Dan Lawrence and Ollie Pope both made attacking hundreds before bad light halted Surrey’s rapid progress on day three against Sussex at Hove. 

When the players came off ten minutes after tea Surrey were 390 for three, only 45 runs behind with Lawrence unbeaten on 117 after Pope had made his first Championship century for two years. 

The loss of 36 overs could be crucial to Surrey’s hopes of making it an awkward final day for Sussex by going past their first innings’ 435. 

After Pope scored 102 Lawrence made the most of a reprieve on 35, when he was dropped by sub fielder George Thomas. He hit six sixes in his first hundred of the season, off 92 balls, including two in an over when Ollie Robinson opted to bowl short to a packed leg side field. 

Sussex should still be able to save the game on a surface which has offered little assistance for seam or spin, but after drawing and winning their first two games since promotion this was a reminder that Division One cricket represents a big step up. 

Curiously, it was Pope’s first County Championship century away from The Oval since his maiden effort at Southampton eight years ago. The 27-year-0ld had a lean time in the competition between England matches last season when his top score in ten innings was 63. But he made 65 against Hampshire last week and carried on here in ideal batting conditions. 

He ruthlessly punished any indiscretions in length and scored on both sides of the wicket. There were 11 boundaries and he also lofted James Coles’ left-arm spin over mid-wicket – although Jayden Seales running around the boundary nearly took what would have been a stunning catch. Pope’s 22nd first-class century was his first in the Championship for more than two years, but frustratingly he was dismissed two balls after getting there when he gloved a short ball from the persevering Seales, who was the pick of Sussex’s attack. 

During the morning session Pope and Dom Sibley took their second-wicket stand to 179 in 42 overs. Sibley was cruising towards his third successive hundred when he chipped up a tame return catch to slow left-armer James Coles, having earlier hit him over long-off for six and ten boundaries. Both batters will have departed feeling they had left runs out there.

Lawrence was soon into his stride, although Thomas will have nightmares about the straightforward catch he dropped at backward square leg off a disconsolate Robinson. The 27-year-old certainly made the most of his reprieve. Five of his sixes were hit into the leg side but the other, a sumptuous straight drive off Coles, was probably the best of them.

At the other end Ben Foakes was happy to play a supporting role, although he did swing Coles over the boundary on one knee. 

Lawrence reached his 18th first-class hundred with a somewhat streaky thick edge over the slips off Robinson for his eighth boundary as Surrey scored 162 between lunch and tea in 29 overs. But just two more were possible in the evening session and with Danny Lamb out of the attack after injuring his shoulder on Saturday, Sussex were probably glad of the opportunity to regroup and come back tomorrow with a new ball only six overs old.

Tom Haines, one of the better opening batsmen in the country for many years, has been unable to prove himself in the first division of the county championship. Now he has done so most emphatically. 

Haines batted for seven and a half hours against the best seam attack in the land, scoring 174 runs to anchor the Sussex first innings of 435 against Surrey. This followed his 141 in his side’s resounding victory over Somerset last week.

When he was bowled, getting an inside edge onto his leg stump from a delivery from Gus Atkinson, bowling round the wicket, this compact, neatly acquisitive left-hander had faced 286 balls and struck 18 fours, adding 180 for the third wicket with Tom Alsop (63).  In doing so he pushed himself into the England reckoning, for the Lions side at least.

But for all his great efforts on the second day of the match between the county champions and the current joint leaders, it was Surrey who reached the close of play the happier side.  On their travels they have become accustomed to being presented with flat pitches and this was another one, a slow, low piece of turf that drew the teeth from the fast bowlers.

Surrey bowled with more control than they had shown on the opening day. But on an even flatter pitch and with a softer ball they struggled for penetration. Instead, they opted for containment, and were so successful in their plan that Sussex scored just 208 runs in 79.2 overs, at a run-rate of 2.62, losing eight wickets in the process as they slogged to fielders and picking up just three batting points. Atkinson, in his first match of the season, took four wickets but Matt Fisher was the pick of the bowlers, achieving unexpected bounce on occasions and often beating the bat. On a pitch offering occasional uneven bounce, wicketkeeper Ben Foakes was outstanding in conceding a single bye.

Sussex resumed on 227 for two and scored 78 runs in the 34 overs before lunch.  

Atkinson bowled consistently short of a length from the sea end and Jordan Clark bowled with fine discipline from the Cromwell Road end. 

Haines, who started on 89, reached his  century when he drove Jordan Clark through the overs for a single and then Alsop reached his second fifty of the season.  Surrey broke through after 75 minutes when Alsop flicked a leg-side delivery from Fisher to Dan Worrall at deep square-leg. Sussex lost their fourth wicket at 302 when James Coles hooked a short one from Atkinson and Fisher took a tumbling catch at long leg.

After lunch John Simpson, the in-form Sussex skipper, hinted at a greater urgency until he pulled Atkinson straight to midwicket and the long vigil by Haines ended on 379.  Sussex did not have the runs they wanted and Danny Lamb, who retired hurt after being struck on the right arm by the impressive Clark, returned in obvious pain to give Fynn Hudson-Prentice late support after Ollie Robinson had thrown his wicket away

When Surrey batted Rory Burns, playing no stroke, had his off stump plucked out by Robinson and they ended on 90 for one.

Glamorgan Women vs Sussex Sharks Women: Match Report

After a morning of rain and no cricket played, the weather at Sophia Gardens eventually cleared resulting in an adjusted match of 25 overs a piece for the Metro Bank One Day Cup opener between Glamorgan Women and the Sussex Sharks. 

Skipper Chiara Green won the delayed toss, electing to put the hosts into bat on an extremely green-looking surface. 

After opting to open the bowling with seamers at both ends, Green soon made the switch to spin, a decision that yielded instant results. 

Eve O’Neil, on loan from Hampshire, made an instant impact with her right-arm offspin, taking three wickets in her opening two overs to leave Glamorgan on 56/3. 

It was an impressive debut for the loanee, who returned figures of 3-2 for 14 from her allotted 5 overs. 

From there on the momentum shifted. Glamorgan captain Bethan Gammon and Gemma Porter then put on a 4th wicket stand of 104 runs to drag the hosts back into a favorable position.

That partnership was eventually ended by Daisy Gibb who clean bowled Porter for 29, before returning for final over and claiming the scalp of Gammon, who departed for an imposing 72.   

Gibb’s defiant death bowling helped stem the a flurry of late runs as Glamorgan set 179 to win.

The Sharks’ response was dealt an early blow when opener Rachel King was dismissed in the second over for 4. 

With boundaries looking hard to come by, the Glamorgan attack continued to build scoreboard pressure, eventually rewarded with the wicket of Jazz Westley.

Wicket-keeper-batter Mollie Adams looked assured and comfortable at the crease and while she didn’t manage to find boundaries early on her innings, began to build momentum before being adjudged to have been stumped for 19. 

When Sharks captain Chiara Green made her way to the crease, her side required 76 from 121 runs and she showed her intent immediately, pulling Daisy Jeanes for four.

If the Sharks were to chase Glamorgan down, they would need to step on the gas. Green and Western continued to push to up the rate but were undone when Green was run-out chasing a quick single.

That reduced the Sharks to 72-4, with a little over ten overs remaining.

The Sharks lower-order continued to attempt to play positively but were Glamorgan were persistent with the lines and sharp in the field, taking wickets at regular intervals to ensure the victory. 

As well as impressing with the ball, Daisy Gibb looked tidy with bat in hand too. She top scored for the Sharks, making 24 runs from 20 balls. 

That wasn't enough to prevent defeat, with Glamorgan winning the Metro Bank One Day Cup opener by 54 runs. 

Next Up: Sussex Sharks vs Yorkshire Vikings

Alexia Walker's side are next back in action a week on Saturday, on 26 April as Yorkshire Women travel down to The 1st Central County Ground. 

If you're a Sussex Member, this game is included in your membership! If you're looking to purchase tickets, however, then the link can be found here. Tickets start from just £5.

Sussex vs Surrey Day One Report

Tom Haines’ unbeaten 89 and a half-century from opening partner Dan Hughes put Sussex in control on a rain-shortened first day against Surrey at the 1st Central County Ground. 

Rain arrived just after 3pm and although they returned at 5.40pm only 11 more balls were possible. Sussex closed on 227 for two from 53 overs, Haines and Hughes having laid the platform with a first-wicket stand of 102 after Sussex had won the toss. 

For the champions’ attack it was a tough day. Gus Atkinson bowled some overs in a second-team friendly earlier in the week, but this was his first competitive outing since England’s Test series against India in February and he understandably looked rusty, especially in his first spell when he struggled with the Hove slope, overstepping six times and conceding 53 in ten wicketless overs either side of lunch. Atkinson came in for Kemar Roach while Jamie Smith, rested by England, was replaced by 20-year-old left-hander Ollie Sykes.

Atkinson returned for a second spell at the sea end but bowled just one more over before the rain got too heavy and umpires Ben Debenham, who was standing in his 100th first-class match, and Paul Pollard took the players off for the first time. 

It is the first time these teams have met in the Championship at Hove for 15 years and although as usual there was a good covering of grass on the wicket there were few demons in the pitch for Haines and Hughes, who progressed at five runs an over, and little assistance through the air. 

Rory Burns rotated his seamers but had turned to leg-spinner Dan Lawrence after 55 minutes, with Dan Worrall’s opening four overs going for 29 as the Sussex left-handers feasted on any width and enjoyed a short boundary on the scoreboard side. 

Hughes needed just 47 balls to reach his fifty and had progressed serenely to 62 when he drove a length ball from Matthew Fisher back at the bowler and Fisher took a good two-handed catch in his follow through.  

Lawrence struck three overs later when a quicker ball deceived Tom Clark who was pinned in front trying to work the ball into the leg side. Surrey sensed a breakthrough but Haines and Alsop, who was unbeaten on 39 at stumps, regrouped.

After lunch Surrey bowled aggressive lengths in an attempt to unsettle the two left-handers and Alsop was hit on the side of the helmet when he ducked into one Worrall bouncer while a short ball from Atkinson deflected off Haines’ helmet and flew down to the third man boundary. 

But with relatively little pace in the wicket the batters grew in confidence whenever Worrall or Atkinson pitched short, and Haines hooked Worrall impressively to bring up his half-century with a boundary. When Atkinson returned for his second spell he posted two fine legs, a fly slip and no conventional slips.

Fisher had been the pick of Surrey’s attack with 1 for 17 from eight overs and he beat the bat several times, but Haines and Alsop persevered and by stumps their stand was worth 125 from 31 overs.

Glamorgan Women vs Sussex Sharks Women: Match Preview

Sussex Sharks Women get their 2025 season up and running with a trip to Sophia Gardens on Saturday to kick-start their Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign against Glamorgan. 

In the first round of fixtures since the restructure of women's cricket, Head Coach Alexia Walker's new-look side commence 2025 with a venture to Wales to start their Metro Bank One Day Cup Women League 2 campaign.

Squad

Mollie Adams (wk), Anna Buckle, Kali-Ann Docherty, Daisy Gibb, Chiara Green (c), Beth Harvey, Tia Joseph, Rachel King, Anna Lewis, Eve O'Neill, Talitha Stanley, Lucy Western, Jazz Westley, Phoebe Wilkinson

Pre-Match Thoughts

Alexia Walker: “It’s been really exciting over the last couple of weeks, we’ve been able to add a bit more depth to the squad through the loan signings. Hopefully it doesn’t rain!”

Chiara Green on Glamorgan: "We know a few of the girls at Glamorgan which is helpful, I think throughout the team we’ll have a good idea of how to approach the game. We just can’t wait to get going."

Ticket Information 

Entry to this match is free of charge, but Glamorgan would like for each attendee to be allocated a ticket. 

They will be made available on their ticket app - Sophia Gardens Ticketing - so please download it from Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

The seating for this fixture is unreserved, therefore you may choose where you sit on arrival.

The link to book tickets can be found here.

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.

The action gets underway tomorrow at 10.30am. 

Next Match

Alexia Walker's side are next back in action a week on Saturday, on 26 April as Yorkshire Women travel down to Hove.

If you're a Sussex Member, this game is included in your membership! If you're looking to purchase tickets, however, then the link can be found here. Tickets start from £5.

Sussex Cricket announces Trading Post Coffee Roasters as official coffee supplier partner to The 1st Central County Ground 

Sussex Cricket is excited to welcome Trading Post Coffee Roasters as the official coffee supplier partner to The 1st Central County Ground, with service beginning this season.

The Brighton-based coffee roasters, known for their ethically sourced, small-batch blends, will be supplying locally roasted coffee to be served on site for supporters, guests and visitors alike. 

Fans can look forward to enjoying ‘The Sharks Blend’ – a nod to the home team, as well as The ‘Boundary Blend’ filter coffee – exclusively roasted for Sussex Cricket by Trading Post, which will be served across the site, alongside Trading Post’s Rainforest Alliance certified Mountain Water Decaf.

 From matchdays to meetings, this new collaboration will enhance the coffee offering across all areas of the ground, with barista-quality coffee available from dedicated outlets and hospitality spaces.

Sussex Cricket Director of Growth, Sam Graham said: “Everyone at Sussex Cricket is delighted to partner with another outstanding local brand. Trading Post Coffee represents the very best our county has to offer, and we're proud to now serve their exceptional coffee to our members, staff, and players. 

"Both organisations share a commitment to excellence, and I’m confident this marks the beginning of a long-lasting and meaningful partnership.

“Finally, don’t forget to keep an eye out at The 1st Central County Ground for our bespoke Sussex Cricket x Trading Post blends!”

Ryan Deol, Head of Wholesale at Trading Post Coffee Roasters, commented: "We’re incredibly proud to be partnering with such a historic institution in the heart of Sussex. Sussex Cricket has a deep connection with fans across the counties, and that aligns so naturally with our own presence. Our coffee houses are spread across both East & West Sussex, serving the same communities. 

"This partnership feels like a natural fit, and we’re excited to be brewing something truly special together."

Trading Post Coffee has already begun serving at Hove, with fans, Members and staff already enjoying thousands of cups of coffee during the Club’s first win of the season against Somerset last weekend. 

Sussex vs Surrey: Match Preview

What a start to the season it has been! After last week's incredible win against Somerset, Paul Fabrace's team welcome the champions Surrey to The 1st Central County Ground tomorrow. Paul has named a 13-player squad for the match.

Squad

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

Team News

Ollie Robinson returns to the squad having missed last week's match with a minor foot injury. Sean Hunt will undergo a scan to assess the extent of a muscle injury he suffered in last week's win against Somerset. 

Farby's Thoughts on Last Week's Win

"It's a good win against a strong Somerset side, and for three and a half days we were very good, it will do our confidence good to beat a team consistently challenging over the last few years. 

"I thought up until lunchtime today we played really good cricket and put ourselves in a great position but this afternoon it was no surprise that we dropped catches because our enthusiasm and body language dropped off. 

"We can't afford to have sessions like that. We were so far ahead in the game it didn't matter too much, but it's a good lesson for us - we've made a good start but we've got a lot of learning to do."

Ticket Information 

Tickets are available to purchase online now for the first three days of the match.

Buying your tickets online is the quickest and easiest way to secure your seat, save a bit of extra cash AND protect yourself if it rains.

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.

The action gets underway tomorrow at 11am. 

Sussex wore down Somerset’s spirited resistance to claim their first win since promotion back to Division One in the Rothesay County Championship.

Needing six wickets on the final day at the 1st Central County Ground, they eventually bowled Somerset out for 334 to win by 260 runs – their first top-flight victory for a decade. 

It was a commendable final-day effort by an attack depleted by the absence of left-armer Sean Hunt, who took nine for 76 in the match but was unable to bowl on the final day because of an injury to his left arm. In addition, off-spinner Jack Carson was troubled by a split spinning finger which needed patching up.

In their absence, West Indies’ quick Jayden Seales stepped up. The 23-year-old Trinidadian, who is in his second season at Hove, took two wickets during an outstanding nine-over spell at the start of the day before returning with the new ball to end an eighth-wicket stand of 82 between Lewis Gregory and Migael Pretorious. 

Tom Abell led Somerset’s resistance with 96 and there was a half-century for skipper Lewis Gregory but they were always up against it after being dismissed for 201 in their first innings.

Seales made the breakthrough in his second over of the day with a ball which lifted sharply at James Rew (20), who was caught off the glove in the gully.

Seales could have picked up three or four wickets as he produced some high-quality fast bowling down the slope and generated good pace, bounce and movement. 

Abell was put down low to his left at second slip by Tom Clark on 65 as Seales beat the bat regularly. He should have been celebrating again when Kasey Aldridge, who was on 13, carved loosely to backward point but Fynn Hudson-Prentice shelled a straightforward chance despite getting two hands on the ball. 

Aldridge’s reprieve didn’t last long, however. He added a single before falling in Seales’ next over, tempted into driving at a ball which moved just enough to find a thin edge to wicketkeeper John Simpson. 

Seales finished with two for 24 from his eight-over burst and once he was out of the attack Somerset found the going less taxing, although Sussex continued to drop catches. Abell, 60 overnight, was badly put down at square leg by substitute fielder Harrison Ward on 85 but again it didn’t prove too costly. Just before lunch Danny Lamb surprised Abell with some extra bounce and Tom Alsop held on superbly at slip. Abell’s fine 96 from 219 balls included 15 fours.

Pretorious was prepared to go for his shots and reached a 59-ball half-century which included a six off Carson and eight fours. He looked comfortable against the off-spinner and James Coles’ slow left-arm but Seales, 23, proved a totally different proposition and in his second over with the new ball he plucked out Pretorious’s leg stump with a searing yorker. 

The end was nigh for Somerset when Josh Davey lobbed up an easy catch to mid-off as he tried to pull Clark through the leg side, but Gregory and Jack Leach stood firm for another13 overs, although Leach was badly dropped at slip by Tom Haines on 18 off Coles and Fynn Hudson-Prentice could only get fingertips onto Gregory’s firmly-struck on drive in his follow through. 

But Hudson-Prentice, whose four wickets in Somerset’s first innings did so much to set up victory, finished things off when Gregory followed an outswinger and Coles took the catch at third slip.

Sussex vs Somerset Day Three Report

Sean Hunt, who is only playing for Sussex in the absence of the injured Ollie Robinson, is inspiring his side to what could their first victory in Division One of the county championship since 2015.

In the most memorable match of his career, Hunt followed a sprightly innings of 33 with a career-best five for 48.  Then, after Sussex set Somerset a far-fetched 595 for victory, Hunt took all the wickets as Somerset closed on 125 for four. 

Left-arm seamer Hunt broke through in his first over when Sean Dickson pushed forward and Tom Haines took the edge at fourth slip. Somerset lost their other opener in Hunt’s fourth over when Archie Vaughan top-edged his hook shot and Jack Carson took the catch at backward square-leg; 17 for two.

Tom Lammonby and Tom Abell put on an untroubled 63 but when Hunt returned for the 20th over he caught and bowled Lammonby from a leading edge with his first delivery and five balls later removed Tom Banton’s off-stump with a beauty that moved in. The only disappointment for Hunt was when he dropped a return catch offered by James Rew when he had scored just one. It would have been Hunt’s tenth wicket in the match. He will be difficult to drop for the Easter match at home to Surrey.

The timing of the Sussex declaration was problematic, given the flatness of the pitch and the proven talent of a number of Somerset batsmen. Ultimately John Simpson, the Sussex captain, decided to effectively bat Somerset out of the game, setting them a far-fetched target from a minimum of 130 overs, at a rate of 4.57 runs an over.  

Sussex had started the third day on 246 for one, a lead of 339, with Haines 117 not out and Tom Clark unbeaten on 29. They scored 88 in the 32 overs bowled before lunch, probably marginally less than they had intended. But the loss of Clark, and then Haines and Alsop in successive overs, put a brake on their ambition. And Jack Leach, who took four wickets, also bowled tightly.

Clarke was out for 44 off 82 deliveries, edging Josh Davey to wicketkeeper Rew.  Haines fell at 298, lbw to Vaughan as he attempted to work the ball to leg. It was Vaughan’s first wicket away from Taunton. Haines’s first century in Division One of the county championship was a big one – 141 from 264 deliveries, with 15 fours and two sixes. And Somerset broke through again in the following over when Alsop, pushing forward to Leach, was caught behind. 

After lunch Sussex changed gear, but  moved up only one. James Coles was caught behind, top-edging as he went on the attack for a 69-ball 39, and Fynn Hudson-Prentice, spent 37 balls making 18. Only when Danny Lamb was out for a fourth ball duck – making it a pair for him – did Sussex really put their foot to the floor, with Simpson and Carson adding 84 in 91 overs. Carson hit a 26-ball 35, pulling Leach for two sixes and driving him for another.

But once again it was the astonishing Simpson who caught the eye, with an unbeaten 110 from 117 deliveries, with five sixes and five fours, reaching three figures with a straight maximum against Kasey Aldridge. He started the season with an unbeaten 181 against Warwickshire last week.

Last season Simpson topped the Sussex batting averages with 1,197 runs, with five centuries.  H e has scored seven hundreds in 16 matches for Sussex, for whom he averages 86.  He took 200 games for Middlesex to score his other ten first-class centuries, averaging 33 for the county. But Hunt was the only player Sussex supporters were talking about at the close.

Sussex vs Somerset Day Two Report

An opening partnership of 184 between Tom Haines and Daniel Hughes placed Sussex in a commanding position at the end of the second day of their county championship match against Somerset.

By the time Jack Leach finally broke the first wicket stand, in the 50th over, the Sussex lead was 277.  And by the close they had extended their advantage to 339 thanks to a 13th first-class century from Haines, his first in the top division. Sussex will be looking for a lead in the region of 500 runs on the third day.  It will take a big total to bat Somerset out of the game. 

Somerset will remember how, last June, they chased down 410 in the fourth innings to beat Warwickshire by five wickets with four overs to spare. They will know how the pitches at Hove can flatten out in the course of a match.  Sussex, for their part, are probably still haunted by the memory of Louis Kimber’s astonishing 243 here last season, which almost pulled off a far-fetched victory for Leicestershire, who were set 464 in the fourth innings and lost by just 18 runs. 

 A century looked there for the taking for the Australian left-hander Hughes. But on 91, attempting to cut a wide delivery through backward-point, he was caught behind. He had faced 151 balls and hit 16 fours.

Haines, though, would not be denied. He moved to 99 by hitting Archie Vaughan for a straight six and then hit Leach back over his head to reach three figures. He had faced 182 balls and hit 12 fours and two sixes. And at stumps he was still unbeaten on 117.

The morning session had three distinct phases. Sussex took two quick wickets, to maintain their dominance of the previous evening. James Rew then led a considerable Somerset counter attack before the last three wickets fell for just 12 runs runs.

Somerset resumed on 62 for five, still 232 runs behind, and their chances of mounting a meaningful recovery were seriously compromised when they slid to 79 for seven. In the third over of the day Sean Hunt found the inside edge of Tom Lammonby bat and wicketkeeper John Simpson took a sharp catch moving sharply to his left. The left-hander had not added to his overnight score of 24. Two overs later the same combination accounted for Kasey Aldridge, this time Simpson completing a jugging catch.

But from that unpromising position Rew and his captain Lewis Gregory took the attack to the Sussex bowlers and added 110 for the eighth wicket in 20 overs. When Rew clipped Danny Lamb through mid-on for four to reach 49 it took Somerset to 145, and they had avoided the chance of being asked to follow on.

Rew then edged Jayden Seals for his eighth four – one of his few false strokes – to reach his fifty from 61 deliveries.  It was the first half-century of the match. Rew edged Seales for another boundary, this time to raise the 100 partnership.

The partnership was progressing so well that it was a surprise when Gregory, who had hit four fours in his 36, lifted Hunt to Seales at mid-on. In Hunt’s next over Migael Pretorius edged behind and the bowler ended the innings when he had Leach also caught by Simpson, first ball. Somerset had lost their last three wickets in 15 balls, leaving Rew unbeaten on an 83-ball 80. Left-armer Hunt’s figures of five for 48 from 12 overs were the best of his career.

Reaction from Sean Hunt on Day Two.