Berkshire vs Sussex Sharks: Match Report

Sussex Sharks continued their preparations for this year’s Metro One Day Bank Cup with a 148-run victory over Berkshire at Slough. 

Sussex skipper John Simpson won the toss and elected to bat but Berkshire made the most of the early conditions, as seamer And Rishton dismissed both Tom Haines (4) and Tom Clark (14) to peg back the visitors on a rain interrupted morning. 

Having been off for rain on two occasions, the game was subsequently reduced to a 47-over match, with Oli Carter and Dan Ibrahim eventually returning to the crease with the Sharks on 62-2 from 13 overs. 

Both products of the Sussex Cricket Pathway batted well in tandem, with the pair both making half-centuries and putting on a 117-run third wicket stand before Ibrahim was eventually dismissed for 56 from 60 deliveries to leave the Sharks on 156-3 from 27.3 overs. 

Carter was next to fall after quickly making his way to 78, a knock that included six 4s and two 6s. 

Those dismissals then meant Sussex Rookie’s Zack Lion-Cachet and Henry Rogers were out in the middle and both seemed set on scoring quickly.

Lion-Cachet raced to 31 from just 22 balls including two 4s and 1 six, before he was bowled by Sully Akhtar. 

Henry Rogers (51) and John Simpson (50) both scored quickly for their half-centuries, before brief cameos from Foreman, Lenham, Campbell and Hunt took the Sharks to 334 all-out from their 47 overs.

In response, Berkshire lost two wickets of their own early on. The Sharks opened the bowling with two left-armers at either end, Sean Hunt, and recent signing, Jack Campbell, who was making his debut appearance for the First Team.

Campbell had an immediate impact, finding the edge twice in the same over to leave Berkshire 26-2 from just his second over in his opening spell. He then followed up with a third wicket to further reduce Berkshire to 69-4.

The Berkshire middle-order then began to show some resistance, Dan Lincoln (28) and Matt Dalrymple (19) shared a stand of 36, only for the pair to fall in quick succession.

That meant the hosts were 6 down with 109 on the board at the halfway point of their innings. 

Seamer Andy Rishton provided some much-needed resistance down the order with the bat, making a rapid 44 from 28 before being bowled by Tom Clark, but once he was gone Berkshire’s task looked perilous. 

Opener Rhys Lewis had retired hurt earlier in the game, meaning the Sharks only needed one more to secure victory and it was picked up Clark. 

Photo Credit: Saud Ahmed

Somerset vs Sussex Sharks VI: Match Report

On Saturday 13th July Somerset hosted Sussex Sharks in Taunton in the semi-final of the Primary Club Heindrich Swanapoel Memorial Cup, with the Sharks cruising into the final. 

Sussex won the toss and had no hesitation in asking Somerset to have a bat, preferring to know what to chase should the rain intervene.

The game started in familiar fashion for the Sharks with their opening bowlers keeping good lines and high pace with Joe Harrison claiming 2 early wickets to leave Somerset on just 6-2 after 6 overs. 

Sussex then gave the ball to their totally blind bowlers Dave Daniels and Tiny Morris who reeled off 10 overs to complete their work for the afternoon.

Dave Daniels finished with figures of 1-20 off his 6 overs. At 19 overs the rain intervened and the players had to come off with Somerset 75-3. This reduced the game to 27 overs per side. 

The shortened game gave Somerset just 8 overs to push the score on. England Captain Ed Hossell (29) had held the innings together but fell in the first over after the break to a skiddy yorker from Phil Daniels, who's figures of 3-9 runs off his 6 overs led the Sharks attack. 

Somerset just couldn't get going and the last 8 overs netted them only 22 runs for the loss of 6 wicket, their innings closed on 97 -9.

Although the target looked modest, the pitch had proved difficult to score fluently with just the one boundary coming from the Somerset innings, so the Sharks knew they had to be watchful. 

The first 4 overs yielded just 11 runs but with only 1 wicket falling there were no alarms. 

After the first change scoring became easier and Si Ledwith (51) took the score to within a dozen runs before perishing, but fellow  opener Mark Bond (29*) calmly saw the Sharks over the line for a comfortable eight-wicket win in the 14th over.

In the other semi-final scoring proved to be much easier as last year's beaten finalist Northants piled up 307-4. 

Their opponents 2nd Division Kent gave it a good go but fell 53 runs short, meaning there will be a repeat of the 2023 final between Northants and Sussex, to be played on the 31st August at a venue yet to be announced.

Sussex Sharks vs Hertfordshire: Match Report

A classy century from Tom Haines and 96 from skipper Tom Clark ensured Sussex Sharks won a well contested National Counties Friendly against Hertfordshire at Arundel Castle. 

Hertfordshire’s skipper Ben Waring won the toss and elected to bowl and there would have been a sense of regret after the Sussex Sharks opening pair got off to a flyer, putting on 179 runs for the first-wicket stand from just 158 balls.

Clark, who was skippering for the Sharks, made a brisk 96 from 83 balls, whilst Tom Haines went one further, chalking up 102 from 110 including ten 4s and two 6s. 

After Clark was dismissed in the 27th over, Hertfordshire managed to stem the flow of runs somewhat, picking up three wickets along the way to leave the Sharks 255-4 in the 42 over.

However, the incoming pair of Zach Lion-Cachet and Jack Carson batted with freedom and both closed out the innings unbeaten on 30 and 48 respectively. 

That left Hertfordshire requiring 341 to secure victory and their start mirrored that of the Sussex openers, with Chatfield and Harrison also putting on 170 for the first-wicket stand.

Chatfield was the first to depart for 69, but his partner at the top, Harrison, batted beautifully to reach 126 runs from 121 balls. 

From there on however, it was hard work for the remaining Hertfordshire batters, who never really looked like chasing the total down.

Four wickets from Jack Carson and two a piece from Archie Lenham, Fynn Hudson-Prentice and Henry Crocombe meant that Hertfordshire were bowled out for 282 in the 50th over of the contest.

In the end it was a well-earned 58-run victory for the Sussex Sharks, who begin their Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign on Friday 26th July against Notts Outlaws. 

Quarter-Final Ticket Information

Sussex Sharks have qualified for this year's T20 Vitality Blast quarter-finals and are just one match away from Finals-Day.

The Sharks will play Lancashire Lightning on Wednesday 4th September at 7pm. All tickets will be available to purchase online via our ticketing website as per the details below. 

On Sale Dates

Monday 22nd July 10am Members and Blast Pass Holders

Tuesday 23rd July 10am 2024 Blast Ticket Purchasers

Wednesday 24th July 10am General Sale

Ticket Prices

Members and Blast Pass Holders Adult £25 Youth (u18) £15 Junior (u14) £10

2024 Blast Tickets Purchasers and General Sale Adult £35 Youth (u18) £20 Junior (u14) £15

Important Information 

• All Members and Blast Pass holders must be logged into their online accounts to gain access to purchase tickets when the window opens on Monday 22nd at 10am. 
• SO Legal Members who wish to book tickets in the SO Legal area will need to call on 01273 827100 to purchase tickets
• Purchasers are limited to 1 ticket per eligible person
• Should you wish to purchase tickets for others, those people must be in your network prior to making seat selections. To add eligible supporters to your network:
  • Click the person icon at the top
  • View Account Menu
  • Account Management
  • My Network
  • Click Add User 
  • Insert their ID number and surname
  • The user will now appear below the search bar
• ALL Blast Pass holders will have their current seat/s held for them until 9am Wednesday morning 
• Reserved seats are unavailable from the "select your seat" map
• View your reserved seat by clicking the red dot on the person icon on the map - add the reserved seat to your basket and checkout
• If you hold more than one Blast Pass under the same name, you will need to call 01273 827100 to book your tickets

Accessible Requirements

Should you have any requirements that we need to be aware of, please phone the Box Office on 01273 827100 before booking any tickets. We will discuss with you and make sure the most appropriate tickets/seating is booked.

Hospitality Packages

We have a number of hospitality packages for those fans who would like to upgrade their experience and make the quarter-finals that extra bit special. Take a look through our T20 Quarter-Final Hospitality Brochure to see all of our packages and prices.

To book a package please email corporatesales@sussexcricket.co.uk 

Sussex Sharks vs Middlesex: Match Report

Sussex Sharks secured a home quarter-final in the Vitality Blast after thrashing Middlesex by nine wickets in front of a sell-out crowd at The 1st Central County Ground.

They leapfrogged Somerset, who lost heavily to Glamorgan in Cardiff, and back into second place after securing a ninth win in the South Group and will host the team who finish third in the North in the last eight when the competition resumes in September.

The pitch at Hove was being used for the third time but Middlesex’s 159 for 9 never looked like being enough and conditions were put into perspective by Sussex openers Harrison Ward and the Australian left-hander Daniel Hughes, who put on 141 in 15.1 overs, Sussex’s fourth highest stand for any wicket in T20. 

Hughes is now the top scorer in what is his debut season in the Blast after taking his aggregate to 560 runs with an unbeaten 96 while Ward, who had been drafted into The Hundred for the first time with Oval Invincibles earlier in the day, celebrated by easing to his third half-century in this season’s competition.

Apart from a mix-up which nearly ended in Hughes being run out, the Sussex pair did much as they pleased until Ward was caught at deep mid-wicket for 56 (42 balls, 5 fours, 1 six).

Hughes faced just 54 balls, hitting 12 fours and three sixes – the third to win the game with 22 deliveries to spare as he equalled his T20 career-best with his fourth fifty. 

Some disciplined bowling had set Sussex up. They had reduced Middlesex to 22 for 3 by the third over with Ollie Robinson picking up a wicket with the first ball of his first two overs. 

The dangerous Leus du Plooy was superbly caught at short-cover by Daniel Hughes and Danny Lamb produced an even better effort to remove Max Holden, flinging himself to his left to hang on to a full-blooded slash at backward point.

Later in the same over Lamb put down a much more straightforward chance to reprieve Jack Davies on nought and had to go off with an injury to his right shoulder. 

It left Sussex a bowler light but slow left-armer James Coles (2 for 28) and off-spinner Jack Carson (2 for 23) strangled Middlesex’s attempts to accelerate, although Davies celebrated his reprieve by making 52.

Davies hit four boundaries in an over off Scott Currie and also swiped three sixes but Carson got him in the 14th over courtesy of one of three catches on the mid-wicket boundary by Tom Clark. 

Luke Hollman made 28 at the end but Hughes and Ward soon had Sussex’s chase under control as Middlesex finished another disappointing campaign second from bottom after winning just three games. 

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Reaction from Daniel Hughes after his unbeaten 96

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