Gloucestershire vs Sussex: Day 3 Match Report

Sussex Promoted to Division One

Jubilant Sussex needed less than a session of the third day to wrap up an innings victory over Gloucestershire at Bristol and clinch promotion from Division Two of the Vitality County Championship with a game to spare.

Resuming on 140 for three in their second innings, trailing by 62 runs, the home side were skittled for 195, left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat finishing with three for 39 and match figures of seven for 71, while Henry Crocombe took four for 22.

The margin of victory was an innings and seven runs, Sussex taking 21 points to Gloucestershire’s three from an eighth Championship win of a memorable campaign and building an unassailable advantage over third placed Middlesex.

When Crocombe claimed the final wicket at 12.08pm it provoked scenes of celebration, the seamer raising both arms in the air before joining in a group hug on the square involving the whole team. The Division Two title awaits for the runaway leaders, who have been far and away the best and most consistent side.

Knowing they were on the cusp of earning a place in the top flight, Sussex were on their game from the opening over, which saw Chris Dent bowled by Unadkat’s fifth delivery without adding to his overnight score of 61.

James Bracey could make only two before a thick edge off Ollie Robinson saw him snapped up by Tom Haines in the gully and it was 153 for six when Graeme van Buuren drove at a full delivery from Unadkat and got a nick through to wicketkeeper John Simpson.

Nightwatchman Ed Middleton battled away for 64 balls and shared a seventh-wicket stand of 36 with Tom Price before edging another catch to Simpton off Crocombe to make it 189 for seven. Gloucestershire still trailed by 13 runs.

In his next over Crocombe bowled Zafar Gohar with a yorker and removed Zaman Akhter’s off stump with the following delivery. The hat-trick ball was too wide and left alone by last man Dom Goodman.

Gloucestershire’s only remaining hope was to avoid an innings defeat. It proved beyond them as Crocombe struck again from the Ashley Down Road End, finishing a spell he will long remember by pinning Goodman leg before for two.

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Gloucestershire vs Sussex: Day Two Match Report

Zafar Gohar claimed his 300th first class wicket in taking six for 76 as Gloucestershire bowled out Sussex for 311 on the second day of the Vitality County Championship match at Bristol.

But the left-arm spinner’s efforts could not prevent the Division Two leaders taking a commanding first innings lead of 202, Jack Carson top scoring with 71 and sharing a seventh-wicket stand of 112 with skipper John Simpson, who made 61.

By the close, Gloucestershire had posted 140 for three in their second innings and still trailed by 62. Chris Dent was unbeaten on 61, having battled away for 157 balls, while Miles Hammond hit 41.

The day began with Sussex 149 for four and already 40 runs ahead. With the pitch expected to offer increasing turn, Gloucestershire opened with Gohar from the Pavilion End and he struck his first blow with the total on 161, bowling James Coles for 46 attempting a reverse sweep.

With 19 more runs added, another Sussex player perished to an injudicious shot as Henry Crocombe went to hit Gohar back over his head and skied a catch to mid-on. Simpson also went on the attack early, striking the Pakistan spinner over long-on for six before settling down to build a potentially winning lead with Carson.

Neither looked in much bother. A Carson clip of his toes for four off Tom Price moved the score to 250 shortly after the second new ball had been taken and in the same over the Sussex all-rounder reached a 76-ball fifty, with nine boundaries.

At lunch, the scoreboard read 259 for six, Sussex having added 110 runs during the morning to lead by 150. Carson was unbeaten on 56 and Simpson 34 not out. 

The afternoon session saw Simpson produce an exquisite cover drive for four off Price before a quick single took him to a half-century off 96 deliveries, with 5 fours and a six. He and Carson had extended their side’s lead to 183 when the latter dragged a wide ball from Gohar onto his stumps, having increased his boundary count to 13.

Eight more runs secured a second batting point. But it proved a disappointing maiden first class innings for debutant Bertie Foreman, who had made just two when bowled through the gate by a turning delivery from Gohar.

With the confidence of four wickets to his credit, Gohar then had Simpson caught behind pushing forward and pinned last man Jaydev Unadkat lbw to notch his 300th first class victim in a career stretching back 11 years. But Sussex could feel well satisfied with a lead of over 200 on a dry surface starting to fulfil pre-match predictions.

Gloucestershire openers Dent and Joe Phillips knocked 43 off the deficit with few alarms, Dent striking Carson over long-off for six. But the off-spinner had turned his first delivery of the innings sharply as a warning.

It was Unadkat who broke the partnership with his fifth wicket of the match, trapping Phillips on the crease and dismissing him leg before for 21. By tea, Gloucestershire were 53 for one from 18 overs, with Dent unbeaten on 22, and looking set to make a fight of it.

Those hopes suffered a blow early in the final session when Ollie Price, on 11, fell to a reflex slip catch by Tom Haines, who stuck out a left hand to hold the sharpest of chances after the Gloucestershire man had advanced down the pitch to aim an attacking blow off Carson.

At 59 for two, the hosts still trailed by 143 runs. Under clear late afternoon skies, Dent and Hammond set about putting their team back in the game.

Dent, who only recently returned to Gloucestershire’s red ball team after a lengthy absence battling anxiety, gave a reminder of the form that has brought more than 11,000 first class runs, moving to a 126-ball half-century, with 7 fours and a six.

Hammond looked equally comfortable and had faced 75 balls, hitting 4 fours, when tempted by a ball from Carson tossed up outside off stump and edging an attempted drive through to wicketkeeper Simpson. The stand of 79 with Dent in 26.1 overs had given Gloucestershire hope.

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Reaction from Jack Carson

Charlie Tear Signs Contract Extension

Sussex Cricket is delighted to announce that Charlie Tear has signed a two-year contract extension with the Club.

The 20-year-old wicket-keeper batter is the latest in a long line of Sussex Academy products to sign a contract extension with the Club.

Tear, who was called up to represent Scotland at the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, has represented his country on 10 occasions in white-ball cricket. 

Since making his Sussex debut in 2022, Tear has featured in three first-class and six List-A matches for the Club. 

In this year’s Metro One Day Cup campaign he played 4 matches, taking five catches and making a top score of 43 against Yorkshire. 

Speaking on the new deal, Tear, said: “I am really pleased to have signed an extension at Sussex. 

“The opportunity to continue working hard with the coaching staff and be a part of a squad that is doing really well is very exciting.”

Sussex Head Coach, Paul Farbrace, added: “We are delighted Charlie has committed the next two seasons to the club. He really has made great strides over the last twelve months. 

“Charlie’s involvement with the Scotland squad has provided opportunity for him to really grow as a player and person.”

Tickets On Sale Now for Fireworks at 

The 1st Central County Ground

Tickets for one of the biggest firework displays in Sussex at The 1st Central County Ground on Saturday 2nd November are now on sale, with all proceeds going to support the Sussex Cricket Foundation. 

This year's display is bigger and better than ever and will see the home of Sussex Cricket open its doors to 11,000 spectators for a night of fireworks, live music and winter entertainment. 

Doors will open for magical entertainment for the family from 5:30pm, with the display taking place at around 7:30pm. 

Two category of tickets are currently available. 

Standing | Adults £15 | Under 16s £10 | Under 3s Free*

Stand on the hallowed turf at The 1st Central County Ground and take in the atmosphere 

Seated | Adults £17.50 | Under 16s £12.50 | Under 3s Free*

Book yourself a guaranteed seat and sit back and enjoy the action 

*Please note: Under 3s still require a ticket, even though entry is free. All tickets must be purchased in advance, no tickets will be sold on the gate, on the night.

Read to book? Click here to secure your tickets today. 

Gloucestershire vs Sussex: Day One

Jaydev Unadkat claimed four wickets before lunch as Sussex took another step towards clinching the Division Two title with a dominant display on the opening day of the Vitality County Championship match with Gloucestershire at Bristol.

The runaway leaders bowled out the home side for just 109 after losing the toss, left-arm seamer Unadkat finishing with four for 32, while Ollie Robinson and Tom Clark claimed three wickets each. Tom Price top scored with 25 in a sorry Gloucestershire batting effort.

Sussex then put nature of the pitch at the Seat Unique Stadium in perspective by posting 147 for four in reply, Tom Haines making 40, Tom Alsop 37 and James Coles 36 not out. Off-spinner Ollie Price took two for 13.

Just three days after the euphoria of winning the Vitality Blast, Gloucestershire were on the back foot from the third ball of their innings when Joe Phillips, making his first Championship appearance of the season, edged a defensive shot off Unadkat through to wicketkeeper John Simpson.

Chris Dent soon followed, snapped up at second slip by Clark off Robinson to make it four for two. Miles Hammond looked in good touch and hit a six over mid-wicket off Henry Crocombe in moving to 22 before miscuing a catch to mid-on off Unadkat, who had switched to the Ashley Down Road End.

The experienced Indian seamer struck again with the total on 46 as James Bracey edged to third slip and it was 49 for five when Graeme van Buuren was caught behind aiming a pull shot off Clark.

With only two runs added Ollie Price, on 11, fell to a similar shot, a thicker top edge that sent the ball looping to Simpson and gave Unadkat his fourth wicket. At lunch, his figures were four for 29 from 11 overs and the scoreboard read 68 for six.

That became 75 for seven early in the afternoon session when Zafar Gohar was bowled by Robinson pushing forward and 89 for eight when the same bowler had Zaman Akhter caught behind off a back foot defensive shot.

When Clark completed the rout by dismissing Tom Price to a spectacular diving slip catch by Alsop and last man Dom Goodman caught at midwicket, Gloucestershire had been bowled out in just 43.4 overs under virtually cloudless skies. Clark finished with three for 17 and Robinson three for 33.

There appeared nothing in the pitch to account for Gloucestershire’s slump. It had more pace and carry than is often the case at Bristol, but Sussex soon found the ball coming onto the bat nicely.

Openers Haines and Oli Carter took the score to 27 in the tenth over before the latter was caught behind pushing forward to Akhter. By tea, the total had advanced to 54 for one, with Haines unbeaten on 25 and Clark 19 not out.

Having added just two to his score, Clark aimed to hit Ollie Price over the top off only the third ball of the final session and holed out to mid-on. The bowler then went from hero to villain, spilling a sharp chance at second slip offered by Haines, on 26, off Akhter.

Haines had another narrow escape on 34 when edging left-arm spinner Gohar to short leg where Philips just failed to cling onto what would have been a brilliant one-handed catch above his head. But, having added six to his score, the opener edged Goodman to second slip where Price this time made no mistake.

By then, Sussex trailed by only 19 runs. Coles reverse swept Gohar for four to put them in front at 111 for three before hitting three successive boundaries in a Tom Price over to bring up a half-century stand with Alsop off 14.3 overs in bright early evening sunshine.

Alsop played solidly for 101 balls, but surrendered his wicket tamely, cutting a short ball from Ollie Price straight to backward point with only two full overs left in the day.

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Reaction from Paul Farbrace

Daniel Hughes Returns to New South Wales

New South Wales have asked Daniel to return earlier than planned ahead of the Australian season and as such he is unavailable for selection for Sussex for the rest of the season.

We are immensely grateful for Daniel’s contribution to a successful season across the County Championship and T20 Vitality Blast and look forward to welcoming him back next year.

We are fortunate to have strength in depth in our playing squad and are confident of finishing the season as strongly as we have played all year.

Bertie Foreman has been added to the squad for the Gloucestershire match. 


 

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.

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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.