Gloucestershire vs Sussex: Match Preview

With just two games left this season, Sussex travel to Bristol tomorrow to take on Gloucestershire with hopes of securing the points needed to guarantee promotion back to the Vitality County Championship Division One. Sussex Head Coach Paul Farbrace has named a 13-player squad for the game. 

Squad

Alsop, Carson, Carter, Clark, Coles, Crocombe, Haines, Hudson-Prentice, Hughes, Hunt, Robinson, Simpson (c, wk), Unadkat

How to Watch

As ever, you can watch every ball, free of charge, on our livestream via the Match Day Centre. The first ball gets underway at 1030am.

Can Sussex secure promotion?

With Gloucestershire beating Middlesex at Lords last week, Sussex now need 13 points to secure promotion to the top division of the County Championship.

Sussex have now won back-to-back games by an innings and will be travelling to Bristol knowing that they are in touching distance of not only securing promotion, but also winning division two. 

Sussex Sharks vs Gloucestershire: Semi-Final Match Report

Underdogs Gloucestershire will meet defending champions Somerset in the final of the Vitality Blast later after bowling out Sussex for just 106 on the way to an eight-wicket victory in the second semi-final at Edgbaston.

Sussex, who had scored 200 or higher six times in the group stages, were blown away in 18.1 overs as left-arm seamer Matt Taylor and left-arm spinner Tom Smith took three wickets each and David Payne raised his tally to 30 as the competition’s leading wicket-taker while conceding just nine runs in four overs.

Wicketkeeper James Bracey then hammered an unbeaten 49 off 28 balls with three sixes as Gloucestershire, looking for their first T20 title having been finalists just once, back in 2007, eased through to the decider with a yawning 38 balls to spare. Australian opener Cameron Bancroft had earlier hit 39 from 35.

Jack Taylor’s team qualified for the quarter-finals only on net run-rate after losing half their group games, including both clashes with Sussex, but sneaked through with wins in their last two before knocking out hosts Birmingham Bears on this ground to reach their fourth finals day.

Sussex had backed their batting power as the toss fell their way, but suffered a calamitous start, losing their first four wickets for 27 in 5.3 overs. 

Their troubles began when Daniel Hughes, the competition’s leading run-scorer, was bowled off a bottom edge by Payne for just a single,  worsened when Harrison Ward hit a Matt Taylor full toss straight to mid-off, and then doubled when the left-armer’s second over saw James Coles caught at short midwicket and Tom Alsop bowled through the gate from consecutive deliveries.

New batter John Simpson put away two short balls for four but at 35 for four from six Sussex needed to gather their senses. Instead, they had lost three more before they’d reached the halfway point at 65 for seven. 

Tom Clark, sweeping, was bowled by off-spinner Ollie Price, who picked up a second when Fynn Hudson-Prentice hauled six over deep midwicket but was caught there next ball. John Simpson departed leg before to the left-arm spin of Tom Smith, also missing the sweep.

Sussex at least negotiated the next five overs without losing a wicket, but any sense of achievement soon evaporated as Smith became the third bowler of the day to take two in two, Ollie Robinson heaving a slower delivery to long off after adding 38 with Jack Carson before a razor-sharp James Bracey gathered a leg-side wide to stump Tymal Mills. 

Shaw and Payne conceded just four between them from overs 18 and 19 before Carson’s failed attempt to clear deep midwicket gave Miles Hammond his fourth catch of the innings. 

Needing only 5.35 per over, Gloucestershire came out of the powerplay well on track at 41 for one. They had ridden their luck a little with airborne shots that just evaded fielders but their only casualty was Miles Hammond, who sliced to deep backward point.

Bracey pulled Tymal Mills for the first of his sixes and though they lost Bancroft at the start of the 11th over when he skewed a drive off left-arm spinner James Coles to be well taken at mid-on, by that point just 36 runs were needed.

That came down to 15 following an expensive over in which Mills conceded a second pulled six and a driven four by Bracey before a one-sided contest.

Report Provided by ECB Reporter's Network

Reaction from Tymal Mills

Sussex Sharks: Finals Day Preview

The moment is finally here. Sussex Sharks will take on Gloucestershire tomorrow in the second T20 Vitality Blast semi-final at Finals Day at Edgbaston and Paul Farbrace has named a 14-player squad for the day.

Squad

Alsop, Carson, Carter, Clark, Coles, Crocombe, Currie, Hudson-Prentice, Hughes, Lenham, Mills*, Robinson, Simpson (wk), Ward

What time is the semi-final?

Sharks vs Gloucestershire will follow Somerset vs Surrey and will start at 14:30.

The final will take place at 18:45.

How can I watch?

All three games will be shown live on Sky Sports, this means our livestream will not be available, however you can still keep track of all the stats via our match day centre.

Re-live the Sharks beating Lancashire in the quarter-final at Hove

Listen to Paul Farbrace preview Finals Day

Daniel Oliver Funeral Information

On Sunday 1st September, Sussex Cricket learned of the death of former Director of the Sussex Cricket Board and friend of the Club, Daniel Oliver. His family have now provided details of his funeral.

Time and Date

Friday 11th October at 12:15pm

Location

The Oaks Crematorium, Havant, PO9 5NA. Followed by a Wake at Havant Rugby Club, Frazer Road, Havant, PO9 3EJ

Flowers

Family flowers only.

Dress Code

Please do not wear black. If possible, those in attendance are encouraged to wear a CPPC tie. 

Sussex vs Glamorgan: Day Three: Match Report

Sussex are closing in on a return to Division One of the Vitality County Championship after wrapping up their seventh win of the season with a day to spare against Glamorgan.

Having established a first-innings lead of 305 they bowled Glamorgan out for 218 to win by an innings and 87 runs at The 1st Central County Ground.

The second division’s leading run scorer Colin Ingram and Kiran Carlson scored half-centuries but Sussex’s relentless attack kept chipping away. There were three wickets each for Ollie Robinson, Henry Crocombe and off-spinner Jack Carson, the second division’s leading wicket-taker who took his tally to 45.

Glamorgan had batted again 305 behind after finally dismissing Sussex for 491 and Jaydev Unadkat made the breakthrough in his first over, Asa Tribe collecting a pair when he under-edged the Indian left-armer.

Carson bowled just three overs after lunch before going off for treatment to a bad back and in his absence Robinson stepped up to bowl an excellent nine-over spell during which he had Ingram dropped at slip by Tom Alsop on 36.

But it was Crocombe who struck in his third over when Billy Root, promoted to owner, played on and lost middle and off stumps. 

Ingram took his aggregate for the season to 1170 runs at an average of 97.5 and had moved onto 71 when Carson produced a fine delivery which turned and Ingram, aiming to drive down the ground, got a leading to cover.

Glamorgan skipper Sam Northeast, coming in at No6 after spending time off the field with an elbow problem, became Crocombe’s second victim when he took on a well-directed short ball and picked out James Coles who didn’t have to move to take the catch at deep backward square. 

Carlson and Kellaway added 57 but Sussex were revived after a brief stoppage for rain. In the second over after the resumption Kellaway missed a reverse sweep and Carson struck again in his next over when Carlson, who had lodged his eighth fifty of the season, was caught at short leg propping forward to a ball which turned sharply.

Carson bowled 16 overs in tandem with slow left-armer James Coles to get Sussex’s over-rate back down and, having done so, Robinson was summoned to sweep away the rest of Glamorgan’s resistance, pinning Chris Cooke with his second ball back and bowling James Harris and Andy Gorvin in the space of 17 balls before Crocombe wrapped things up when he plucked out Dan Douthwaite’s middle stump. 

Earlier, Tom Clark completed his third first-class hundred and first since May 2022 before Sussex were bowled out 40 minutes before lunch for 491.

Clark and skipper John Simpson extended their sixth-wicket stand to 213 when Simpson, who’d added five runs to his overnight 112, missed a sweep at off-spinner Kellaway looking to accelerate the scoring rate.

A sweep off Kellaway for his 11th boundary took Clark to a 220-ball hundred made in four-and-a-half hours and he finished unbeaten on 112 while Kellaway completed a maiden five-for in only his fourth first-class match when Robinson missed a paddle sweep.

Report Provided by ECB Reporter's Network

Reaction from Paul Farbrace after Sussex beat Glamorgan on day three

Zach Lion-Cachet and Henry Rogers Sign Rookie Contract Extensions

Sussex Cricket is delighted to announce that both Zach Lion-Cachet and Henry Rogers have signed extensions to their Rookie contracts.

Both players have had their deals extended for another year at Sussex.

Zach Lion-Cachet is another product of the talent development partnership between Oxfordshire and Sussex Cricket, a partnership that has seen the likes of James Coles and Harrison Ward also break into the Sussex Men’s First Team in recent seasons.

Since signing as a Rookie at Sussex, Lion-Cachet has featured in 6 List-A games for the Sharks since 2023, making 85 runs at an average of 23.38. 

In 2023, he became the first player to hit centuries for Oxfordshire in all three formats of the game. 

Lion-Cachet said: “I’m very happy to extend my time at Sussex and have loved being a part of the squad this year.

“The team and coaching staff have created a great environment to be around every day and I’m looking forward to continuing to improve and learn from everyone. 

“Hopefully I can contribute to more success for Sussex in the future.”

Henry Rogers made his first-team debut for the Sharks in this year’s Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign, accumulating 75 runs, with a top score of 35 against Glamorgan at Neath.

He also made 5 appearances for the England U19s in 2023, making a half-century on his debut in a 209-run victory over Ireland. 

Rogers said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have resigned with Sussex for another year.

“Having been with the Club my whole life it’s a huge privilege to continue this journey. 

“The Club is in a really great place, and I look forward to being a part of it next year.”

Paul Farbrace added: “I am delighted that both Zach and Henry have extended their stay with us at Hove. 

“Both are very talented lads, and certainly have potential. This year has been about learning to be a professional, next year we will be looking at them both kicking their games on and challenging for a place in the first team squad. 

“It’s great having potential, and that has to be matched by hard work and desire, now is the test for both Zach and Henry to show they want to compete at the next level.”

Sussex vs Glamorgan: Day Two Match Report

Skipper John Simpson became the first Sussex batter for ten years to score five Vitality County Championship hundreds in a season as the second division leaders took charge against Glamorgan at The 1st Central County Ground.

Simpson also passed 1,000 runs in his unbeaten 112 as Sussex responded to Glamorgan’s under-par 186 with 407 for 5, a lead of 221.

With promotion rivals Yorkshire and Middlesex in position to win their games it is crucial that Sussex do the same and apart from a careless hour before lunch, when they lost four wickets for 25, they were in control at Hove.

Simpson has so far added 194 for the fifth wicket with Tom Clark, who played his part with an unbeaten 73, and just before bad light intervened at 4.20pm the pair took 19 off ten balls to ensure Sussex collected a fourth batting point.

Ed Joyce – who also left Middlesex to move to the south coast – was the last batter as prolific as Simpson has been in what is his first year with Sussex, and not for the first time this season he made sure his team didn’t squander a good position.

At the start of the day Daniel Hughes and nightwatchman Henry Crocombe extended their second-wicket stand to 78 and their only alarm came when Dan Douthwaite put down a tough chance at midwicket when Crocombe was on 25.

Hughes looked on course for back-to-back hundreds but on 83 (14 fours) he chipped a straightforward catch to midwicket off Douthwaite, who was Glamorgan’s best bowler on a tough day. Crocombe forced Douthwaite through the covers for his seventh boundary to bring up a maiden first-class fifty before he was taken at short leg attacking off-spinner Ben Kellaway.

The ambidextrous Kellaway, who later in the day switched briefly to bowling left-arm spin, had Tom Alsop caught at slip pushing forward and James Coles, the only right-hander in Sussex’s top seven, wafted at a ball he could have ignored in the last over before lunch to give Douthwaite his second wicket. 

Clark’s fifty was his third of the season and here he was tied down early on by Kellaway in particular. He didn’t score a boundary until his 58th ball when he cut Kellaway through backward point but with Simpson counter-attacking at the other end Clark grew in confidence and Sussex assumed control. 

Glamorgan only bowled eight overs of seam with the new ball before Kellaway was back on again at the sea end and the 20-year-old from Newport, who is playing only his fourth first-class match, impressed with his control on a surface offering some turn.

But as the sixth-wicket stand prospered the only question was how many batting bonus points Sussex could secure in 110 overs. Simpson took two boundaries off Kellaway, the second of which took the left-hander to his 15th first-class hundred, as ten came off the 109th over and a pulled six off Ned Leonard from the first delivery of the next followed by three singles took them to a fourth point with two balls to spare.

By then the light was fading and shortly afterwards umpires Nigel Llong and Sue Redfern took the players off but with two days left and a good forecast Sussex will feel they have enough time to press home their advantage and secure a seventh win of the season. 

Report Provided by ECB Reporter's Network

Reaction from Captain John Simpson after his fifth century of the season

Jaydev Unadkat Receives County Cap

At lunchtime today Sussex seamer Jaydev Unadkat became the 163rd player to receive their County Cap, presented by England and Sussex legend, John Snow.

Jaydev became the third player this week to receive his County Cap, following on from James Coles and Daniel Hughes, who were presented with their caps yesterday.

The overseas Indian Test bowler joined Sussex for his first stint last season, playing the final three games of the County Championship season, taking 11 wickets at an average of 24.18.

He returned once again in 2024, this time for the final five County Championship games, and as of now has taken 12 wickets at an average of 15.25. 

The skillful left-armer has taken a total of 411 first-class wickets, as well as 3 Test wickets for India.

Congratulations, Jaydev! #GOSBTS

Sussex vs Glamorgan: Day One Match Report

Sussex, aiming to virtually clinch promotion to the first division of the Vitality  County Championship with their seventh victory of the season, made a good start when they bowled out Glamorgan for 186 in 57.3 overs, with left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat returning figures of four for 52.

Glamorgan, looking for just their second win and their first championship victory at Hove since 1975, were then made to suffer in the field as Tom Haines (48) and Daniel Hughes (57 not out) put on 110 for the first wicket.  

They missed their rested opening bowler Timm van der Gugten as Sussex ended the first day just 65 runs behind with nine wickets in hand.

Sussex, unchanged from their recent victory over Derbyshire, chose to bowl on an overcast, autumnal morning and their decision was soon rewarded.

With the third delivery of his opening over, Unadkat had Asa Tribe caught by Hughes at short leg.  Tribe, playing only his second first-class game, had faced just five deliveries.  

Unadkat made another breakthrough in his third over when he knocked back Sam Northeast’s middle stump via the inside edge of the batsman’s bat. This put a dent in Northeast’s away batting average of over hundred runs per innings for the season..

Glamorgan, who welcomed back James Harris and Ben Kellaway, lost their third wicket at 70 in the 20th over when Colin Ingram, having survived Ollie Robinson’s impressive opening burst with a combination of skill and good fortune, played forward defensively and lost his middle stump to a sharp delivery from Henry Crocombe.  

And in his next over Crocombe had Billy Root caught at second slip by Tom Clark.  Glamorgan went to lunch on 91 for four, with the battling Kiran Carlson unbeaten on 48.  But Robinson’s heroic nine-over opening spell was wicket-less.

Both Robinson and Unadkat showed a preference for bowling downhill from the Cromwell Road end.  But when they were replaced by part-time bowler Clark the medium-pacer struck twice in three balls after the interval.  

Kellaway gloved one down the leg-side and then Carlson was also caught behind.  He had faced 81 deliveries and struck eight fours in his 56.

Glamorgan lost their seventh wicket at 135, with Chris Cooke bowled by a Robinson delivery that trimmed his off bail, and looked likely to fold quickly.  

But then Dan Douthwaite and James Harris featured in an obdurate 16-over stand that yielded 49 runs.  

When Douthwaite removed his sweater and looked around the field he looked ready to adopt the long handle.  

But he was immediately caught behind and Unadkat struck again four balls later to dismiss Andy Gorvin, who was also caught behind to give wicketkeeper John Simpson his fourth catch of the innings.  

Harris was bowled by the off-spinner Jack Carson and Glamorgan had lost their last three wickets for two runs.  

When Sussex batted Haines almost played on early in his innings and Hughes was badly dropped by Root at deep backward square-leg off the bowling of Ned Leonard when he had made just eight.  

But both batsmen went on to punish the Glamorgan attack before Haines fell just before the close.  At the lunch interval Sussex awarded county caps to James Coles and Hughes.

Report Provided by ECB Reporter's Network

Reaction from Henry Crocombe after his two wickets on day one

James Coles and Daniel Hughes Awarded County Caps

Sussex pair James Coles and Daniel Hughes were today presented with their County Caps during the lunch break of the Vitality County Championship match between Sussex and Glamorgan at The 1st Central County Ground.

Spinning allrounder James Coles became the 161st player to receive their County Cap for Sussex, whilst overseas star Hughes became number 162.

Coles, a product of the talent development programme between Sussex and Oxfordshire Cricket, made his debut for Sussex at the age of just 16 and has gone on to make 32 first-class appearances for the Club.

Since breaking into the team, he has amassed 1689 first-class runs at an average of 33.78, with a high-score of 180. He has also taken 33 wickets.

Coles has also been a key figure in the Sharks' T20 campaign this season, with his runs and wickets helping the team to make Finals Day, which takes place this Saturday.

Coles was presented his cap by Sussex legend, Chris Nash. 

Daniel Hughes joined Sussex this season as an overseas batter and made an immediate impact in the Vitality Blast, finishing as the competitions leading run-scorer at the end of the group stages. 

He has accumulated 640 runs at the top order, with a top score of 96 not-out. Hughes also made his mark in the County Championship, accumulating 257 runs at an average of 51.4 and a top score of 144. 

The explosive opener was presented his cap by former Sussex captain and Chair, John Barclay.