It was a testing opening day for Sussex in their their Rothesay County Championship clash with Yorkshire at Scarborough, a day lit up by a stunning James Wharton catch in the deep.

Sussex, inserted on a green-tinged pitch, were limited to 210 for nine from 96 overs. James Coles top-scored for them with 47 off 54 balls.

New-ball seamer Jack White impressed with three for 21 from 17 overs, with the first of his wickets coming courtesy of what was labelled in some quarters as one of the all-time great catches by Wharton running back towards deep square-leg.

Yorkshire came into this fixture second-bottom after 10 of 14 matches. They were seven points away from third-bottom and eighth-placed Durham, with Sussex only 21 ahead of the White Rose in fifth.

These two counties were promoted from Division Two last summer. Yorkshire beat Sussex here last August.

In fact, Sussex have never won a first-class match at North Marine Road. This is their 11th attempt. If Yorkshire’s start is anything to go by, that run may extend.

Quite where Wharton’s catch stands on the list of all-time great grabs is difficult to say with certainty. 

What can be said with certainty, however, is that was a truly outstanding catch. You will struggle to see better at any county venue this season.

Tom Haines looked to whip White over the leg-side but skied a chance off a top-edge. Wharton, positioned at a short midwicket, raced back towards deep square-leg and took the catch mid-air having dived full length.

That left Sussex at 19 for one in the ninth over.

From there, Yorkshire took wickets at regular intervals. Sussex reached lunch at 92 for three in the 29th over.

Australian left-hander Daniel Hughes was the second wicket to fall when bowled by a beauty from White which angled in from around the wicket, straightened and hit the top of off-stump. The score was on 26 at that time.

Coles and Tom Alsop steadied the ship, the former actually counter-attacking, including a six over long-on against the off-spin of Yorkshire’s stand-in captain Dom Bess.

Incidentally, Bess is leading Yorkshire this week with Jonny Bairstow on paternity leave. 

Coles fell just before lunch when caught behind against George Hill, leaving Sussex three down on 92.

A feature of the White Rose bowling performance was how miserly they were. For example, Sussex only scored 57 runs in an afternoon session which saw three more wickets fall - 149 for six at the tea break - and then 61 more after tea.

White got wicket number four when he had Danial Ibrahim caught at first slip pushing forwards before visiting captain John Simpson feathered behind a drive at Matt Milnes, leaving Sussex at 113 for five in the 44th over.

Alsop, twice a fifty-maker in last year’s clash, was then the second Sussex batter to fall in the forties after Coles. The left-hander had exactly 40 when he was bowled through the gate by one angled in from Revis with 129 on the board in the 53rd.

More damage was done shortly after tea as Sussex lost three wickets for the addition of run one in eight balls, slipping to 150 for nine.

The three wickets fell courtesy of catches at first, second and third slip.

Two of them went to Will Sutherland’s seam in the 66th over - Fynn Hudson-Prentice for 23 and Jack Carson for a duck. Henry Crocombe also fell without scoring in the next over to Hill.

Sussex were then boosted late on by an impressively watchful 10th-wicket partnership of 60 unbroken between Danny Lamb and Gurinder Sandhu.

Both men pulled sixes off seam, Lamb finishing on 40 and Australian Sandhu 24.

By Graham Hardcastle, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay

Aldridge@BACA Sussex Women’s Cricket League: July Review 

As the summer sun blazed across Sussex, July brought a thrilling chapter to the Aldridge@BACA Sussex Women's Cricket League. From some nail-biting finishes to record-breaking innings, teams across the divisions have showcased their skill and passion.

Here’s a roundup of the key highlights, and top performers that defined an action-packed couple of months in women’s cricket across Sussex.

The league now comprises of 17 clubs and 23 teams, growing year-on-year since the inaugural season in 2023. Which is in no small part down to the generous support of Sir Rod Aldridge OBE and the Aldridge Foundation, who sponsor the league and are committed to the growth of Women’s and Girls’ Cricket.

SWCL Division Standings 

With the opening block of T20 cricket a distant memory, Horsham Women’s 1st XI [214pts] have cemented their dominate lead at the top of the ECB Premier Division, needing one more 40-over format win to clinch the title. Burgess Hill Women’s 1st XI [148pts] and Hailsham Women’s 1st XI [145pts] sit in second and third respectively, with Brighton & Hove Women’s 1st XI [125pts] not far behind, in the battle for second.

The leaders in Division 2 are; West - Chichester Priory Park Women’s 1st XI [152pts] | Central - Horsham Women’s 2nd XI [216pts] | East - Cuckfield Women’s 1st XI [190pts].

To follow the standings across the 4 divisions, visit the Aldridge@BACA Sussex Women’s Cricket League official website. 

After the first month of season, there were no hundreds from batters across the league, but it’s fair to say that has changed! Here’s a look at the top five performances with a handful of matches left to play:

Best Batting Performances 

Sophie Beck, 148* – Hailsham Women’s 1st XI in Premier Division

Amanda Sturmer, 132* – Brighton & Hove Women’s 1st XI in Premier Division

Hannah Phelps, 123* – Horsham Women’s 1st XI in Premier Division

Becky Landy, 123 – Bognor Regis Women’s 1st XI in Division 2 (West) 

Emma Patel, 120 – Eastbourne Women’s 1st XI in Premier Division

Best Bowling Performances 

Arwyn James, 5/7 – Lewes Priory Women’s 1st XI in Division 2 (East) 

Magda Phillips, 5/13 – West Wittering Women’s 1st XI in Division 2 (West)

Tillie Tomlinson, 5/15 – Bognor Regis Women’s 1st XI in Division 2 (West) 

Lily Hobbs, 5/28 – Aldwick Women’s 2nd XI in Division 2 (West)

Eliza Steeles, 5/32 – Brighton & Hove Women’s 1st XI in Premier Division

Each week on the Sussex Cricket Foundation social media channels the best 20 performances with bat and ball are featured (from across competitive recreational cricket in Sussex), thanks to the ECB’s Play-Cricket Honours Boards. Give them a follow on - X, Instagram, Facebook & TikTok and connect with the cricket community! 

Want to keep tabs on all things Aldridge@BACA Sussex Women’s Cricket League? Remember to visit the official website for comprehensive fixtures, results, statistics, standings and resources for clubs competing in the league. 

Sussex VI Sharks Storm into T20 Finals Day!

On Saturday 26th July Sussex VI Sharks made the long trip to Wakefield to face Yorkshire in the David Townley Memorial T20 Cup.

T20 skipper Ian 'Tiny' Morris called correctly and asked Yorkshire to have a bat. Their innings started brightly and after 2 overs it was 21 without loss. By the end of the 4th over the score stood on 24-2 as Phil Daniels (4 overs, 1 maiden, 1 wicket for 8 runs) and Marcus Kipling (4 overs, 2 wickets for 20 runs) had applied the brakes and put the pressure back on Yorkshire. The Sussex attack remained tight and when Dom James' battling innings of 49 ended when he was run out by Joe Harrison in the 15th over, any hope of a challenging total slipped away and two late wickets from Mark Bond saw Yorkshire close on 90-8.

The Sussex innings began with a bang as 16 came off the first over but the Sharks' innings did not let up. Mark Bond 28 not out and Si Ledwith 36 not out brought the game home in the 9th over. Yorkshire battled hard throughout both of their innings but the difference between the first and second division was clearly evident.

Sussex will face local rivals London Metro in the Semi-Final on Saturday 20th September, at T20 Finals Day. In the other half of the draw Lancashire eased past Northants and will face either Somerset or Kent in the other Semi-Final, it looks to be an excellent end to the season.

Yorkshire vs Sussex: Match Preview

Next up in the County Championship is one of the most iconic outgrounds on the circuit. Affectionally known as "Scarbados" by those who visit, Scarborough is the venue for this crunch match between Yorkshire and Sussex. 

Team News

Paul Farbrace names an unchanged squad from the defeat at Hove to Essex last week, but will be hoping for an improved performance from those who make the XI from the 13 who have travelled. 

Ollie Robinson remains unavailable after sustaining a groin injury. 

Alsop, Carson, Carter, Coles, Crocombe, Haines, Hudson-Prentice, Hughes, Ibrahim, Karvelas, Lamb, Sandhu, Simpson* (wk)

The Opposition 

Having been promoted from the second division alongside Sussex, Yorkshire now find themselves second from bottom in the top flight, but their position doesn't tell the full story.

Only 21 points separate Yorkshire from Sussex, who currently sit in fifth, following an innings defeat to Essex in the last round. 

Surrey travelled to Scarborough last week in search of a vital win in what looks one of the closest title races in many years, but were unable to do so, with both sides making big first innings scores, culminating in a draw. 

This round of County Championship matches represents the last of which will be played with the Kookaburra ball and will require bowlers up and down the country to work that little bit harder to enforce a result. 

Both sides will be looking for important wins before the game pivots back to white-ball action, with the Metro Bank One Day Cup just around the corner. 

Timings

The toss takes place at 10.30am. The first ball will be bowled at 11am. 

How to Watch

As always, you can watch every ball, free of charge, via our Match Day Centre. You will need to register for a free account to access the stream, statistics, replays and live scorecard. You can find information on how to register here.

Sussex vs Essex: Day Four Match Report

Essex needed just 25 minutes to secure only their second victory of the season in the Rothesay County Championship when they beat Sussex by an innings and 39 runs at Hove. 

James Coles completed his third successive Championship hundred, but Sussex were bowled out for 261 in their second innings and suffered their first Championship defeat at Hove since May 2022. 

Sussex’s cause at the start of the final day was pretty hopeless with 55 still needed to make Essex bat again and only three wickets in hand.

But at least Coles, 99 not out overnight, was able to follow up centuries against Durham and Warwickshire by reaching his seventh first-class hundred, when he cut the fourth ball of the first over of the day from Matt Critchley to the boundary.

Coles was ninth out for 108, when he slog-swept Harmer and top-edged to Jamie Porter at backward square leg. He’d faced 214 balls, hitting 14 fours and a six. 

Simon Harmer had made the breakthrough in the second over when Ari Karvelas tickled a ball down the leg side and was well caught by Michael Pepper.

The end came when Critchley bowled Henry Crocombe for two. The leg-spinner finished with four for 41 and played his part in an excellent performance by Essex, who will fancy their chances of climbing the table in the remaining four games now they have a full-strength bowling attack available again, having controlled this match from the first session. 

Report Provided by ECB Reporters' Network

James Coles led Sussex’s resistance with an unbeaten 99 but his efforts seem unlikely to deny Essex victory over Sussex at Hove.

Coles was on the verge of a third successive Rothesay County Championship century when rain arrived at 5.20pm and play was abandoned shortly afterwards with Sussex 245 for seven in their second innings, still trailing by 55 after conceding a first-innings deficit of 300.

Coles is Sussex’s man in form. He made 148 not out at Durham and 150 in Sussex’s last home match against Warwickshire and he top scored in their first innings with 52. Only five batters have scored more Championship runs this season than the 21-year-old, and he didn’t offer a chance here after arriving in the seventh over with Sussex 33 for 2. 

While he and Tom Alsop (72) were adding 141 in 72 overs for the third wicket Sussex harboured hopes of stalling Essex’s push for victory.

But Alsop was lbw to Matt Critchley in the leg-spinner’s second over and after tea Sussex lost four wickets for 26 in 40 balls including their leading run scorer John Simpson, calamitously run out going for a second run on an overthrow.

At the start of the day Essex skipper Simon Harmer clubbed three sixes to reach a half-century before he was last out for 53 as Essex’s first innings ended on 504, a lead of 300. 

Essex’s new-ball pair Sam Cook and Jamie Porter soon made inroads. Tom Haines nibbled fatally at Cook’s first ball and edged it to third slip beforePorter struck in the seventh over to remove Daniel Hughes, courtesy of a fine low catch at second slip by Harmer.

But from 33 for two Coles and Alsop rebuilt patiently. Alsop’s fourth fifty of the season came off 104 balls and the normally more attacking Coles took 117 deliveries for his, but neither offered a chance as the Kookaburra ball quickly lost its effectiveness and Essex had to settle for containment.

Having had little success himself, Harmer turned to Critchley in the 47th over and with his first ball he nearly won an lbw verdict against Alsop. But the fourth delivery of his next over straightened enough to beat Alsop’s defensive push. He faced 150 balls and hit nine fours. 

Essex had a breakthrough and after tea they rammed home their superiority, aided once again by some pretty poor shot selection by the Sussex middle and lower order. 

Dan Ibrahim (19), who’d helped Coles add 48 for the fourth wicket, got a leading edge in the first over after the resumption and Khaleel Ahmed took the catch in his follow through, while Simpson was run out by Sam Cook’s throw looking for a second run on an overthrow after a moment’s fatal hesitation between him and Coles. 

Critchley then struck in successive overs. Fynn Hudson-Prentice’s mistimed drive was caught well in the covers by Harmer and Jack Carson tamely picked out mid-wicket aiming to hit Critchley over the top. 

As the clouds rolled in, Ari Karvelas defied Critchley and Harmer for 33 balls but it would need a lot more resistance from him, Coles and Sussex’s tail to keep Essex at bay on the final day. 

Free and Inclusive Sixes Cricket Sessions at Sussex

Following our recent and successful LGBTQ+ taster session at our Pride Inclusivity Day at Sussex Cricket, we are really excited to inform you of our follow-up event : Six weeks of Sixes at Sussex! FREE CRICKET and free coaching available each week with a Sussex Cricket Foundation Coach.

Join us for: 

• Sixes Interactive Cricket Nets – Exclusive use for the nets for the LGBTQ+ community
• 6 weeks of Tuesday evenings – 6-7pm + Socialising time afterwards
• Starting Tuesday 29th July (last session Tuesday 2nd August)
• Join us at the 1st Central County Cricket Ground, Hove, Eaton Road, BN3 3AN
• All levels welcome – from complete beginner to experienced

These cricket taster sessions are an opportunity to have fun playing cricket and to meet like-minded people in a safe, fun, and inclusive environment.

Want to come along? Please sign up here: Six weeks of LGBTQ+ Sixes! Sign up for FREE HERE.

Please feel free to share this with any contacts, friends or family, that may be interested in this event.

Got questions or want to know more about LGBTQ+ cricket at Sussex? Email us at - ayscha.woods@sussexcricket.co.uk

The ECB have today announced that England Women will play New Zealand Women in an IT20 on Monday, 25th May 2026 at The 1st Central County Ground, Hove. 

The exciting news comes after the same fixture sold out in 2024 and is expected to be another full house when we once again host England and New Zealand Women at Hove next May. 

It was in 2024 that New Zealand Women last played at Hove with England claiming a 23-run victory on the DLS. 

To be notified at the very earliest possibility on how to purchase tickets, learn sale dates and receive any further information, you can visit this link.

Hundreds by Jordan Cox and Matt Critchley strengthened Essex’s position on the second day against Sussex at Hove. 

Cox made 132 and Critchley 123 as Essex reached 475 for nine before bad light and rain took 28 overs off the day’s allocation after tea. 

Sussex haven’t lost a home game in the Rothesay County Championship since May 2022 but will be hard pressed to maintain that record after Essex stretched their lead to 247.

That was largely down to Cox and Critchley, who put on 184 in 43 overs in the first half of the day. 

Cox made 139 not out last week against Hampshire in the Vitality Blast and showed similar form against the red ball here, hitting 23 fours in his tenth first-class century – the second fifty of which came off 53 balls. 

Sussex’s seam attack struggled in the absence of the rested Ollie Robinson, and with the Kookaburra ball offering little assistance skipper John Simpson soon adopted a containment strategy by rotating his attack in short spells in search of a breakthrough. 

But with a temptingly short boundary on the pavilion side it was hard to contain Cox and Critchley, who offered one half-chance on 27 when Gurinder Sandhu got one hand on the ball at long on but couldn’t cling onto a very difficult opportunity.

Cox reached his century by reverse-sweeping Jack Carson to the boundary as 149 runs came before lunch. Sussex desperately needed to break through with the second new ball and they did so when it was five overs old. Cox launched into a full-blooded drive at Sandhu and second slip James Coles parried the edge into the air and Tom Alsop dived full length at first slip to take the catch.

Critchley also lodged his tenth first-class hundred of his career, which he reached in the 89th over when he ran a delivery from Ari Karvelas down to third man. As well as 12 fours he also hit five leg-side sixes in 175 balls. 

He departed after a smart piece of work by Fynn Hudson-Prentice at mid on who ran him out with a direct hit after Critchley had been called through for a quick single by Michael Pepper.

When Noah Thain had his middle stump plucked out of the ground by Sandhu with the next ball there was brief respite for Sussex. 

Rain and thunderstorms arrived at tea and when the players returned at 5.50pm Pepper (44) got a thin edge to the fourth ball after the resumption from Hudson-Prentice, who then had Khaleel Ahmed caught on the boundary before bad light forced an early close with Essex in control.

The PCC Select XI take on Pakistan A in two matches at The 1st Central County Ground next week. 

First, Hove will host a 50-over friendly on Sunday, 27th July. This will commence at 11am.

Next, starting on Tuesday, 29th July, a three-day friendly against the same opposition will take place. 

Tickets are priced at just £5 for adults and £1 for U18s. 

Book tickets online via this link.