Surrey Women vs Sussex Women
Surrey Women vs Sussex Women: Match Report
Sussex Women edged out Surrey Women by 14 runs in a tightly fought contest yesterday at Guildford to maintain their spot in in second place of Group 4 in the ECB Women’s 50 Over competition.
Going into the game, Sussex knew a win would be some daylight between their opponents, who sat just behind them in the group in third place.
Hosts Surrey won the toss and elected to field and when they managed to bowl Sussex out for just 156 runs in 41.4 overs, they would have forgiven for thinking a win would be a formality.
The Sussex top order was unable to strike up any significant partnerships, with the Surrey bowling attack restricting the run rate throughout the early overs of the innings.
Wicket-keeper-batter Mollie Adams, the only batter to score over 10 runs from Sussex’s top five, meant work was needed from the middle-order to put together a defendable total.
Phoebe Wilkinson (46) had to work hard for her runs, but she had support from allrounder Regina Suddahazai, who contributed 20 runs.
Surrey’s run chase almost mirrored that of the visitors, with only opener Daisy Feast (25) making runs.
Sussex’s varied bowling attack, which has seen contributions from a number of different bowlers this season, did well to prevent Surrey’s chase from picking up momentum.
Surrey captain, Amy Gordon, made a brisk 36 from 27 deliveries to give them hope of victory, but she was eventually dismissed by the in-form Millie Taylor.
Taylor would go on to return figures of 4-32 from her 10 overs as she cleaned up the Surrey tail.
There was also wickets for Daisy Gibb, Reinga Suddahazai, Tia Joseph and Indigo Gentry, who ensured Surrey were bowled out for 142, 14 runs shy of the Sussex total.
To view the scorecard, plus all of the Sussex Women’s fixtures and results, please visit: https://sussexwomen.play-cricket.com/home
Photo credit: Saud Ahmed
Northamptonshire vs Sussex: Day 1
Northamptonshire vs Sussex: Day One Match Report
Sussex seamer Ollie Robinson equalled his season’s best tally of four wickets for 42 as Northamptonshire were skittled for 97 on an eventful opening day of this Vitality County Championship match at Wantage Road.
Robinson, who claimed identical stats against Yorkshire at Hove, found more control and a better line as he switched ends amid a Steelbacks collapse. This after the hosts had raced to 43 without loss inside six overs before Nathan McAndrew (3-25) started the slump with two wickets in two balls.
But on a day which saw 22 wickets fall, Sussex had themselves been bowled out earlier for 143, Northamptonshire seamer Jack White striking with four wickets for 23 runs, his first scalps of the summer since returning from injury. The visitors were undone by some testing seam bowling on a green top with bare ends, the bowlers finding plenty of movement to beat the bat consistently with Sussex losing six wickets for 47 in 19 overs after lunch, despite a series of dropped catches from the hosts.
The clatter of wickets meant Sussex were batting again at 5.20pm when, with the sun putting in a late appearance, conditions started to ease. Tom Haines took advantage, hitting 45 as Sussex closed on 83 for two, 129 ahead.
Earlier Haines was first to go in Sussex’s first innings, flashing outside off-stump, caught at fourth slip by Matthew Breetzke to give White his first wicket.
Daniel Hughes top scored with 35, stroking five boundaries before he was dropped by a diving Prithvi Shaw at second slip off Luke Procter (3-37). His reprieve was short lived as he edged the next delivery behind. Procter soon picked up another when James Coles fell to a good low catch by Matthew Breetzke at midwicket.
Tom Alsop (25) then departed on the stroke of lunch when tried to work Justin Broad off his hip and was caught behind on the stroke of lunch.
After the interval, in-form Sussex captain John Simpson took Sussex into three figures, before the innings swiftly fell apart.
Oli Carter was first to go. He had hit consecutive boundaries through the covers before lunch but was undone when White used his height to gain some extra bounce drawing him into pushing outside off-stump, keeper Lewis McManus taking the catch.
Simpson almost fell soon after, but Shaw shelled a simple chance at second slip off White. The bowler persevered, striking later in the same over when he jagged one back in to trap Fynn Hudson-Prentice lbw.
Simpson offered a second chance in the slips off Ben Sanderson, but this time a diving Breetzke could not hold on. He finally fell when Broad gratefully pouched a catch at second slip to give White his fourth wicket. Next Procter had McAndrew caught behind by a diving McManus before Robinson fell first ball, top-edging a return catch to Sanderson.
Jack Carson meanwhile took the aggressive route as wickets tumbled around him. He clubbed the ball through the onside and scooped for six before holing out off Sanderson.
When Northamptonshire batted, Ricardo Vasconcelos pummelled 16 off the opening over, including a six and two fours before pulling Sean Hunt out of the ground for another maximum. He had moved to 33 when he tried to steer Hunt past fourth slip, Carson taking a superb diving catch.
McAndrew then picked up two wickets in two balls thanks to some stunning fielding at third slip from Haines, who first took a good low grab to dismiss Emilio Gay, before an even more spectacular diving catch away to his left as Procter went first ball. South African T20 international Breetzke, playing his first Championship match, was then adjudged lbw to give McAndrew, Northamptonshire’s fourth wicket to fall for 16 runs in three overs.
Shaw, however, looked a class apart, driving his first two deliveries from Hunt square for four. He took a liking to McAndrew too, smashing him through the covers and cracking him away off the back foot.
But Robinson found a better line and control from the David Capel End and struck on the stroke of tea, Rob Keogh falling to a juggling catch by Coles at slip. He struck again soon after the interval when McManus drove loosely outside off-stump and was well caught by a leaping Simpson.
Hudson-Prentice made the key breakthrough, removing Shaw, caught by Carson off the leading edge for 31, before Robinson claimed a third wicket, shaping one back in to bowl Sanderson. In his next over he had Weatherall brilliantly caught by Carson at short cover before taking a catch in the deep himself as Broad holed out off Hudson-Prentice.
When Sussex batted again, Northamptonshire made an early breakthrough when White trapped Hughes lbw for 13. Haines though decided attack was the best option, smashing eight boundaries as he and Alsop shared a stand of 63 before he was caught behind off Sanderson.
Report Provided by ECB Reporters' Network
Reaction from Sussex Head Coach, Paul Farbrace
Sharks vs Glamorgan in aid of Sussex Cricket Foundation
Sussex Sharks vs Glamorgan in Aid of
Sussex Cricket Foundation
Sussex Cricket is delighted to announce that the T20 Vitality Blast fixture on Friday 5th July between Sussex Sharks vs Glamorgan at The 1st Central County Ground will be played in aid of the Sussex Cricket Foundation, to help raise awareness and vital funds for the Club’s charitable arm.
The Sussex Cricket Foundation’s aim is to help actively change lives through the power of cricket, helping to inspire the next generation of cricketers, provide opportunities for people to play the game and make it accessible to all.
Before the game the Sussex Sharks Visually Impaired Team, who will be guests of honor, will take to the pitch to parade the BCEW Trophy which they won recently when they defeated Northamptonshire at The 1st Central County Ground.
The Sussex Cricket Foundation team will also be running various activities in their new look FamZone before and during the game.
It has been yet another hugely impactful year for the Sussex Cricket Foundation, who continue to be held in high regard by the ECB and other partners.
The Foundation continue to be classed as a ‘leading organisation’ in Disability Cricket, Women & Girls Cricket and Schools Cricket. The Foundation recently published their 2023 Impact Report, which can be read here and details all their work.
Gary Wallis-Tayler, Community Cricket Director for the Sussex Cricket Foundation, said: “The Foundation continues to be in the best possible position and the game continues to grow across all ages, abilities and genders across the County.
“Recreational Cricket in Sussex has never been in a stronger place. I am delighted that we are able to use one of our T20 fixtures as an opportunity to showcase the work of the Foundation which will help amplify our message to a wider audience.”
Tickets for Sharks vs Glamorgan on Friday 5th July
Tickets are selling fast for Sharks vs Glamorgan, and with the team hunting down a quarter-final place, now is the time to secure yours and help to see them across the line. Click here to purchase yours today.
Sussex Cricket Foundation Donations
If you would like to make a donation to the Sussex Cricket Foundation, you can do so when purchasing your ticket to the game online, before making payment.
Alternatively, if you can’t make the game and would still like to make a donation, you can do so by clicking here.
Any donation you can manage is greatly appreciated and will help to continue the great work the Foundation carries out across the County.
To support or find out more about the Foundation visit their website or contact Community Cricket Director, Gary Wallis-Tayler on gary.wallis-tayler@sussexcricket.co.uk
Northamptonshire vs Sussex
Northamptonshire vs Sussex: Match Preview
After a dramatic final day win against Leicestershire on Wednesday, Sussex travel to Northamptonshire tomorrow looking to consolidate their place at the top of Division Two in the County Championship. Sussex Head Coach Paul Farbrace has named a 13-player squad for the trip.
Squad
Alsop, Carson, Carter, Coles, Haines, Hudson-Prentice, Hughes, Hunt, Karvelas, Lamb, McAndrew, Robinson, Simpson (c) (wk)
Team News
Tom Clark remains unavailable and Dan Hughes comes into the squad.
How to Watch
As usual, you can watch every single ball, free of charge on our livestream via our Match Day Centre. First ball is at 11am tomorrow.
Blog: Engaging with the LGBTQ+ Community
“It’s about doing the right thing for Sussex as a whole.”
Sussex Cricket Territory Manager Matt Parsons reflects on a four-year effort to better engage with the LGBTQ+ community, as part of cricket’s commitment to becoming the most inclusive sport in England and Wales.
Back in 2020, we started devising our Urban Plan. It was launched in June 2021 and growing our engagement with the LGBTQ+ community has been a central part of our efforts.
Within our plan, we highlighted the need to open up our LGBTQ+ work, look at what challenges we had to overcome, and make considered judgments on what we needed to do to get to where we wanted to be.
The LGBTQ+ population is a very visible part of the Brighton and Hove community, although isn’t quite highlighted as much in Crawley and the areas surrounding Gatwick. But in my role, I’m responsible for all recreational cricket within the area, so I knew we had to do things right.
To begin with, our initial activity was about building links and trust with the area’s LGBTQ+ population. In those early days, the focus was on developing relationships rather than worrying about cricket activity.
Brighton Council had an LGBTQ+ steering group and initially we engaged with them to find out where to go and who to contact to get those initial conversations up and running. We deliberately took a very soft-touch approach, but the more we listened, the more found out how many of the local groups and organisations knew each other.
We spent so much time just sitting and meeting people. Sometimes we’d make notes, other times it was literally just listening to what people were talking about. The biggest thing I realised was that they wanted to trust who they were talking to. In order to build trust, you have to be able to demonstrate that you’re not just doing something for your own agenda.
After lots of coffees and meetings, word eventually started to spread and the local LGBTQ+ community was hearing more and more about us. As a community, they were intrigued. It felt like our months and months of building trust were starting to pay off.
That’s so important to me because we’ve had four years of discussions, networking, and building relationships so we can make a genuine difference, rather than just saying nice things, ticking boxes, but ultimately not delivering anything tangible. There’s a lot of focus on making sure that what we deliver is actually relevant, even if that might not directly mean that we’re going to get more Sussex cricketers. It's about being welcoming and showing all communities that cricket is a place to connect.
In December 2023, we launched our first Coffee, Cake and Cricket networking morning at County Ground. They run on the first Monday of every month and today we’ve got more than 35 members of the local LGBTQ+ community attending those events. Now we want to grow that and replicate them across the entire county.
We’ve had an approach of making it not about cricket, but maybe using cricket as a vehicle to raise discussion. That’s now got us to a stage where, for the rest of 2024, we’re working on setting up an LGBTQ+ team for the 2025 season.
Between now and then, we’re running taster sessions to get people involved. We’re having Sussex Cricket shirts redesigned for the Pride Weekend in August. And we’ll be permanently displaying the Progress Pride flag at the front of the County Ground.
We’re also launching a survey at clubs around the make-up of their LGBTQ+ membership. And we want to get a discussion going within our club network so we can show genuinely that when our clubs say they’re inclusive, they do actually welcome anyone.
In May, myself and my colleague Charlotte attended the LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Cricket Conference at Trent Bridge. Spending time with others, learning what was going on around the country, and talking openly gave us so much reassurance that we’re on the right track and filled us with ideas on the train ride home.
We genuinely want to use the platform we have to support the local LGBTQ+ community. We want to show Sussex is welcoming and inclusive to everyone.
Sussex Cricket’s annual Pride Game will align with Brighton Pride this year, on August 4 against Leicestershire Foxes.
The ECB and the wider game is also marking Rainbow Laces from June 29-July 7, with the LGBTQ+ in Cricket Employee Network marching at Pride in London on behalf of the whole game on June 29. To download a LGBTQ+ Inclusion Toolkit for Clubs and Leagues, click here.
Jack Carson receives County Cap
Jack Carson Becomes 160th Sussex Player to Receive County Cap
Sussex offspinning allrounder Jack Carson became the 160th Sussex Men's Player to receive his County Cap yesterday ahead of the final day of the County Championship match between Sussex and Leicestershire.
Another success story of the Sussex Academy Pathway, Carson made his First-Class debut for Sussex in 2020 and has gone on to make 56 appearances for the Club across all formats of the game.
In 44 First-Class matches, Jack has taken 120 wickets at an average of 36.45 and an economy of 3.43. He has also accumulated 1303 runs. including nine half-centuries, with a high score of 87.
His ability with both bat and ball have made him a mainstay in the Sussex team and has played a key role in Sussex's promotion bid this season.
Carson was presented his cap in front of his teammates and parents by Sussex legend Tony Cottey, a mentor and key figure in Jack's progression from the Pathway to the First Team.
Congratulations, Jack! #GOSBTS
Sussex vs Leicestershire: Day 4
Sussex vs Leicestershire: Day Four Match Report
Leicestershire’s Louis Kimber rewrote the record books with an astonishing 243 but it came in a losing cause against Sussex in a dramatic final day at The 1st Central County Ground.
The 27-year-old produced one of the best innings in County Championship history, scoring the fastest double hundred from balls faced (100), hitting the most sixes and the most runs in a single over.
Kimber was last out when he dragged a leg-cutter from Nathan McAndrew onto his stumps with only last man Josh Hull for company as Sussex squeezed home by 18 runs to strengthen their position at the top of the second division.
Kimber faced just 127 balls and 206 of his runs came in boundaries with 20 fours and 21 sixes, breaking Ben Stokes’ Championship record of 17 sixes set in 2022.
Every Sussex player warmly congratulated him and his teammates and the backroom teams from both sides formed a guard of honour as he walked off to a standing ovation.
It was the third time in three years that a Leicestershire batter had scored a double hundred in this fixture.
What made it even more remarkable was Kimber’s record until today. He made his only previous century against Sussex in 2022 and averages a modest 24.46 but he cut, pulled and drove the Sussex attack to distraction in an uninhibited exhibition of power and timing in the fourth-highest score by a No.8 in first-class cricket.
He offered a difficult chance on 17 to Tom Alsop at slip which burst through his hands and Jack Carson nearly hung on to a ball struck with ferocious power over deep mid-wicket which took Kimber to 150, but otherwise there was very little Sussex’s bowlers could do to stop the onslaught.
Kimber was circumspect initially and scored 26 off his first 30 balls before a calculated assault took him to a 37-ball fifty.
When Ben Mike lobbed up a simple catch to mid-off Leicestershire needed 29 to win and with No. 11 Hull, who averages 3.25, for company Kimber had no option but to go for broke. His 21st six off Robinson sailed over long on but in the next over McAndrew had the final word.
Report Provided by ECB Reporters' Network
Reaction from Paul Farbrace after another remarkable win for Sussex on day four
Sussex D40 vs Yorkshire D40
Sussex D40 vs Yorkshire D40: Match Report
Alfie Pyle's 89-ball century ensured Sussex beat Yorkshire by 6 wickets with nearly two overs to spare in their D40 Quest League match at Ansty.
Yorkshire won the toss and elected to bat in beautiful conditions, and they would have been happy with their 208 runs after their allotted 40 overs and the early dismissal of their opening batters.
Wickets from Dan Gee and Charlie Ferguson ensured Yorkshire didn't make early headway in their innings. Owen Morris, coming in at three, top-scored for the visitors, posting an unbeaten 79 from 110 deliveries to ensure Yorkshire had a worthy total to defend.
He had great support from lower-order batter Camera Cooper, who made a quick 60 from 46 balls, until he was clean-bowled by Alfie Pyle.
Dan Gee bowled with discipline and got his reward of two wickets from the innings, returning figures of 2-47 from his 8 overs.
When Sussex came out to bat, their openers struggled to make early progress, with both Scott Ridge and Elliot Brown unable to make any runs between them.
Things changed when both James Dallaway (52) and Alfie Pyle (109) came to the crease. Dallway's 52 from 86 allowed Pyle to play more expansively in hot conditions.
Pyle, who was dropped three time on his way to a centure, began cramping up as he got closer to his century, but batted on through the pain to make yet another big score in Sussex colours.
Captain James Bunday (24*) and Dan Gee (4*) then saw out the innings to ensure victory for the hosts.
You can see the Sussex D40 fixtures and results here: https://sussexdisability.play-cricket.com/home
Half-Price Tickets Day 4 of Sussex vs Leicestershire
Sussex vs Leicestershire: Half-Price Tickets to Day Four
Tickets to the fourth and final day of the Vitality County Championship match between Sussex and Leicestershire at The 1st Central County Ground tomorrow are half-price.
Come and support Sussex in the sunshine as they look to secure victory and solidify their place at the top of the division.
To get your tickets, please click here.
Sussex vs Leicestershire: Day 3
Sussex vs Leicestershire: Day Three Match Report
Sussex took four wickets in the final hour to put themselves in a strong position to beat Leicestershire at The 1st Central County Ground and consolidate top place in the Vitality County Championship second division.
Off-spinner Jack Carson removed Foxes’ skipper Lewis Hill, makeshift opener Ian Holland and Lewis Goldsworthy after slow left-armer James Coles had made the breakthrough when he bowled Rishi Patel.
Ollie Robinson also claimed the key wicket of Australian Peter Handscomb as four wickets fell for 30 runs in 12 overs.
It left Leicestershire 139 for 5 and still needing 325 in their pursuit of a target of 464 and with the pitch at The 1st Central County Ground showing signs of uneven bounce and occasionally sharp turn for Carson, the hosts will fancy their chances of picking up the five wickets they need on the final day to claim their fourth win of the season.
Foxes’ openers Patel and Holland had settled in promisingly with a stand of 51 before Patel upped the tempo by twice hitting Carson over the mid-wicket boundary.
Slow left-armer Coles took over and broke through with his fifth delivery. Patel hit him for a six and four earlier in the over before he was bowled off an inside edge shaping to cut.
Carson returned at the sea end and removed skipper Hill with a beauty which turned just enough out of the rough to find the edge and Holland mistimed a reverse sweep, the ball looping off bat-pad to Ollie Carter at short leg.
Robinson got the wicket he deserved in his eighth over when Handscomb, who had been off the field earlier in the day with a sore shoulder, fended a short ball outside off stump into Carter’s waiting hands.
Just before the close Goldsworthy was caught at mid-wicket when he mistimed a slog-sweep to leave Leicestershire facing their first defeat of the season.
Earlier, nightwatchman Sean Hunt scored his maiden first-class fifty as Sussex scored 230 runs in 54 overs before declaring on 296 for 6.
Hunt, who has a career average of just 6.60 and a previous highest score of 22, cashed in after being dropped at slip by Handscomb off Goldsworthy when he’d made just nine.
He needed 69 balls to score his first 13 runs but then raced to 50 by smashing 37 off the next 20 deliveries, including two sixes off slow left-armer Goldsworthy over the short leg-side boundary.
Goldsworthy had opened the bowling with off-spinner Louis Kimber in an effort to improve Leicestershire’s over rate and between them they sent down 21 overs in 55 minutes and 38 in the morning session with Kimber eventually bowling 24 overs unchanged either side of lunch without reward.
Goldsworthy did pick up a wicket when Tom Haines, who’d added 64 for the third wicket with Hunt, chipped back a low return catch and there were two wickets for Scott Currie when Leicestershire reverted to seam.
Hunt spliced a pull to mid-off for a fine 65 off 118 balls and Coles, after scoring a run-a-ball 45, holed out trying to deposit Currie over long off.
Leicestershire employed nine fielders on the boundary after lunch and Tom Alsop took advantage with an unbeaten 81, including three sixes, before Sussex declared shortly before 3pm and left themselves 40 overs and the final day to take ten wickets. By the close they were halfway there.
Report Provided by ECB Reporters' Network
Reaction from Sean Hunt after his maiden first-class half-century
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