Middlesex vs Sussex: Day Two Match Report

John Simpson and Cheteshwar Pujara completed centuries on a day when Sussex re-wrote their record books not once but twice as they continued to dominate this Vitality County Championship clash with hosts Middlesex at Lord’s.

Simpson, who made 10 centuries in 15 years with the Seaxes, got the second of his short tenure as Sussex skipper, eventually making 167 and Pujara posted 129 in a score of 554-9 that eclipsed their previous best against the hosts of 550-9 at Hove in 1980.

Simpson and Pujara shared a stand of 223 for the 5th wicket to erase the previous best against Middlesex of 216 by Kepler Wessels and Colin Wells in that same match 34 years ago.

Middlesex for whom Ethan Bamber took 3-114, lost Mark Stoneman early in their reply, but Sam Robson, unbeaten on 40 and Max Holden saw them through to stumps at 62-1 without further alarm. They will require a further 343 on day three to avoid the follow-on.

Resuming on 295-4, Sussex were obviously conscious of head coach Paul Farbrace’s words at close the night before about not undoing the good work of day one as Pujara and Simpson adopted a cautious approach, so much so, only eight runs came in the first 10 overs.

Pujara, in the last game of his latest stint at Hove, 91 not out overnight, took 43 minutes to add to his score, though in truth  he never looked ruffled by his lack of progress. 

The Indian Test veteran won the race to 100, pulling a short ball from Henry Brookes to the fence behind square, but with three overs to go until the 110-over cut-off for bonus points, the visitors were still some way short of 350.

The fact they got there was down to Simpson, who skated through the 90s with a trio of boundaries, two back passed the bowler and a third caressed deliciously through extra cover to take him to his 12th first-class century. Even so, Sussex needed a no-ball from Brookes off what should have been the final ball of the 110th to glean the third batting bonus-point.

The efforts of Wessels and Wells were consigned to history shortly before lunch, but the stand ended within four balls of the resumption, Pujara hitting a full toss from Nathan Fernandes straight into the hands of Stoneman at mid-wicket.

If we were expecting a full-on push towards a declaration it didn’t materialise in an afternoon which meandered along with a distinct lack of tempo. 

Fynn Hudson-Prentice tried to press the go button only to get too far leg-side of a long-hop from Luke Hollman and feather it through to Jack Davies. 

As Middlesex adopted a defensive pose in the field, daring Sussex to force the pace, Simpson, who survived playing a Hollman delivery into his helmet, continued his steady accumulation to pass 150.

He fell to almost his first attempt at something unorthodox, Bamber pegging back his leg stump after he missed an attempted scoop.

Danny Lamb tried nothing as extravagant in a painstaking 49 before chipping one back to the persevering Hollman an act which finally provoked a declaration.

Middlesex dragged tired bodies and minds off the field and the suspicion was England seamer Ollie Robinson, who’d made a sprightly unbeaten 22 and Division Two’s leading wicket taker at the start of the round, Jayden Seales may be a tricky prospect in the 19 overs that remained. 

Robinson, bowling from the Pavilion End beat the outside edge of Mark Stoneman’s bat four times in one over before getting the nick in his next set of six to send the former England opener packing for four. 

Report provided by ECB Reporters' Network

Reaction from Cheteshwar Pujara after another incredible century

Middlesex vs Sussex: Day One Match Report

Cheteshwar Pujara plundered runs against Middlesex’s bowling attack yet again as Sussex posted 295 for four after being inserted in the battle between the top two sides in Vitality County Championship Division Two.

The India Test veteran, who scored 231 on Sussex’s last visit to Lord’s in 2022 – along with a century against Middlesex at Hove earlier that year – ended the opening day unbeaten on 91.

Pujara’s patient knock formed part of an unbroken stand of 131 with his captain and ex-Middlesex wicketkeeper John Simpson, who struck 71 not out on his return to the county where he spent 15 seasons.

Ethan Bamber claimed two wickets for the home side, with Ryan Higgins and Henry Brookes taking one apiece.

Middlesex’s decision to bowl after winning the toss initially looked questionable as Tom Clark and Tom Haines bustled along at around five an over, with the latter dispatching five consecutive Bamber deliveries to the rope.

Bamber was hastily switched to his preferred Nursery End and, despite Haines immediately drilling him to the cover fence once more, he had the final say by bowling the Sussex man through the gate for 40.

That broke the opening partnership of 66 and slowed the scoring rate significantly as the home side claimed two more wickets before lunch, with Higgins having Clark caught behind off a bottom edge.

Having also seen Tom Alsop put down off his bowling in the cordon, Higgins then pulled off a blinding catch when the left-hander edged Brookes to third slip, twisting to his left to clasp a sharp chance just above the turf.

Higgins, whose first delivery to Pujara beat the bat, also tested the 36-year-old with the occasional bouncer before he settled down to make steady progress with James Coles in a partnership of 72 after lunch.

Coles was eventually undone when Bamber had him caught behind for 33 and the bowler found a consistent line against former team-mate Simpson, back at Lord’s for the first time since his switch to Hove.

Despite some early playing and missing, Simpson settled down with a classy cover-driven boundary off Brookes, keeping Pujara company while he advanced beyond his half-century for the third time this season.

Middlesex rotated their seam quartet, all of whom bowled from each end at some stage and it took them until three overs before tea to introduce spinners Nathan Fernandes and Luke Hollman into the attack.

It looked as though that move had paid off early in the final session when Simpson, on 25, slapped a full toss from Hollman straight to Max Holden in the deep – only for the umpire to signal a no-ball.

The Sussex skipper capitalised on that escape, dancing down the track to slam Hollman to the boundary and chopping him through gully for two to secure the visitors’ first batting bonus point.

There was another let-off for Simpson soon after passing 50, fencing a rising delivery from Tom Helm to gully, where Hollman was unable to cling on – and the visitors continued to build a strong platform until bad light ended play with six overs unbowled.

Report provided by ECB Reporter's Network

Photo credit: Saud Ahmed

Reaction from Paul Farbrace at stumps on day one 

Sussex Sharks vs National Counties XI: Spectator Information

On Wednesday 29th May the Sussex Sharks return to T20 action with a warm-up game against the National Counties XI, ahead of the Blast campaign beginning on Friday 31st May. Here is all the information you need if you're planning on attending the game.

Gate Information 

Both the main entrance (Eaton Road) and North gate will be open for spectators from 5:30pm. The action gets underway at 7pm. 

Free Entry

Entry to this game is absolutely free of charge, however you must claim your free ticket(s) online ahead of the game. All you have to do is visit our ticketing website to claim yours. 

Sussex Cricket Foundation Donation

As the game is free of charge we would like to encourage spectators to make a small donation to the Sussex Cricket Foundation. This can be done when claiming your free ticket online, through the ticketing website.

Any donation you can manage is greatly appreciated and will help to continue the great work the Foundation carries out in the County. Find out more by visiting their website.

Food & Drink

Although a friendly fixture, the same ground regulations apply as they would for a normal T20 Blast fixture. Spectators are NOT permitted to bring alcohol into the ground for this game. 

Plenty of food and drink concessions will be available throughout the game.

Cashless Venue

We’d like to remind all spectators that The 1st Central County Ground is now a cashless venue. This means that only card or contactless payments will be accepted (including Apple Pay and Google Pay) throughout our venue. 

Middlesex vs Sussex: Match Preview

This week Sussex travel up the road to the Home of Cricket, in an early season top of the table clash against Middlesex. Paul Farbrace has named a 13-player squad for the trip to Lord's.

Team news

Jayden Seales returns to the squad following his omission last week due to a tight groin. 

Squad

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

How to Watch

As ever, every ball is available to watch, free of charge, on our livestream via our Match Centre. Action gets underway from 11am tomorrow. 

Photo credit: Saud Ahmed

Reaction from John Simpson after last week's dramatic win over Yorkshire

Historic DIScoverABILITY Day Delivers Again

The Sussex Cricket Foundation once again held its show-stopping disability cricket inclusion event – DIScoverABILITY Day – on Friday 10th May at The 1st Central County Ground, with 850 participants and volunteers taking to the pitch at Hove for an afternoon of action-packed fun and games. 

The spectacular event, sponsored by Webtrends Optimize, saw over 700 participants joined by 150 volunteers in beautiful Sussex sunshine to take part in a wide range of different ball games at the famous home of the Sussex Cricket professional team.

Sports leaders from local secondary schools across the city escorted participants around different zones across the pitch, providing activities such as table cricket, football, wheelchair rugby, mini-golf and Sid the Shark’s Big Hit Challenge. 

Sid and Sandy themselves made an appearance, along with Sussex stars Tymal Mills, Brad Currie, Bertie Foreman and Archie Lenham.

Raquel Oliveria, Optimisation Consultant at Webtrends Optimize, the sponsors of the event, said: “This is the third time now that I and the Webtrends Optimize team have helped at DIScoverABILITY Day and it’s such an amazing experience. 

“It’s so rewarding to see how just much the kids all love the various games and being able to play on the Sussex Cricket pitch - and it’s so much fun for us too. Can’t wait for next year!”

Maria Cook, Chairperson of Crawley Autism Support and mother of Super 1s participant, Ryan, added: “What more could a cricket fan ask for than three consecutive days of fun in the sun celebrating the wonders of disability cricket?!

“The annual DIScoverABILITY Day saw hundred of people with significant difficulties and their carers/teachers/classroom assistants participate in lots of excellent activities on the outfield.

“I was lucky enough to take Ryan once again and he had such a fantastic day.”

DIScoverABILITY Day also preceded back-to-back disability cricket fixtures at The 1st Central County Ground, with both the Sussex Sharks VI and Sussex Sharks D40 teams competing on the hallowed turf at Hove over the weekend. This is the first time any county has staged a weekend dedicated to disability cricket.

It was a resounding success for both sides, with the Sussex Sharks VI team beating Northants Steelbacks in a rescheduled 2023 cup final to lift the BCEW Primary Club Heindrich Swanepoel Cup, whilst the Sussex Sharks D40 team beat Lancashire by 9 wickets in their D40 Quest league fixture. 

Sussex Head Coach, Paul Farbrace gave congratulations to all involved across the weekend: “Many congratulations on a fantastic festival of cricket, it shows that we really are one team one club and that if you want to be involved in this great, and at times frustrating game, then Sussex is the place to be. 

“There are so many good things happening around the club, and so many amazing people making a brilliant contribution to the enjoyment of so many.”

The Sussex Cricket Foundation would like to thank Webtrends Optimize for sponsoring the event, and for their continued support to our County Disability Cricket teams.

To find out more about disability cricket in Sussex, please contact Tom Belcher (Disability Cricket Manager) at tom.belcher@sussexcricket.co.uk or visit https://sussexcricket.co.uk/disability-cricket 

Spectator Information: Sharks T20 2nd XI Friendlies

This week the Sussex Sharks 2nd XI will compete in three fixtures at two venues, Horsham Cricket Club and Arundel Castle Cricket Club.

Tuesday 21st May

The Sharks 2nd XI take on Surrey 2nd XI in a T20 match at Horsham Cricket Club. Entry is free and a small amount of onsite parking is available. 

Wednesday 22nd May 

The Sharks 2nd XI are back at Horsham again, this time to face Essex 2nd XI in another T20 match.

Thursday 23rd May

The third match will be played at Arundel Castle Cricket Club against Hampshire 2nd XI. Entry is free, however there is a £5 charge for onsite parking. 

Each of the three games start at 2pm. 

Sussex vs Yorkshire: Day Three Match Report

Sussex, inspired by Ollie Robinson, continued their fine start to the second division season with their third victory in six matches, beating Yorkshire by 21 runs runs in a most dramatic encounter at Hove.  They took 19 points to Yorkshire’s three.

Yorkshire, who are still looking for their first win, appeared to be cruising to their winning target of 183 at 158 for six, with just 25 runs needed and half-centurian Adam Lyth in total control.  

But then they lost four wickets for three runs and Robinson, bowling down the hill from the Cromwell Road end, turned the game on its head with the first three of them without conceding a run. 

First, he had Lyth caught behind for a heroic 73, from 152 balls in 228 minutes.  It was a short and sharp delivery which was too good for the left-handed opener. 

Then, in his next over, Robinson struck twice, having Jordan Thompson brilliantly caught by Jack Carson at long leg before, four balls later, bowling Dom Leech for a duck. 

Yorkshire had lost three wickets with the score on 158, all to Robinson.  And finally, at 161,  Ben Coad, batting with an injured back, was run out by Fynn Hudson-Prentice from point.

Yorkshire were favourites to win this match from the first morning, when they put in the championship leaders on a grassy pitch and bowled them out for 150.  They were favourites again yesterday, when they set out to score 183 to win.

But Sussex were very competitive throughout the game and when they swept through Yorkshire’s middle order, Joe Root included, to reduce them to 45 for four, and then 76 for five, they were narrow favourites themselves. 

They looked as though they would be denied by Lyth, and Yorkshire were clear favourites at tea, at 140 for six. 

They had made a bad start, slipping to 21 for two. But they regrouped through Lyth and Root before being set back on their heels when they lost two wickets just before lunch. 

First it was the big one, Root himself, who was lbw to a straight one in the penultimate over before the break.  Root appeared to be falling over, slightly, to the off-side as he attempted to play the ball on the leg side.

Then, in the last over before the interval, George Hill edged Hudson-Prentice – who had just replaced Robinson at the Cromwell Road end - to the wicketkeeper and Yorkshire were struggling  at 45 for four.

Yorkshire were just edging ahead again, when, at 76, James Wharton got an inside edge to one from Sean Hunt and the ball dislodged his leg bail.  Lyth started to mastermind yet another recovery, this time in the company of Jonathan Tattersall.  

But Carson had Tattersall, sweeping, caught at backward square-leg and then Robinson took over.

In the morning Sussex had lost their last three wickets in 44 minutes for the addition of 33 runs.  Resuming on 194 for seven, with a precarious lead of 149, they lost their first wicket when Carson, who had added just three to his overnight 22, drove uppishly and was well caught in the covers by Wharton, moving sharply to his left.

The last two wickets went down in the space of five deliveries.  Tom Alsop, 77 overnight, had added just nine when he attempted to cut a delivery by Hill, but instead chopped it to third slip. 

He had batted five minutes short of six hours and faced 256 deliveries.  In the next over Robinson, who had been struck on the right arm in the course of some short stuff from Jordan Thompson, lost two of his stumps as he attempted to heave Hill over midwicket.

Report Provided by ECB Reporters' Network

Reaction from skipper John Simpson after a crucial win over Yorkshire

Sussex Sharks VI vs Kent Spitfires VI: Match Report

On Saturday reigning T20 Champions Sussex Sharks made the journey to 2nd Division Kent Spitfires in the first round of this years competition. 

Sussex stand in skipper Ian “Tiny” Morris lost the toss and Kents Tom Barton had no  hesitation in asking the visitors to have a bat.

On a  tricky slightly 2  paced pitch Sussex started cautiously  and lost their first wicket with the score on 48  when Charlton Davis took a  smart running catch down at fine leg to dismiss Mark Bond for 25. 

The Sussex innings was anchored by Joe Harrison  who carried his bat for   an unbeaten 63 off 53 balls, bringing up his 50 with a  cheeky reverse swept 4  through third Man. 

Si Ledwith joined  Joe and turned the match with a  blistering 60 not out off just 36 balls including seven 4s and a monster 6 over long on. The Sussex innings closed on 183 for 2. 

The Kent bowlers had all been steady and some great ground fielding had kept Sussex to a  challenging but potentially chasable total.

The Kent innings began very steadily  before losing opener Lee Robshaw for 34 with the score on 59 in the 9th over. 

With Kent behind the rate they struggled to time the ball and reach the boundary, Marcus Kiplings 4  overs for just 11 with 2  wickets kept the asking rate rising and despite Tom Bartons 44 not out anchoring the innings none of the other batters could get going and the innings closed on  108 for 3.

Despite the margin Kent  put in an excellent battling performance  to never let Sussex get away and kept working hard throughout the whole game. Sussex will now move on to the quarter finals where they will host the winner of Dorset and Berkshire, 2  clubs from the Southern development league making their first appearance in the National T20 competition.

Sussex next game will be home to Lancashire at Blackstone on Saturday 1st June 1pm start, all are very welcome.

Sussex vs Yorkshire: Day Two Match Report 

Sussex batter Tom Alsop batted for over 5 hours to leave a fascinating match in the balance on day two of the Vitality County Championship match against Yorkshire at The 1st Central County Ground. 

After 17 wickets had fallen on the first day, matters were a little less frenetic in a tightly fought contest at the half-way stage.

Yorkshire had gained a first innings lead of 45 in the morning and Sussex managed to drag themselves to 194 for seven in their second innings, a lead of 149.  

Their innings was held together by a dogged five-hour unbeaten 77 by Tom Alsop, who was bowled by a no-ball at 39 and dropped at 58.

Play started 45 minutes late in damp and murky conditions.  Yorkshire resumed on 176 for seven, a lead of 26 runs, and Sussex took just 33 minutes to take the three remaining wickets for the addition of 19 runs.

They broke through after 20 minutes play when Jordan Thompson, surprised by the bounce achieved by Ollie Robinson,  deflected the ball onto his stumps with his elbow.

For the next over Sean Hunt replaced Tom Haines at the sea end and from his fifth delivery he took a straightforward caught and bowled chance to dismiss Ben Coad.

And in the over after that Dom Leech shouldered arms and had his off stump plucked out by a delivery angled into him by Robinson.  

Yorkshire were all out for 195 with Hunt finishing with career-best figures of four for 64. Robinson (3-25) has bowled well this season without much luck and this was the first time in four matches that he had taken more than two wickets in an innings.

Yorkshire’s slender lead looked significant when they dismissed both Sussex openers inside the first three overs.  Haines was out second ball, after his attempted pull fell to Thompson in the second over.  

And in the following over Tom Clark, drove at Coad and was caught by Matthew Revis at cover.

Alsop and Cheteshwar Pujara brought Sussex back into the match with a third wicket stand worth 74 watchful runs in 24 overs. 

But then Pujara, playing his last innings at Hove this season, failed to get fully forward to one from Leech and was lbw for a 56-ball 33.

Alsop and James Coles took Sussex to tea at 123 for three, a lead of 78, with Alsop unbeaten on 52.  After the interval the Sussex batsmen battled hard against a disciplined Yorkshire attack.  

The visitors took the fourth Sussex wicket when Coles, who had added just two runs since the break, miscued his attempted pull off George Hill and was caught at square-leg for 28.  

John Simpson, was missed in the slips before he had scored but failed to make the most of his let-off.  When Coad replaced Root at the Cromwell Road end he immediately had the Sussex captain caught at first slip for an uncomfortable six; 140 for five.

Fynn Hudson-Prentice looked in the mood to take the attack to the Yorkshire bowlers but he was sixth out at 155, lbw shouldering arms to Thompson, and then Danny Lamb fell lbw for a duck to Coad.

Jack Carson was the next man in and he dug deep to support Tom Alsop, ensuring Sussex were still in with a chance of victory at the close of play.

Report Provided by ECB Reporters' Network 

Reaction from Paul Farbrace at stumps on day two 

Sussex vs Yorkshire: Day 2 Resumes at 11:45am

Day two of the Vitality County Championship match between Sussex and Yorkshire at The 1st Central County Ground will resume at 11:45am, following rain this morning.

Ticket Information

Tickets to the first three days are available to purchase online here. As always, we recommend purchasing your tickets in advance, to save money and to protect yourself, should the game by impacted by rain. Full details can be found in our Refund Policy. 

Free Entry After 4pm

Entry to all County Championship games at The 1st Central County Ground after 4pm is free of charge. 

How to Watch

As ever, every ball is available to watch, free of charge, on our livestream via our Match Centre. Action gets underway from 11am tomorrow.