrought chaos with five wickets falling or 32 runs, three of those on the same score. 

Hamza claimed the first three wickets with balls that moved more than enough to have the Sussex top order searching for answers. Tom Clark and Tom Alsop were trapped lbw and the Pakistan international induced an edge to third slip from Tom Haines. 

At 32 for three the Sussex team were looking to the experienced pair of Cheteshwar Pujara and John Simpson to put together a rescue effort similar to what Colin Ingram and Kiran Carlson managed on the second day for Glamorgan. That didn’t transpire, Gorvin dismissed them both in his first over, with late movement once again the issue for the Sussex batters. 

There was a sizeable partnership that took Sussex back into the lead, with James Coles and Fynn Hudson-Prentice putting on a stand worth 118 which was impressive in its counterattacking nature. Hudson-Prentice took just 47 balls to reach his half century and the Sussex run rate was over four for most of the day. 

Hudson-Prentice fell when he chipped a ball from Gorvin to mid-wicket for 70. When Gorvin trapped Danny Lamb lbw he moved on to career best figures as Sussex were reduced to 164 for seven, just 31 runs in front of Glamorgan. 

Gorvin completed his maiden five wicket haul when he dismissed Jack Carson lbw for one but not long afterwards the players left the field for nearly two hours as a result of heavy rain. 

When play did resume there were 29 overs left in the day with Sussex 53 runs in front with two second innings wickets intact. It did not take long after the resumption for Glamorgan to wrap up the Sussex innings. Ari Karvelas was caught behind off Mason Crane and Jayden Seales launched the ball straight in the air off the next delivery and he was caught in the covers. 

This set Glamorgan a target of 56 to claim their first County Championship win since May 2023. Billy Root scored 36 of the runs that Glamorgan needed as they secured victory inside three days. 

Report provided by ECB Reporters' Network

Reaction from Paul Farbrace after defeat at Sophia Gardens

Glamorgan vs Sussex: Day Two Match Report

A brilliant recovery led by hundreds from Colin Ingram and Kiran Carlson saw Glamorgan finish day two of their Vitality County Championship Match against Sussex on 411 for nine, a lead of 133 on first innings. 

Glamorgan were in real trouble in the opening session of the day after a burst of three wickets from Jayden Seales saw them slump to 41 for four before a record partnership of 315 from Ingram and Carlson took the home side into a first innings lead.

Ingram was dismissed for 170 and Carlson made 148, by far the two highest scores of this match so far. 

Seales completed his third five wicket haul of the season just before the close as he further cemented his place as the leading wicket taker in Division Two. 

The day started with the ball dominating proceedings with Trinidadian Seales bowling with pace and late movement. A ball from around the wicket that seamed back into the left-handed Billy Root bowled the batter with him not offering a shot. 

11 balls later it was Seales had his second when he bounced out Nightwatchman Mason Crane with a ball that lifted on him and was caught by wicketkeeper John Simpson. 

Seales claimed his third wicket when he had Sam Northeast caught behind off a good length ball to leave Glamorgan in real trouble.  

From there it was all about Ingram and Carlson who put on a record fifth wicket stand for Glamorgan going past the 307 made by Carlson and Chris Cooke against Northamptonshire in 2021. 

Once the shine had gone off the new ball it was all very straightforward for the Glamorgan pair and with Sussex without the spin option of Jack Carson due to a back injury he sustained while batting on day one as the  visitors struggled for control. 

With the scoring rate hovering around four runs an over throughout the partnership it was just after tea that Glamorgan went into the lead on first innings, a remarkable turnaround from where they were in the morning session. 

The second new ball saw Seales return to the attack but with two set batters he did not find the same penetration as in the morning session with Ingram scoring 14 runs from his first over back. 

Ingram became the leading run scorer in the County Championship as he made his third hundred of the season. 

When the breakthrough did come it came as a bit of a surprise, with Carlson hitting a ball into the hands of extra cover off Seales for 148. 

As has been the case in this match so far, wickets have tended to fall in bursts and Cooke was dismissed in the next over for one. 

Ingram was trapped lbw by Danny Lamb before the close as part of a spell of play that saw Glamorgan lose three wickets for three runs before a quick fire 26 from James Harris helped the home team reach 400 to claim their seventh bonus point of the match.

Harris and Andy Gorvin both fell before the close to bookend the day with another cluster of wickets. 

Image credit: Huw Evans Agency

Report provided by ECB Reporters' Network

Reaction from Jayden Seales

Glamorgan vs Sussex: Day One Match Report

Wickets came in clusters on the first day of the Vitality County Championship match between Glamorgan and Sussex in Cardiff with the visitors posting 278 in their first innings after a middle order collapse left them in trouble. 

Four wickets a piece from James Harris and Mir Hamza were the highlight for Glamorgan but Sussex did well to recover from 140 for six thanks to late order runs from Jack Carson, Ari Karvelas and Jayden Seales. 

Several Sussex players got starts but none went on to make a big score on a pitch where it seemed difficult to get fully settled. In recent years this Cardiff square has flattened out as the match wears on, so those later order runs could prove vital. 

Glamorgan faced six overs before the close of play and finished on 21 for one with Eddie Byrom falling lbw to Karvelas for 12.  

Glamorgan’s decision to bowl first on a beautifully sunny day in Cardiff was a matter of some debate before the game started, and a quick start from the Sussex opening pair of Tom Clark and Tom Haines only added to those questions. Haines had reached 19 from just 22 balls when he was trapped lbw by Mir Hamza and that slowed things down. 

Clark was dismissed playing a pull shot that took a top edge that was easily caught by Chris Cooke, the first of a number of wickets that suggested that there was a two paced nature to this Sophia Gardens surface. 

A stand of 50 between Tom Alsop and Cheteshwar Pujara steadied things after the loss of both openers but a flurry of wickets after the lunch break justified Glamorgan’s decision at the toss. A brilliant 18 ball spell from Hamza saw him claim three wickets while conceding just four runs as Sussex went from 131 for three to 136 for five. 

One of those wickets was that of Pujara who was caught behind to a ball that Hamza got to seam away. The 41 runs he made in this were well put together but he could not go on to a really big score. 

James Harris claimed his third wicket when he had Danny Lamb caught at third slip by Andy Gorvin to leave the visitors 140 for six.

 A 66-run partnership between Jack Carson and Fynn Hudson-Prentice took Sussex past 200 but when Harris claimed a wicket a drag on to the stumps for the second time it saw the end of Hudson-Prentice for 48, the highest score of the Sussex innings. 

Crane took the ninth wicket when he had Jack Carson caught at slip by Colin Ingram for a well-made 39 before a last wicket stand took Sussex past 250 for their first bonus point. 

Ari Karvelas and Jayden Seales put on 43, but they were aided by Glamorgan fielding. Karvelas was dropped on 18 and 32 and finished undefeated on 39. 

The final wicket was claimed by Gorvin who was playing in his first game for Glamorgan this season on his 27th birthday. He bowled Seales for 17 as Sussex finished 278 all out. 

The one Glamorgan wicket to fall before the close was Byrom who was trapped by a lovely ball from Karvelas which swung into him and trapped him leg before. 

Image credit: Huw Evans Agency

Report provided by ECB Reporters' Network

Reaction from Ari Karvelas at stumps on day one

Tomorrow Sussex Sharks VI will face Northants at The 1st Central County Ground on Saturday 11th May at 1pm in the rescheduled 2023 BBS Primary Club Heindrich Swanapoel Memorial Cup. The competition  is the longest running disability sport competition, having first been contested in 1979.

Sussex have lifted the cup 4  times before the last being in 2018. Northants have just the one win in 2021. The 2023 Season saw Northants win the 2nd Division to be promoted back into the top flight, Sussex were runners up in National Division 1 and lifted the T20 Cup, comfortably defeating Lancashire in the final.

With the weather affecting  the early part of the 2024 season both sides have had just one game Northants drawing away at Lancashire and Sussex beating London Metro in a friendly. 

Sussex Captain Dan Field said: “We are looking forward to the game, it is fantastic to be playing the game at the county ground and I would like to thank Sussex for their commitment to disability cricket. We have our strongest side available and I know every player will give their all to lift the trophy.”

Sussex Sharks VI Squad

Mark Bond, Dave Daniels, Si Ledwith (wk), Dan Field (c), Joe Harrison, Mark Oliphant, Callum Weir, Marcus Kipling, Phil Daniels, Alex Towers, Ian “Tiny” Morris, Toby Collins, Matt Killeen, Alistair Worsley

New to Blind Cricket?

The team is made up of a mix of players with different levels of vision but all are registered as either sight impaired or severely sight impaired. 

Players wear coloured wristbands to identify their sight classification to umpires and spectators: Purple – Totals, these players wear shades so have no vision at all, Yellow – Low Partials  with very low vision, Green Mid Partials and Red – High Partials, you cannot have more than 2  high partials in your side.

 The Game

The main variations are for the Totals. They must bowl 3  overs in every 10, when batting the ball must pitch twice before reaching them  and they score double runs. The final variation is that they can take a  catch off one bounce so tend to field very close.

The mechanics of the game are very similar to sighted cricket. The stumps are slightly taller, the players with lower sight will ask the wicket keeper to call them to help them line up and when delivering the ball all bowlers have to ask the batter if they are ready  and shout “play” as they release the ball.

The cup is a 30 over match  with bowlers limited to NMT 6  overs each and 9  overs minimum must be bowled by totals. Apart from these variations, its cricket as you know it.

Ticket Information

Tickets are free of charge and can be claimed by visiting the Sussex ticketing website. Don't forget, the Sussex Sharks D40 side also play the following day at The 1st Central County Ground. Tickets are free for both games!