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.

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• 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.

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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.

Essex produced an opening day performance against Sussex which belied their disappointing season to date, bottom but one of the championship’s first division, with just one victory. They bundled out Sussex – third in the table – for just 204 in only 52.4 overs and at the close were powerfully placed at 152 for four.

Essex’s inability to pair up their opening attack of Jamie Porter and Sam Cook has been a major factor in their poor campaign.  Cook has been involved with the England set-up and Porter, on paternity leave, missed the last championship match against Yorkshire.

Here, though, they were back in tandem, both hitting a length on a relentless line of third or fourth stump and Porter, with four for 30, was the star of the show.  Sussex, though, knowing the Kookaburra ball gets softer, and batting easier, showed a lack of application.    

Essex won the toss and bowled on a grassy pitch, with a canopy of clouds also promising to assist their seamers.

Sussex, who had dropped Tom Clark for the fit-again Tom Alsop, and brought in Ari Karvelas for the rested Ollie Robinson, struggled to overcome the conditions but were also guilty of some indulgent strokeplay.

Porter broke through in the ninth over when Daniel Hughes, going for a lavish drive, edged to keeper Michael Pepper.  And it was 31 for two in the next over when Alsop, playing forward defensively, edged Cook behind.

The relatively inexperienced Khaleel Ahmed replaced Cook at the sea end but there was no let-up for Sussex.  Khaleel pitched one up to Tom Haines who went for the drive.  But the ball nipped off the pitch and Simon Harmer took the catch at second slip.  And it was 64 for 4 in the 18th over when Dan Ibrahim attempted an expansive drive against the same bowler and was caught behind.  The players took an early lunch at 69 for four when a second, heavier shower swept over the ground.

The in-form James Coles and John Simpson launched a mini-revival with a stand of 56.  Coles showed some of the fluency that had brought him 150 against Warwickshire in his previous championship innings.  When he played Cook to backward point for a quick single he had reached his half-century from 62 balls, with seven eye-catching fours.  But then he played forward to Porter and edged to first slip, and four balls later Fynn Hudson-Prentice nicked off for a duck.

Yet again Simpson was required to make the most of diminishing resources. He added 49 for the seventh wicket with Jack Carson, whose five fours included a straight drive off Noah Thain that might have been the shot of the day. 

The introduction of fourth seamer Thain saw the first drop in the keen accuracy of the Essex attack.  But he, too, was good enough to get among the wickets.  Carson had made 25 when he edged to Pepper and next ball it was 169 for eight when Simpson prodded only half-forward to Harmer and was caught at slip.

When Karvelas flayed to cover for one Sussex had lost three wickets for two runs but last pair Henry Crocombe and Gurinder Sandhu put on 33.

When Essex batted Dean Elgar was caught at midwicket, Paul Walter, half forward, was lbw to Carson, Tom Westley was yorked by Sandhu and nightwatchman Cook was caught at leg slip. But they could still be in a very strong position by the second afternoon.

With Sussex's Vitality Blast campaign coming to an end on Friday, the Kookaburra returns for another short spell as Essex head down to Hove in search of a victory that would take them away from danger. A win for Sussex, meanwhile, could prove pivotal as we look to close the gap at the top of the division.

It's been an extremely solid return for Sussex back in the top flight, who sit third and just 17 points shy of the top. Back-to-back draws in the previous red ball outings a month ago have helped consolidate that position, as Paul Farbrace's side prepare for two more County Championship matches ahead of the start of the One Day Cup.

Team News

Paul Farbrace has named a 13-player squad for the visit of Essex, with Tom Clark and Ollie Robinson both rested. Danny Lamb and Tom Alsop shift into the squad.

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

The Opposition 

It's not been the finest of seasons for Essex who, after finishing at the foot of the Vitality Blast South table, also find themselves in trouble towards the rear of the County Championship Division One. Claiming one win from their opening nine matches this season, only Worcestershire are worse off. 

It's certainly raised a few eyebrows, for Essex are notoriously strong in the four-day game. There is still time to turn their season around, but the victories will need to start flowing soon. They suffered a 10-wicket defeat in Yorkshire in their last ball fixture, though were without Jamie Porter and Sam Cook, who may return to bolster their bowling attack.

Timings

Gates will open tomorrow at 9.30am, with the toss taking place an hour later 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.

Match Tickets

Tickets are available to purchase on the day from our ticket office, or via this link.

Matchday Dining

Bertie Foreman Joins Worcestershire on Loan

Sussex Cricket can today announce that spinning allrounder, Bertie Foreman, will join Worcestershire on a short-term loan.

Bertie will be available for selection for the next two rounds of the Rothesay County Championship for the Pears, before returning to Hove. Go well, Bertie! #GOSBTS