Sharks vs Surrey: Guide to the Game

The Blast is back at The 1st Central County Ground tonight, with the Men's team taking on Surrey under the lights! To help you plan your evening with us, we've created a Guide to the Game with all the info you need ahead of your trip to Hove.

From information on when to arrive, to what you can and can't bring into the game, plus the squad list and more, our Guide to the Game is a must-read before you head to the ground. Read the Guide to Game.

TICKETS SOLD OUT

Tickets for tonight's game are completely SOLD OUT! Thank you for your support once again. Please do not arrive at the game if you do not have a ticket. 

Sixes Social Cricket

If you've been to the ground recently you may have noticed our very own Sixes Social Cricket bar. If you haven't, then where have you been?! 

Our Sixes Social Cricket Bar will open for the duration of the match. Full to the brim with fantastic food and drink to fuel you up with the net session of your dreams. Take on the Sussex Sharks stars and test your six-hitting skills.

Head to the bar, located behind the Webtrends Optimize Sharks Stand tomorrow to book your net. 

Plus, if you fancy a cheeky drink after the game, Sixes will remain open until 1030pm.

Don't Forget to Bring Your 1st Central Hair Headband!

Sussex Cricket and 1st Central have teamed up to give Sharks fans who re-use their 1st Central Hairy Headbands at a Blast game the chance to win a mystery prize!

As Sharks fans will know, we have been giving out free 1st Central Hairy Headbands at Blast games for the past few seasons, and in the spirit of sustainability, we have partnered with 1st Central to incentivise supporters to re-use their Hairy Headbands at future games.

Tonight at The 1st Central County Ground, fans who arrive with their headbands at the gate will be given a free raffle ticket and the chance to win a mystery prize. 

Fans who attend games will still be able to pick up headbands free of charge and will also be able to give a small donation, if possible, to the Sussex Cricket Foundation.

Sensory, Inclusion and Quiet Room

Sussex is proud to have opened its very own Sensory, Inclusion and Quiet Room. Our Sensory Room is a safe and relaxed environment where supporters who may need time away from the main seating areas to enjoy the game from. If you feel you may require this service, please approach a member of staff tonight. 

So, there’s quite a night ahead. Victory by the absolute barest of margins yesterday in Cheltenham - ending a run of four straight defeats in the process - mean that Sussex’s chances of qualifying are still very much on as we arrive at the final matchday. Standing in their way: already-qualified Surrey. A sold-out Hove awaits. An electric night approaches.

Permutations, permutations. Looking at the net run rate, it’s pretty much a guarantee that a Sussex win tonight will ensure the Sharks are in the Quarter Final. Slip up, and a victory for Kent would see them through. Danny Lamb’s late heroics yesterday, helped by James Cole’s and Tom Alsop, have set up a potentially thrilling night under the Hove lights.

Team News 

Paul Farbrace has named a 14-player squad for tonight's match, with Ollie Robinson the only absentee from yesterday’s squad.

Alsop, Carson, Carter, Clark, Coles, Crocombe, Hudson-Prentice, Hughes, Karvelas, Lamb, McAndrew, Mills (c), Simpson (wk), Thomas, Ward

The Opposition

Following Wednesday’s win over Middlesex, Surrey moved ahead of Somerset atop the Vitality Blast South standings. They’ve had a campaign that has just increased in strength over time. At the beginning there were question marks. Now, there is just sheer quality.

So, they’ve already qualified, but they will still be chasing that coveted top spot. They currently sit on equal points with Somerset, but some immense performances with the bat have engineered a net run rate to be far superior than the rest.

Will Jacks has had an excellent Blast with the bat, racking up an irrepressible 404 runs at an average of just under 45. That’s pretty good, and pretty much every Surrey batter has performed at some stage in the tournament. Dan Lawrence, too, is in sizzling form. So too the Curran brothers.

It’s Sam Curran that has taken the most wickets in the competition for Surrey, whilst Chris Jordan has similarly enjoyed an excellent Blast, claiming 16 wickets in the 13 matches.

Start Time

Today's match will commence at 6.30pm, with gates opening at 5pm.

How to Watch

You will be able to 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.

Ticket Information

General sale for this fixture is completely SOLD OUT, and there will be no tickets sold at the door. 

The only tickets remaining are in the Silly Point Bar, which can be purchased via this link: https://www.eticketing.co.uk/sussexcricket/EDP/Hospitality/Index/637?pbCode=12

A quarter-final tie: it's still within reach of Paul Farbrace's side despite four consecutive Vitality Blast defeats. Two games remain, eight points available - a lot would need to go correctly for Sussex to secure qualification, and a victory at Gloucestershire on Thursday is absolutely imperative.

It proceeds Alexia Walker's side's fixture, also with Gloucestershire, as the hosts get their ever-popular Cheltenham Festival underway. Prospects of reaching Finals Day for the Sharks have now faded, but a win would secure a very respectable third place in a season of many positives for our new-look side.

Squads

Paul Farbrace has named a 15-player squad for the trip to Cheltenham, with Ollie Robinson added.

Alsop, Carson, Clark, Coles, Crocombe, Currie, Hudson-Prentice, Hughes, Lamb, McAndrew, Mills (c), Robinson, Simpson (wk), Thomas, Ward

Alexia Walker has named a 13-player squad, with Rachel King returning for the trip to Cheltenham. 

M Adams, A Buckle, I Collis, L Curling, K Docherty, C Green, N Harman, R King, A Lee, A Lewis, T Stanley, J Westley, P Wilkinson

The Opposition | Gloucestershire Women

It has been a disappointing campaign for Gloucestershire in the Vitality Blast Women League 2, winning just one of their six matches thus far. The two sides have met previously this season in the Blast, with Hove the setting. The Sharks completed a 27-run victory courtesy of a wonderful Rachel King effort with the bat before Chiara Green shone with the ball.

Gloucestershire are also in the Sharks' One Day Cup group, and we will be welcoming the Bristol-based county to Hove once again on August 2. Prarthana Reddy has been the outstanding batter for Gloucestershire, recording 136 runs at an average of just over 22. Taking wickets have been their kryptonite, though, with Olivia Daniel's five wickets the pick of the bowlers in the competition.

The Opposition | Gloucestershire Men

Despite looking dead and buried, miraculously Gloucestershire now have an outside chance of qualifying for the last eight of the competition. A lot would have to go right - even more right than Sussex's chances - but a victory over the Sharks would set up a dramatic finale on Friday.

Victorious in their previous fixture in Glamorgan, Marchant de Lange has been crucial in picking up wickets. David Payne, too, who has 17 wickets to his name in the competition this season. Meanwhile, the bat of D'Arcy Short has been phenomenal this campaign, with the Australian opener smashing 414 runs this season to date.

Start Time

The day will commence with the women's match at midday, with the men's fixture taking place at 4pm.

How to Watch

You will be able to watch every ball, free of charge, of the our clashes with Gloucestershire 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.

Ticket Information

Tickets for the doubleheader are still available, and you can buy your ticket via this link. 

VI Sharks Break Records to Maintain Strong Start to Season!

Records tumbled in the Lancashire sunshine as Sussex VI Sharks made the long journey to Lancashire for the Semi-Final of the BCEW Primary Club - Heindrich Swanepoel Memorial Cup.

Sussex won the toss and asked Lancashire to have a bat. The usually miserly Sussex opening bowlers were taken apart by former Pakistan international Shazab Heyder. His innings of 167 off just 79 balls was a masterclass in power hitting with 20 x 4s and 6 maximums, at the other end Zaheer Mahmood chipped in with 23 at a strike rate of over 200 and Shah blasted 59 not out off 31 balls to bring the Lions innings home on a massive 305-5 from their 30 overs.

For the Sussex attack it was a day to forget, Mark Bond with 2 run outs and a catch, captain Dan Field holding a caught & bowled to dismiss Shazab and another good catch in the deep, were the only contributions to look like highlights on the scorecard but the Sussex fielders toiled until the final ball to try and restrict the scoring.

The Sussex innings couldn’t have got off to a worse start losing a wicket off the second ball with no score on the board. Opener Mark Bond steadied the ship with a very smart 62 at a run a ball to kick-start the Sharks’ Chase. He was joined by Dan Field and together they added 225, before Bond nicked behind to be caught at slip. Field was offering a hitting masterclass of his own blasting 169 off 94 balls which included 18 x 4s and 4 maximums before exhaustion saw him bowled with the score on 270 with 4 overs remaining.

With two new batters at the crease the power hitting game was replaced by nudging, nurdling and scrambled byes to try and get as close as possible, going into the final couple of overs. Marcus Kipling made 12 and Phil Daniels came to the crease with the Sharks still needing 22 from the final 2 overs, a couple of powerful boundaries meant it was down to 8 to win from the final over. Vice-captain Ian ‘Tiny’ Morris faced the first ball but couldn’t make contact, luckily it was ruled a no-ball, and a bye was scampered.

With 2 runs needed off 2 balls, Daniels made contact and ran the first quickly only to be run out coming back for the second and the scores were tied. Paul Littlefield strode to the crease to make his Sharks debut having been drafted in at the very last minute to help out due to unavailability.

He calmly cut the final ball through backward point for 2 and the game was all over, the Sharks finishing on 307-6  and progressing to the Final. It was an incredible match and was the highest run chase ever achieved in Visually Impaired Cricket. Lancashire can consider themselves very unlucky as it was such fine margins that determined the result.

This impressive win cements a very positive start to the season for the Sussex VI Sharks, who are still very much in the hunt for all three competitions. In the BCEW National League Division 1, they are top of the table after 4 games with 3 wins and 1 draw, 30 points clear of their nearest rivals.

Should they win one of their remaining 2 games or draw them both they are certain to retain the title they won last season by just a single point. In the BCEW T20 competition they have a quarter-final away to second division Yorkshire, oddly these two teams have drawn each other for the third year in a row, Sussex winning the last two games comfortably. 

As mentioned earlier, in the prestigious Primary Club Heindrich Swanepoel Memorial Cup, Sussex have already reached the final for the fourth year in a row and will now progress to play either Northants, Somerset or London Metro in the Final later in the season.

Whilst things look very promising, the Sharks are not getting ahead of themselves. From a similar position last season injuries and unavailability saw them lose out in the Cup Final and lose their Semi-Final at T20 Finals Day.

Captain Dan Field said "I am delighted with how we are playing at the moment, it was an incredibly tough day in Lancashire and I am not sure any other side would have been able to grind out that win. I am just hoping everyone stays fit and we can keep playing great cricket.”

As the season reaches the business end, you can follow the Sussex VI Sharks’ results on the Blind Cricket England & Wales website.

James Vince hit the turbo button to smoke 98 not out to beat Sussex Sharks and put Hampshire Hawks on course for the Men’s Vitality Blast quarter-finals.

Captain Vince led from the front for a magnificent 98 in 49 balls to chase down 168 and secure a third straight Hawks victory – and only failed to reach figures by hitting the winning runs with a four rather than a six.

James Fuller supported with three wickets before Joe Weatherley partnered up for 62 – and 43 himself – as Hampshire found form at the right time of the competition.

They now have seven wins in the tournament – the traditional benchmark for qualification – while Sussex have stalled. They have lost their last three matches.

Vince has blown hot and cold in the Blast, with three half-centuries but plenty of single-figure scores. This was a boiling day for him.

The second ball he faced flew over the square ropes, with two more joining it to go with 12 other boundaries – it was vintage Vince, punishing anything that wasn’t an A-class delivery.

A record 12-ball half-century looked temporarily on before settling for 19 balls, and from there he found a rhythm to tick off the runs quickly and risk-free.

Toby Albert put 54 on with him at the top before frustrating himself with a pull to midwicket and Danny Lamb snuck one past Tom Prest.

But in-form Weatherley provided the firmest support, while also plundering a quartet of sixes to make sure there was no pressure on the chase and Vince.

He fell for 43, and Hilton Cartwright followed before Fuller helped Vince to get over the line.

Sussex’s innings came in three acts. The cagey start, the run-frenzied middle and then the run drought at the death.

Having chosen the bat, neither side could get an advantage in what felt like an ‘eight-pointer’ match due to their positions in the table and their closeness to qualifying.

The Sharks probably edged the powerplay with a six off the last ball taking them to 51 for one – with Daniel Hughes been and gone after cutting to cover.

That maximum sparked Tom Clark and George Thomas into life as they whacked 63 in the following six and a half overs.

Clark’s pair of sixes off Benny Howell was the apex of the innings, as the duo ran hard and piled the pressure onto the hosts.

But both departed in the 13th over with James Fuller dislodging each of them to spark a slow down – with only 60 runs coming from the last eight overs.

Scott Currie repeated Fuller’s trick by seeing off Tom Alsop and James Coles in the 16th over, before only conceding four runs in the 18th over. 

Chris Wood also only went for four runs in the following over with two more wickets – the latter of which a controversial boundary catch which caused a fracas at the interval – as Hampshire took control.

But the visitors snared 15 runs from the last to take them to 167 for seven. But it was not enough as Hampshire won with 16 balls to spare.

The El Classicoast is always a highly anticipated fixture in the Vitality Blast, but this one in particular has even more riding on it. Just four points separate the Hawks (3rd) and the Sharks (5th) with both sides still looking to secure their place in the top four.

This is Hampshire's penultimate group stage fixture, while Sussex have an extra game to play. Paul Farbrace's side travel to Gloucestershire on Thursday, before finishing by welcoming Surrey to Hove. 

Sussex remain very much alive in the competition, but they will be looking to put their recent run of three-straight defeats behind them at The Utilita Bowl today. Victory for Hampshire this afternoon would all but secure their qualification.

Team News

Paul Farbrace has made one change to his 14-player squad for the encounter at The Utilita Bowl this afternoon, as Ollie Robinson is roated, making way for the returning Brad Currie:

Alsop, Carson, Clark, Coles, Crocombe, Currie, Hudson-Prentice, Hughes, Lamb, McAndrew, Mills (c), Simpson (wk), Thomas, Ward

The Opposition

After a five game winless run, Hampshire Hawks have returned to their early group stage form and have climbed back up into the top four. Their victory in the reverse fixture at Hove was the first of three wins in their last four outings, only losing to the South Group leaders Somerset in that time.

They most recent victory was a resounding one, as they beat Glamorgan by 95 runs at The Utilita Bowl on Thursday night. Toby Albert scored an unbeaten 98 to help the Hawks post a score of 208-4, before Sonny Baker's four wickets led the way for Hampshire's bowlers, as Glamorgan were dismissed for 113.

Start Time

Today's match will commence at 3pm. Today's fixture is the second half of a double header for the Hampshire Hawks, with their Women's team facing off against Middlesex Women at 11am. 

How to Watch

You will be able to watch every ball, free of charge, of the Hampshire clash 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.

Ticket Information

Tickets for today's double header can be purchased from The Utilita Bowl website.

It was a low scoring thriller at Hove last night that ultimately ended in defeat for the Sharks as Kent Spitfires prevailed.

Despite falling out of the top four, the Sharks' hopes of qualifying for the Quarter Finals remain very much alive. Paul Farbrace's side are level on points with, and have a game in hand over South Coast rivals Hampshire. The Hawks face third-place Glamorgan this evening (Thursday), in what is another crucial fixture as we enter the business end of the group stage.

The Sharks now face three away fixtures on the spin, starting tomorrow night at Essex, where a win could see them jump back into the top four.

Team News

Paul Farbrace has named a 14-player squad for tomorrow's trip to Chelmsford:

Alsop, Carson, Clark, Coles, Crocombe, Hudson-Prentice, Hughes, Lamb, McAndrew, Mills (c), Robinson, Simpson (wk), Thomas, Ward

The Opposition

It has been a disappointing campaign for the 2019 champions Essex, who sit bottom of the South Group with three games to play.

They earned four points for the first time on Sunday, beating Surrey by four wickets at The Kia Oval. Their other two points were picked up in the reverse fixture at Hove, where the match was abandoned 19 balls into the second innings. An unfortunate outcome for Essex on that occasion, who looked on course for victory.

Start Time

Tomorrow's match will commence at 7pm.

How to Watch

You will be able to watch every ball, free of charge, of the Essex clash 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.

Ticket Information

Tickets for tomorrow night's match at Chelmsford have sold out. Please do not travel if you do not have a ticket.

Danial Ibrahim Signs Contract Extension with Sussex

Sussex Cricket is thrilled to announce that all-rounder Danial Ibrahim has signed a contract extension, committing his future to the Club until at least the end of the 2027 season.

Ibrahim burst onto the scene in spectacular fashion, making history at just 16 years and 299 days old when he became the youngest player to score a half-century in the County Championship.

His landmark innings came on debut at Headingley against Yorkshire, where he also became the second-youngest debutant in Sussex’s history. He went on to record three half-centuries during that impressive breakthrough season.

In recent months, Ibrahim’s strong performances for the Sussex Second XI earned him a well-deserved return to the First Team. 

Seizing the opportunity, he delivered a career-best 121 not out during Sussex’s County Championship Division One clash with Durham—an innings that proved crucial in securing a hard-fought draw against a high-quality bowling attack.

Speaking on his new deal, Ibrahim said: “I am absolutely delighted to sign an extension with Sussex. 

"The Club is heading in an exciting direction and I can’t wait to hopefully contribute to more wins and hopefully some more trophies.”

Sussex Cricket’s Director of Cricket, Paul Farbrace, added: “We are thrilled that Dan has signed an extension with the Club, he is such a talented player and has shown this season how he has taken his whole game to a new level. 

"Dan has thoroughly deserved his opportunity in the County Championship team for the last two games, and to see how everyone enjoyed his hundred at Durham proved how popular he is around the Club. 

"It is a great example for any young cricketer, work hard, bash the door down in second team cricket and opportunities will come your way. ”

Joey Evison was Kent’s hero with a thumping 48 off 24 balls as the Spitfires kept their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Vitality Blast alive with a two-wicket win with three balls to spare over Sussex Sharks in a low-scoring thriller at Hove.

Chasing 149, Kent were struggling on 112 for eight after Tymal Mills picked up two wickets in three balls in the 16th over. But Evison, who had already hit James Coles’ left-arm spin for successive sixes, helped Fred Klaassen take 17 off the 17th over from Ollie Robinson including another six before clearing the rope with a straight hit off Tymal Mills in the 18th.

That left Kent needing 12 from the last two and five off the final over and it was fitting that Evison hit the winning runs when he drove Danny Lamb to the extra cover boundary.

The hosts could have gone second but instead a second successive defeat at the 1st Central County Ground has left them with work to do to finish in the top four with Kent and Hampshire Hawks joining them on 22 points in a congested top half of the table.

Kent did well to bowl Sussex out for 148 off the penultimate ball on a sluggish pitch which the Sharks’ batters struggled to master.

Nathan Gilchrist led the way with a career-best 4 for 42 including two wickets off successive balls in the 10th over from which Sussex never recovered despite a cameo of 27 from 14 balls at the end by Robinson.

Gilchrist had already picked up Daniel Hughes (14) to a catch at deep mid-wicket in his first over, one of two wickets to fall in a powerplay which ended with Sussex 38 for two.

James Coles and Tom Clark led a recovery with 49 from 28 balls before Gilchrist struck his double blow. Coles lost his leg stump going too far across and Tom Alsop got a leading edge to cover first ball. Gilchrist nearly had a hat-trick but could only get fingertips to John Simpson’s straight drive.

Kent turned the screw with only 17 runs coming in the next five overs, a fine effort by their attack considering opening bowler Tom Rogers could only bowl two overs before going off with a shoulder injury.

From 109 for five Sussex lost their last five wickets in 25 balls and were indebted to Robinson’s unorthodox but highly effective hitting at the end, which included three boundaries in Gilchrist’s final over to at least give him and the rest of the Sussex attack something to defend.

Kent lost three wickets in the power play and Robinson looked as if he had put Sussex in control, though not for once with the ball. He ran out Joe Denly with a direct hit on the run and Bell-Drummond, who was beaten by his accurate throw from the deep coming back for a risky second, after making 47 off 36 balls.

Bell-Drummond’s departure left Kent 88 for six in the 14th over and when Mills plucked out Jack Leaning’s middle stump with a yorker and bowled Tom Rogers his side were in control – but Evison had other ideas. 

By ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay